How to set global configuration or variables?

mariva · June 24, 2025, 2:25pm

Hi,

i tried to set global config/vars that i can use within automations or scripts.

currently i tried

- sensor:
    - name: "storen_data"
      state: "active"
      attributes:
        data: >
          {{ {
            "bath": {
              "entity_id": "cover.storen_1_aebt_storen_1_gaestebad",
              "azimuth_min": 135,
              "azimuth_max": 225,
              "position_default": 100,
              "tilt_default": 100,
              "position_vor_abends": 0,
              "tilt_vor_abends": 30,
              "position_abends": 0,
              "tilt_abends": 0,
              "position_nacht": 0,
              "tilt_nacht": 0,
              "position_sonnenschutz": 0,
              "tilt_sonnenschutz": 40,
              "window_sensor": "sensor.custom_fenster_status_gaestebad",
              "automation_active_sensor": "input_boolean.storen_automatic_gaestebad_fenster"
            },

Autocomplete for this sensor works, and some test sensors function as well.
I’m trying to save the configuration as JSON, or I wish I could set the configuration in a YAML file.

i try to geht the data with :
{{ (state_attr(‘sensor.storen_data’, ‘data’)) }}

Sir_Goodenough · June 24, 2025, 2:40pm

Hello mariva,

The easiest is to use helpers
Input number - Home Assistant.
Input text - Home Assistant.
Input boolean - Home Assistant.

Otherwise there is this:

Mariusthvdb · June 24, 2025, 2:43pm

You can use the custom_templates for that.
They can be actual templates, or just plain strings disguised as templates

mariva · June 24, 2025, 2:43pm

hi, thank you.

is it not possible to set “custom” yaml files for example?

i think its a bit messy to use helpers esp. if i have to use it for each window

mariva · June 24, 2025, 2:46pm

i tried this.

in my configuration.yaml


template: !include_dir_merge_list custom_templates

then i used. the “template sensor” as shown above.

but my “data attribute is empty.”

wish i could store the config in yaml. i thought thats the purpose of yaml.

storen:
  gaestebad:
    entity_id: cover.storen_1_cec9_storen_1_gaestebad
    azimuth_min: 135
    azimuth_max: 225
    position_default: 100
    tilt_default: 100
    position_vor_abends: 0
    tilt_vor_abends: 30
    position_abends: 0
    tilt_abends: 0
    position_nacht: 0
    tilt_nacht: 0
    position_sonnenschutz: 0
    tilt_sonnenschutz: 40
    window_sensor: sensor.custom_fenster_status_gaestebad
    automation_active_sensor: input_boolean.storen_automatic_gaestebad_fenster

after i tried {{ storen.xyz.azimuth_min }}

Didgeridrew · June 24, 2025, 2:49pm

Your template isn’t closed…

mariva · June 24, 2025, 2:50pm

yes, because its only a crop the actual json/config is very long

Sir_Goodenough · June 24, 2025, 2:51pm

Well if you cut off half of the coding, then how can

mariva · June 24, 2025, 2:52pm

data: >
  {{ {
    "gaestebad": {
      "entity_id": "cover.storen_1_cec9_storen_1_gaestebad",
      "azimuth_min": 135,
      "azimuth_max": 225,
      "position_default": 100,
      "tilt_default": 100,
      "position_vor_abends": 0,
      "tilt_vor_abends": 30,
      "position_abends": 0,
      "tilt_abends": 0,
      "position_nacht": 0,
      "tilt_nacht": 0,
      "position_sonnenschutz": 0,
      "tilt_sonnenschutz": 40,
      "window_sensor": "sensor.custom_fenster_status_gaestebad",
      "automation_active_sensor": "input_boolean.storen_automatic_gaestebad_fenster"
    }
  } | tojson }}

