Simpler way to define similar automations and reuse code?

Configuration
1

I’m currently creating automations for buttons and the lights they control. However I’m essentially creating the same automation over and over again, just with different buttons and different light groups.

E.g.,

- id: '1580246534379'
  alias: Kitchen Button - Dim Down Pcnt
  description: ''
  trigger:
  - device_id: 13646fb4d11343b5bfbfaf777cbb9857
    domain: deconz
    platform: device
    subtype: dim_down
    type: remote_button_short_press
  condition: []
  action:
  - service: light.turn_on
    data_template:
      entity_id: light.kitchen_lights
      brightness: '{% set bri = states.light.kitchen_lights.attributes.brightness
        | int %} {{ [bri-30, 30] | max }}'

is an automation I’ve reused multiple times.

Is there a cleaner way to reuse this code when generating automations? Or is that best practice as is?

2

You’ll have to switch to the other trigger type. Can’t use the ‘automation editor’ device trigger.

3

You could create a script, or python_script, that accepts entity_id and brightness as parameters.

The automation’s trigger can include multiple triggering sources. You can pass the trigger object to the script as a parameter.

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4

I see you are using deconz, what kind of remotes are you using? I wrote a small app available in HACS that allows easy configuration, smooth dimming through long press of a button and assigning button presses to service calls. The current version in HACS obly supports the Hue Dimmer Switch, however in my dev branch I have a working version that supports the Ikea Tradfri Dimmer and remote and the 2016 version of the Xiaomi switch. If you have another device, I can easily add it to the app. Please let me know in case you are interested in this.

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5

Would you be able to generalize that so it supports ZHA as well? I’m currently doing it through NodeRed and while it works, I’d love a native HA implementation.

6

Yes I could, assuming that ZHA also fires an event when a button is pressed.
Unfortunately it’s not a native HA implementation, I’m not skilled enough for this, it’s just an AppDaemon app.

7

The remotes I have tried (Hue dimmer, Ikea dimmer and Sylvania dimmer) all fire a zha_event. The Hue and Ikea also support a “hold” event as well. If you want, I can PM you a map of all the different responses from the various remotes.

I’d take an AppDaemon implementation as well. :smiley:

8

This should be relatively easy to integrate into my app. Please send me the button mappings via PM, I assume they will be the same as with deconz, but I need to check this first.

9

That’s awesome, I’m definitely interested in using that!

The remotes I’m using at the moment are:

I use the buttons the most as they are just so cheap and generally reliable. Is there anything I can do to help add those to the app?

Thanks!

10

The Tradfri 5 button remote is already supported in the dev version, for the Xiaomi one I need to know the exact model, I already integrated one but it might be a different model.

To help me integrate it, go to Developer Tools -> Events -> Enter “deconz_event” in the “Listen to events” box -> press start listening. Then press all the possible buttons short, long, multiple times. Provide me the output you see in the “listen to events” box.

11

Great - I didn’t have time last night, but I will try and do this evening if I can, then will send you the events!

12

No worries, take your time. I’m busy as well, will see if I find some time on the weekend.

13

OK here we go. I’ve commented the output so you can see what action I took, but summarising these were:

  • 1 x Press and release
  • 1 x press, hold, release
  • 2 x press
  • 3 x press
  • 4 x press
  • 5 x press

I’ve also checked the model number listed in deconz for the switch, and it is Xiaomi WXKG01LM

# Single press and release:

Event 1 fired 6:57 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1002
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T18:57:16.151335+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "30426998b12142bbb7c8b06c241969f2",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}
Event 0 fired 6:57 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1000
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T18:57:15.944754+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "953a3a4cd7c740bd98893ce51beb646e",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}


# Single press, hold and release

Event 2 fired 6:57 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1003
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T18:57:57.352069+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "aa7d2459cd72433d9d71be89d53e056a",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}
Event 1 fired 6:57 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1001
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T18:57:54.090486+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "4463623904d2488b94bd9f1b38255727",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}
Event 0 fired 6:57 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1000
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T18:57:53.565833+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "c58ce673d7ed43ceac7c60845351a28e",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}

# 2 X press

Event 0 fired 7:00 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1004
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T19:00:17.980291+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "ae42649fc0204d498e2ac4461185e8ae",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}

# 3 X press

Event 0 fired 7:00 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1005
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T19:00:30.207910+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "a34e635853d64cc7ab4296585b821256",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}

# 4 X press

Event 0 fired 7:00 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1006
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T19:00:36.582055+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "e4b439dc41624e83bf554f84bfdd8b61",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}


# 5 X press

Event 0 fired 7:00 PM:
{
    "event_type": "deconz_event",
    "data": {
        "id": "study_button",
        "unique_id": "00:15:8d:00:03:3e:f7:b0",
        "event": 1010
    },
    "origin": "LOCAL",
    "time_fired": "2020-01-30T19:00:46.103412+00:00",
    "context": {
        "id": "19310dd1fe6143229224c482b6ef60a7",
        "parent_id": null,
        "user_id": null
    }
}

Do you need anything else?
THanks!

14

I see two release events with the same event (1000) but the press events all have different events.

How does one interpret this data to determine when a press event occurred?

15

1000 is fired at the beginning of a single press - either short or long.

The release event is:
1002 - quick release
1003 - long release

I think 1001 is fired during the hold.

I.e., for short press and release, the events are:
1000 - press
1002 - release

for long press and release, the events are:
1000 - press
1001 - hold
1003 - release

16

FYI - note I copied the events directly from the log, so the most recent event (i.e., the release) is listed first

17

Thanks, that makes sense. I didn’t know it identified two kinds of press events.

I also now realize that in your first example, the events are in reverse-chronological order.

18

No that’s all I need. I have something you can test. Did you already install AppDaemon?

19

Yeah, I’ve got AppDaemon installed, I’m hoping the configuration is correct…

20

Ok founds logs, it should be working