Set variable in automation to part of trigger.entity_id and then use variable throughout

[antlane]

I am in the process of adapting a heating boost automation that I found. I want to be able to use it for multiple different thermostats so that I can maintain just one version of the automation rather than having individual ones per thermostat.

I had hoped to set a variable to trigger.entity_id and perform some replacements to get just the roomname.

I’d then use this variable throughout the automation so I wouldn’t have hard-coded entity_IDs - in triggers as well as actions.

I’m hitting a couple of issues. For one, when I try to set a variable to
{{ trigger.entity_id }}
it gets replaced by in the automation YAML
{'[object Object]': None}

I guess instead of using a variable, I could use

{{ trigger.entity_id | replace('input_button.','',1) | replace('_boost_cancel','',1) | replace('_boost_start','',1) }}

throughout the script but that makes things pretty messy.

As a test, I hardcoded the variable and this seems to work throughout my automation’s actions. One place it doesn’t work is in the trigger section.
Using

triggers:
  - entity_id:
      - input_button.{{room_name}}_boost_start

Results in

Message malformed: Entity input_button.{{room_name}}_boost_start is neither a valid entity ID nor a valid UUID for dictionary value @ data['entity_id']

I could always split this automation into three separate ones to avoid this issue.

Any help with this would be gratefully appreciated.

[Sir_Goodenough ((SG) WhatAreWeFixing.Today)]

Hello antlane,

You didn’t give me much YAML to work from, but I will guess this is your problem.

Trigger_Variables - variables that are available when attaching a trigger

First, this is not meant to be a replacement for the section in the HA Docs about this. Please read and refer to that as the official word on this subject. Automation Trigger - Home Assistant. When I mention Triggers here I am referring to the main key trigger: used to activate an automation, and not necessarily the triggers found in key action: statements. What the Docs don’t say is the reason that there are 2 kinds of variables. Regular variables used in Automations and the ‘trigger’ varia…

If you show more of this automation, I’ll be glad to help more.

[koying (Chris B)]

Also, a blueprint is what you want, here. Not clear from your post if it’s the direction you took.

[123 (Taras)]

@antlane

One place it doesn’t work is in the trigger section.

The example you posted appears to be a fragment of a State Trigger. You can’t use a template in a State Trigger’s entity_id option. That’s why the error message says:

Message malformed: Entity input_button.{{room_name}}_boost_start is neither a valid entity ID nor a valid UUID for dictionary value @ data[‘entity_id’]

Perhaps you can use a Template Trigger.

[antlane]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I don’t think a Blueprint is what I’m looking for. I understand it would probably work but I would prefer not to have multiple automations created when I’m hoping that one will suffice. Obviously if my aim isn’t possible, a Blueprint is my next port of call.

Here’s the YAML for my automation (I should attribute https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/18dm9gc/finally_got_heating_control_set_up_with_boost/ which is where I got the original code that I’m now adapting to my own needs)

alias: Heating Boost Start/Cancel/Finish V1
description: ""
triggers:
  - entity_id:
      - input_button.antstudyheating_boost_start
    id: heatingBoostStart
    trigger: state
  - entity_id:
      - input_button.antstudyheating_boost_cancel
    id: heatingBoostCancel
    trigger: state
  - event_type: timer.finished
    event_data:
      entity_id: timer.antstudyheating_boost_time
    id: heatingBoostExpire
    trigger: event
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_ants_iphone
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: "{{ room_name }}"
  - action: notify.mobile_app_ants_iphone
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: >-
        {{ trigger.entity_id | replace('input_button.','',1) |
        replace('_boost_cancel','',1) | replace('_boost_start','',1) }}
    enabled: false
  - choose:
      - conditions:
          - condition: trigger
            id:
              - heatingBoostStart
        sequence:
          - target:
              entity_id: input_boolean.{{room_name}}_boost
            data: {}
            action: input_boolean.turn_on
          - target:
              entity_id: switch.{{room_name}}_schedules
            data: {}
            action: switch.turn_off
          - data:
              preset_mode: none
            action: climate.set_preset_mode
            target:
              entity_id: climate.{{room_name}}
          - target:
              entity_id: climate.{{room_name}}
            data:
              temperature: "{{states('input_number. ' ~ room_name ~ '_boost_temperature')}}"
            action: climate.set_temperature
          - target:
              entity_id: timer.{{room_name}}_boost_time
            data: {}
            action: timer.start
          - target:
              entity_id: input_select.{{room_name}}_boost_time_options
            data:
              option: none
            action: input_select.select_option
      - conditions:
          - condition: trigger
            id:
              - heatingBoostCancel
              - heatingBoostExpire
        sequence:
          - target:
              entity_id:
                - input_boolean.{{room_name}}_boost
              device_id: []
              area_id: []
            data: {}
            action: input_boolean.turn_off
          - target:
              entity_id: switch.{{room_name}}_schedules
            data: {}
            action: switch.turn_off
            enabled: false
          - target:
              entity_id: switch.{{room_name}}_schedules
            data: {}
            action: switch.turn_on
          - action: timer.finish
            metadata: {}
            data: {}
            target:
              entity_id: timer.{{room_name}}_boost_time
variables:
  room_name: >-
    {% if trigger.id == "heatingBoostExpire" %}  {{trigger.event.data.entity_id
    | replace ('timer.','',1) | replace ('_boost_time','',1)}} {%- else -%}
    {{trigger.entity_id | replace('input_button.','',1) |
    replace('_boost_cancel','',1) | replace ('_boost_start','',1) }} {%- endif -%}
mode: single

Issue 1
As you’ll see at the bottom, I have hardcoded the variable room_name. I’d like to set it to
{{ trigger.entity_id }}
but it gets replaced with the text I posted above when I click save and reload the editor.

In fact, I’d need to set it to
{{ trigger.entity_id | replace('input_button.','',1) | replace('_boost_cancel','',1) | replace('_boost_start','',1) }}
but this produces a duplicated mapping key error - not too sure why (it does work for the disabled step which sends it to my mobile as a notification). If I keep just one replace, it doesn’t error.

Issue 2
I need to include {{room_name}} in the triggers at the top as I aim for this to work for mulitple rooms. I had a quick play with a state trigger but I wans’t able to get it to work. As the first two triggers are based on the button state changing which changes state to the date/time it was pressed, I’m not sure how I can evaluate something to true for the template unless I’m missing something.

Issue 3
I haven’t got around to trying to work out how to fix this as there are larger issues to resolve first but I need to find a way to integrate {{room_name}} into the following line
temperature: "{{states('input_number.antstudyheating_boost_temperature')}}"

Obviously, if these problems can’t be fixed, I’ll look at Blueprint option.

Thanks again.

[antlane]

I worked out how to fix my first issue by updating the variable code to:

room_name: >-
    {{ trigger.entity_id | replace('input_button.','',1) | replace('_boost_cancel','',1) | replace('_boost_start','',1) }} 

I originally entered that template in the GUI for the mobile notification so didn’t realise >- was required.

If I’m able to amend the post above, I’ll do so to remove this.

[antlane]

I’m on a roll. Fixed my third issue too. I also had to amend my variable code as the timer trigger returned the room data I needed in trigger.event.data.event_id