Solved: Automation service data_template not working

Configuration
1

Hey,
I presume Im making a very simple mistake, but the following automation (when I select the Nintendo Switch in the input selector):

- alias: cinema_room_scene_automation
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: input_select.cinema_room_scenes
  action:
    service: remote.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id: remote.cinema_room
#      activity: 'Cinema Room Switch'
    data_template:
      activity: >
        {% if is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "Chromecast") %}
          'Cinema Room Chromecast'
        {%-elif is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "NintendoSwitch") %}
          'Cinema Room Switch'
        {%-elif is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "PS3") %}
          'Cinema Room PS3'
        {% else %}
           'PowerOff'
        {% endif %}

results in the following log error:

2020-04-26 11:52:52 ERROR (MainThread) [homeassistant.components.harmony.remote] Cinema Room: Activity 'Cinema Room Switch' is invalid

However, removing the data_template and uncommenting the activity line under data results in the Harmony activity starting without issue.

So what have I done wrong?

2

Its always moments after you submit that you find the answer - for reasons I don’t understand, you seem to have to remove the quotes,

so the following worked:

- alias: cinema_room_scene_automation
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: input_select.cinema_room_scenes
  action:
    service: remote.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id: remote.cinema_room
#      activity: 'Cinema Room Switch'
    data_template:
      activity: >
        {% if is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "Chromecast") %}
          Cinema Room Chromecast
        {%-elif is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "NintendoSwitch") %}
          Cinema Room Switch
        {%-elif is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "PS3") %}
          Cinema Room PS3
        {% else %}
           PowerOff
        {% endif %}
3

For your information: No need to have data and data_template in the same action. You can reduce it to this:

action:
  service: remote.turn_on
  data_template:
    entity_id: remote.cinema_room
    activity: >
      {% if is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "Chromecast") %}
        Cinema Room Chromecast
      {%-elif is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "NintendoSwitch") %}
        Cinema Room Switch
      {%-elif is_state("input_select.cinema_room_scenes", "PS3") %}
        Cinema Room PS3
      {% else %}
        PowerOff
      {% endif %}
1 Like
4

Thanks @Burningstone, I’ll revert that now.
I did start like that, but the change was one of many I tried to see what was breaking me.

5

But also make sure you remove the quotes (as you found). They are not needed for multi-line templates.

1 Like
6

Good catch, I corrected my post accordingly.