This automation won't save

Configuration
1

I’ve cobbled together this automation in yaml mode but when i go to save it it gives the following error
Message malformed: extra keys not allowed @ data[‘0’]

Any ideas thanks?

- alias: Turn on Gecko1 at 00:01
  trigger:
    platform: time
    at: '00:01:00'
  condition:  
    condition: template
    value_template: "{{ (now().date() - states('input_datetime.gecko1_on_time').date() | as_datetime).days >= 4 }}"
  action:
    - service: input_boolean.turn_on
      entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
    - service: input_datetime.set_datetime
      target:
        entity_id: input_datetime.gecko1_on_time
      data:
        datetime: "{{ now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}"
2

At first glance I’d say triggers and conditions should be an array, so preceded by -
But to be sure, create one in the UI and you’ll see the structure you should have had.

3

You need to use data or target for the entity ID…

    - service: input_boolean.turn_on
      target:
        entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
4

thanks guys… this is now what i have and it seems to work how i want it

alias: tester
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: "18:30:00"
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: >-
      "{{ (now().date() - states('input_datetime.gecko1_on_time').date() | as_datetime).days >= 4 }}"
action:
  - service: input_boolean.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
    data: {}
  - service: input_datetime.set_datetime
    target:
      entity_id: input_datetime.gecko1_on_time
    data:
      datetime: "{{ now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}"
mode: single
5

Are you sure this does what you want? Because the quotes are for single line templates, if you use >- I think the quotes should go.

6

… and this no longer names the entity

7

yeah sorry just noticed that and edited :rofl:

8

mmmm, tested it with developer tools > states and the input boolean is turning on and the date is being updated, however I will try it without quotes

9

What’s the purpose of this automation?

It appears to turn on an Input Boolean every 4 days at 18:30.

If that’s all it does then it’s possible to do that without an Input Datetime.

Example

Turn on Input Boolean every 4 days at 18:30.

alias: tester
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: "18:30:00"
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ (now() - as_datetime(0)).days % 4 == 0 }}"
action:
  - service: input_boolean.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
mode: single
10

Hi
Yes it just turns on the input boolean but only if it’s 4 days since it was last turned on, hence why i was trying to use input datetime to store the last time it was turned on, maybe i’m making it more complicated than it needs to be?

11

I was testing it by just running it, forgetting that this overrides the condition.
when i have tried it in a real world situation the condition doesn’t pass because there is an error in my template
Error: In ‘template’ condition: UndefinedError: ‘str object’ has no attribute ‘date’

12

Ok @Didgeridrew @123 @Edwin_D
I now have this which has been tested in a real world situation and seems to work fine, I have added another action which turns the input boolean off again just before midnight.
My next task is to set 2 more conditions so that it only runs if it’s 4 days since last running but if it’s 16 days then dont turn the boolean on but DO set the input datetime.
Thanks for your help so far… I’ll be back :rofl:

alias: Turn Gecko1 On Every 4 Days
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: "00:01:00"
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: >-
      {{ (now().date() - strptime(states('input_datetime.gecko1_on_time'),
      '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S').date()).days >= 4 }}
action:
  - service: input_boolean.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
    data: {}
  - service: input_datetime.set_datetime
    target:
      entity_id: input_datetime.gecko1_on_time
    data:
      datetime: "{{ now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}"
  - wait_for_trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: "23:59:00"
  - service: input_boolean.turn_off
    data: {}
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
mode: single
13

Yes.

See the example I posted above which does what you want without an Input Datetime.

If you want the automation to turn on the Input Boolean every 4 days at one time and off at another time (later on the same day), then I suggest this:

alias: tester
description: ""
trigger:
  - id: 'on'
    platform: time
    at: '01:00:00'
  - id: 'off'
    platform: time
    at: '23:59:00'
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ (now() - as_datetime(0)).days % 4 == 0 }}"
action:
  - service: 'input_boolean.turn_{{ trigger.id }}'
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.gecko1
mode: single