Why does this condition keep giving me errors?

RobDYI · January 24, 2019, 9:48pm

Please help me find out the correct way to format this condition.

automation mqtt_config_entity_creator:
  alias: mqtt_config_entity_creator
  trigger:
    platform: mqtt
    topic: 'homeassistant/binary_sensor/#'    
  condition:
    condition: template
    value_template: "{{ trigger.topic.split("/")[3] == 'device_class' }}"

I get

Configuration invalid

Error loading /Users/xxx/.homeassistant/configuration.yaml: while parsing a block mapping in “/Users/xxx/.homeassistant/configuration.yaml”, line 1504, column 5 expected <block end>, but found ‘<scalar>’ in “/Users/xxx/.homeassistant/configuration.yaml”, line 1505, column 46

silvrr · January 24, 2019, 9:52pm

What is line 1505? Try using only single quotes inside the template with double outside.

Try value_template: "{{ trigger.topic.split('/')[3] == 'device_class' }}" instead of value_template: "{{ trigger.topic.split("/")[3] == 'device_class' }}"

RobDYI · January 24, 2019, 9:56pm

Thank you, it made it through the config check.

silvrr · January 24, 2019, 9:58pm

good to hear.

I think it treats the quotes in groups from left to right so all it saw was, "{{ trigger.topic.split("

I have found it useful to always use double quotes on the outside of the {{ }} and singles for anything inside the {{ }} .

petro · January 25, 2019, 12:57pm

Yah, a word of advice, don’t use a generic text editor. Use something like notepad++ to view your configurations. quote manipulation will stand out. For example take a look at what you wrote using the markdown on this forum:

value_template: "{{ trigger.topic.split("/")[3] == 'device_class' }}"

Notice how you have 2 red sections separated by a black slash? That essentially shows you what the parser sees. 2 strings with a non-string in between.

Now take a look at @silvrr solution.

value_template: "{{ trigger.topic.split('/')[3] == 'device_class' }}"

One large string!

Text editors easily point this stuff out visually. Always good to use something that understands yaml.

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 1:09pm

Next to that, I’d suggest to take it a little further and use the multi-line notation, to prevent errors with those quotes in the first place. Make life easy (as possible…):

value_template: >
  {{ trigger.topic.split('/')[3] == 'device_class' }}

petro · January 25, 2019, 1:13pm

Yep, because it helps even more by splitting up your code when using something that displays markdown:

value_template: >
  {{ trigger.topic.split('/')[3] == 'device_class' }}

See how numbers, strings, and objects/methods are all different colors?

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 1:20pm

I never understand why you show colors and I don’t… though I use the <> and have colors in my editor?

petro · January 25, 2019, 1:24pm

Thats why!

using ` x3 (top left most button on keyboard below escape, typically also has the ~ button on it)

# this will markdown like python, remove word python to just use general markdown
print('hello world')

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 1:28pm

not on a MacBook air it is

value_template: >
  {{ trigger.topic.split('/')[3] == 'device_class' }}

bingo!
cool, thanks!

petro · January 25, 2019, 1:28pm

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 1:33pm

now that I have you here on templates… please allow this distantly related question:

using this:

    laundry_schedule_night:
      friendly_name: Laundry schedule night
      value_template: >
        {{states('sensor.laundry_schedule')[1:-13]}}
    laundry_schedule_day:
      friendly_name: Laundry schedule day
      value_template: >
        {{states('sensor.laundry_schedule')[11:-3]}}

gives me:

based on:

would there be a better way to template these times out of the mother sensor. Using .split or some other jinja technique? I can split at the / but then I would still need to cut the last :00 and starting T…

or maybe even one step extra back: these mother sensors are created with this:

- platform: command_line
  name: Laundry schedule
  command: curl -X GET http://192.168.1.212/api/API/rules/93
  value_template: >
    {{ value_json.conditions[0].value }}

so maybe change the value_template?

hop over to Hue motion sensors + remotes: custom component for the full thread…

petro · January 25, 2019, 1:37pm

I mean, if the mother sensor never changes it’s format, then no reason to change it.

Otherwise you could do:

{{ states('sensor.laundry_schedule').split('\\')[0][4:] }}

and

{{ states('sensor.laundry_schedule').split('\\')[1][4:] }}

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 1:41pm

not really:

changed your second template cause that results in

Error rendering template: UndefinedError: list object has no element 1

vloris · January 25, 2019, 1:52pm

There is a forward slash (’/’), not a backslash (’\’) in there, you might want to change split('\\') to split('/')

petro · January 25, 2019, 1:59pm

Yah, used wrong slash

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 2:10pm

sorry for that…

but, had to change anyway:

{ states('sensor.laundry_schedule').split('/')[0][1:-3] }}

{{ states('sensor.laundry_schedule').split('/')[1][1:-3] }}

{{states('sensor.laundry_schedule')[1:-13]}}

{{states('sensor.laundry_schedule')[11:-3]}}

is this just a formatting thing, or would you prefer one fo these above the other, and if so why?

petro · January 25, 2019, 2:17pm

if the data changes shape, then you’d want to go with the method I posted. If it’s always the same, either works fine and it’s up to you.

Mariusthvdb · January 25, 2019, 2:21pm

a yes, of course! clever… Don’t think it will ever change, how could it in fact, but will change to your setup anyhow. Like the rationale behind it. intelligence vs brute force.cool.

RobDYI · January 26, 2019, 1:08am

I got my project working, thanks again.