Set global variable based on if condition and consume value in later action

Configuration
1

I’m struggling with defining a global variable, setting its value using an if-else statement, and then referencing it in later actions.

I’m writing a script that requests ChatGPT to generate a message using the Conversation Process action and then plays it on my speakers using the TextToSpeech action. The script takes in two parameters: request_message and fallback_message.

I want to define a global variable called result, which stores ChatGPT’s response—unless the response contains the word “Sorry”, indicating an error in communication. In that case, result should be set to fallback_message instead.

The TTS action will then use the value of result variable.

Can you give me an example?

2

This any help?

3

Due to dumb variable scope limitations, you cannot do this:

- if:
    …
  then:
  - variables:
      my_variable: …
  else:
  - variables:
      my_variable: …

When leaving the if block, the variable will be lost.

You must instead write your conditions as a template within the variable definition:

- variables:
    my_variable: >-
      {% if … %}
        …
      {% else %}
        …
      {% endif %}
4

I use ChatGPT to generate the script I need and it actually work!
The key part, similar to @Mayhem_SWE 's suggestion, is this:

 - alias: "Check response and set message"
    variables:
      result: >-
        {% if 'Sorry' in agent_respond.text %}
          {{ fallback_message }}
        {% else %}
          {{ agent_respond.text }}
        {% endif %}

Full script if someone need

alias: ChatGPT TTS Script
description: "Sends a message to ChatGPT and plays the response unless it contains 'Sorry', in which case it plays a fallback message."
fields:
  request_message:
    description: "The message to send to ChatGPT."
    example: "Tell me a joke."
    required: true
    selector:
      text:
  fallback_message:
    description: "The message to play if ChatGPT returns an error."
    example: "I'm unable to process your request right now."
    required: true
    selector:
      text:
  target_speaker_entity:
    description: "The media player entity to play the response."
    example: "media_player.living_room_speaker"
    required: true
    selector:
      entity:
        domain: media_player

sequence:
  - alias: "Send request to ChatGPT"
    service: conversation.process
    data:
      text: "{{ request_message }}"
    response_variable: agent_respond

  - alias: "Check response and set message"
    variables:
      result: >-
        {% if 'Sorry' in agent_respond.text %}
          {{ fallback_message }}
        {% else %}
          {{ agent_respond.text }}
        {% endif %}

  - alias: "Play response via TTS"
    service: tts.speak
    target:
      entity_id: "{{ target_speaker_entity }}"
    data:
      message: "{{ result }}"