Two ways to set a switch : is there a difference?

mahikeulbody · February 5, 2020, 2:23pm

Hi,

With automation UI, I can set a switch following two different ways:

Action type: Call service
Service: switch.turn_on
Name of entity to turn on: switch.my_plug

or

Action type: Device
Device: my plug
Action: Turn on my plug

I presume there are cases where a way is better or may be it is the only way. Have you an example ?

petro · February 5, 2020, 2:28pm

If you are manually creating automations in yaml, use the first example you posted. The second example is what the UI generates and it’s not intended to be manually used.

mahikeulbody · February 5, 2020, 2:58pm

I am not talking about manual yaml configuration. Both cases describe how I fulfilled the fields into the automation UI. So my question remains : why two UI ways to do the same ?

petro · February 5, 2020, 3:06pm

old way verse new way. People had issues understanding the old way (call_service) method, so a new automation method was born for people who didn’t understand.

There is no difference other than how you want to tailor your automations.

mahikeulbody · February 5, 2020, 3:20pm

I am disappointed, I hoped a real difference
Thank you for the help !

petro · February 5, 2020, 3:24pm

Can I ask why?

mahikeulbody · February 5, 2020, 9:55pm

It was a joke, sorry.
Thanks again.