Didgeridrew · June 24, 2025, 2:56pm

~~You should be able to use YAML:~~

yaml</s> <s>#custom_templates.yaml</s> <s>- sensor:</s> <s> - name: "storen_data"</s> <s> state: "active"</s> <s> attributes:</s> <s> data: </s> <s> gaestebad:</s> <s> entity_id: cover.storen_1_cec9_storen_1_gaestebad</s> <s> azimuth_min: 135</s> <s> azimuth_max: 225</s> <s> position_default: 100</s> <s> tilt_default: 100</s> <s> position_vor_abends: 0</s> <s> tilt_vor_abends: 30</s> <s> position_abends: 0</s> <s> tilt_abends: 0</s> <s> position_nacht: 0 </s> <s> tilt_nacht: 0</s> <s> position_sonnenschutz: 0</s> <s> tilt_sonnenschutz: 40</s> <s> window_sensor: sensor.custom_fenster_status_gaestebad</s> <s> automation_active_sensor: input_boolean.storen_automatic_gaestebad_fenster</s> <s>

123 · June 24, 2025, 2:57pm

Store the desired data as a dictionary using YAML.

EDIT : Ninja’d by Didgeridrew

EDIT2: This doesn’t work; see post below.

Example

- sensor:
    - name: storen_data
      state: active
      attributes:
        data:
          bath:
            entity_id: cover.storen_1_aebt_storen_1_gaestebad
            azimuth_min: 135
            azimuth_max: 225
            position_default: 100
            tilt_default: 100
            position_vor_abends: 0
            tilt_vor_abends: 30
            position_abends: 0
            tilt_abends: 0
            position_nacht: 0
            tilt_nacht: 0
            position_sonnenschutz: 0
            tilt_sonnenschutz: 40
            window_sensor: sensor.custom_fenster_status_gaestebad
            automation_active_sensor: input_boolean.storen_automatic_gaestebad_fenster

mariva · June 24, 2025, 2:58pm

i tried, but my studio-code editor said:

Incorrect type. Expected "string".yaml-schema: http://schemas.home-assistant.io/integration-template

View Problem (Alt+F8)

mariva · June 24, 2025, 3:00pm

i cant figure it out

Didgeridrew · June 24, 2025, 3:02pm

You can’t always believe those warnings… save the file, reload the config or restart HA then check it in the template editor tool.

mariva · June 24, 2025, 3:07pm

i tried , doesnt work.

123 · June 24, 2025, 3:08pm

I don’t get those errors in VS Code.

Go to Developer Tools → YAML and select Check Configuration. If you get no errors, proceed to execute Reload Template Entities. Then check Logs for errors.

mariva · June 24, 2025, 3:10pm

yep, this is what i always do , just to be sure

still there is no config data available. i tried Developer Tools → Template

Edwin_D · June 24, 2025, 3:12pm

If you tried it and it doesn’t work, there are errors in the log or the yaml file isn’t loaded to begin with. Any errors?

mariva · June 24, 2025, 3:15pm

looks like the value has to be a string …

Didgeridrew · June 24, 2025, 3:15pm

This is working for me:

  - sensor:
      - name: "storen_data"
        state: "active"
        attributes:
          data: |
            {{ {"gaestebad": {
              "entity_id": "cover.storen_1_cec9_storen_1_gaestebad",
              "azimuth_min": 135,
              "azimuth_max": 225,
              "position_default": 100,
              "tilt_default": 100,
              "position_vor_abends": 0,
              "tilt_vor_abends": 30,
              "position_abends": 0,
              "tilt_abends": 0,
              "position_nacht": 0,  
              "tilt_nacht": 0,
              "position_sonnenschutz": 0,
              "tilt_sonnenschutz": 40,
              "window_sensor": "sensor.custom_fenster_status_gaestebad",
              "automation_active_sensor": "input_boolean.storen_automatic_gaestebad_fenster"} } }}

Then:

{{state_attr('sensor.storen_data', 'data').gaestebad.azimuth_min}}