Struggling to figure out this error

Configuration
1

Just trying to get rid of the following two error.s…

Logger: homeassistant.helpers.template
Source: helpers/template.py:574
First occurred: 3:05:09 PM (8 occurrences)
Last logged: 3:38:54 PM

Error parsing value: ‘value_json’ is undefined (value: on, template: {{value_json.state}})

Logger: homeassistant.helpers.template
Source: helpers/template.py:1791
First occurred: 3:05:09 PM (5 occurrences)
Last logged: 3:18:43 PM

Template variable error: ‘value_json’ is undefined when rendering ‘{{value_json.state}}’

I think it has something to do with this block of code which comes from blue iris to notify of AI motion detected on the cameras. I am new to the whole home assistant thing, and coding in general. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

#BlueIris Motion MQTT
#Left Driveway Motion
binary_sensor:
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "Driveway Left Motion"
    device_class: motion
    state_topic: "driveway_left_motion"
    payload_on: "on"
    payload_off: "off"
    value_template: "{{value_json.state}}"
    off_delay: 30
#Right Driveway Motion
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "Driveway Right Motion"
    device_class: motion
    state_topic: "driveway_right_motion"
    payload_on: "on"
    payload_off: "off"
    value_template: "{{value_json.state}}"
    off_delay: 30
#Front Door Motion
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "Front Door Motion"
    device_class: motion
    state_topic: "front_door_motion"
    payload_on: "on"
    payload_off: "off"
    value_template: "{{value_json.state}}"
    off_delay: 30
#Right House Motion
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "House Right Motion"
    device_class: motion
    state_topic: "house_right_motion"
    payload_on: "on"
    payload_off: "off"
    value_template: "{{value_json.state}}"
    off_delay: 30
2

have your seen this:

maybe also the missing spaces in {{ }} ?

And can you post the value from driveway_right_motion ?

Because it looks like you also miss json_attributes_topic… or when the topic has no json, just use value?

3

Spacing is nice for legibility but is not required.

This is not required either as only the state is being used.

This would help in diagnosis. Most likely a message is being posted to the driveway topics that does not contain a state value.

4

where would I find the value? In the states page?

5

IMO the easiest way is to subscribe to the topic with MQTT Explorer (free) and come back and look at the message history after a while.

6

the value that I have setup and the value that I see on MQTT explorer is “on”

7

Let it run for a bit. There may be some other message that is sent. You can check the message History section later.

EDIT: Oh. Actually… what is the exact published message? I’m guessing it may not be json.

Is it just:

"on"

Or does it contain:

{"state":"on"}
8

what I am receiving from blue iris is just “on” as per the attached

Capture
Capture727×767 25.8 KB

also the payload I am sending from blue iris is just “on”

9

That ain’t json.

Delete the value template line. You don’t need it. e.g.

#Left Driveway Motion
binary_sensor:
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "Driveway Left Motion"
    device_class: motion
    state_topic: "driveway_left_motion"
    payload_on: "on"
    payload_off: "off"
    off_delay: 30

Screenshot 2021-12-18 at 11-44-00 MQTT Binary Sensor
Screenshot 2021-12-18 at 11-44-00 MQTT Binary Sensor696×133 5.3 KB

1 Like
10

Works!!

what also worked is if I send a payload of : {“state”:“on”} but I like keeping things simple rather than over complicating them.

THanks for your help!

11

Yep That is because your template was looking for a state in a json formatted message.

This template would also work for your ‘on’ payload:

value_template: "{{ value }}"

Note the lack of value_json and just value instead. However it is completely unnecessary.