Why hide all the good stuff ? Entity Picker Update.. No easy way to copy anymore

So I can’t easily copy a entity anymore? Entity pickers not cool now !!
It started with not being able to just copy “sensor.thing” Only able to copy “thing”
Now I can’t even select ANY text ?
Why? just because it looks nicer? ick…
What ever entity is already in-place should be copyable !!
Please let us highlight the entity in the entity picker :pray:

Otherwise it’s wasting everyone’s time

I’m confused. You can still type the entity name in the search box:

And entity names will still appear if you tick the box in user settings:

Which entity picker are you talking about?

Here is a picture of how we use to be able to select the entity and copy it.

Now when I click on the entity picker… I get a empty line… can’t copy nothing.

this looks really nice like this. but rookies and even me don’t know this is a switch entity.


But it looks nice but useless as a programmer.

So this is after the entity has been selected? You’re right, you have to go to edit in yaml to copy that.

But it looks nicer… Am I right?

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Hello Joe3,

There’s a toggle for that…

Turn it back on in your user settings…

That would be wonderful !!! Mine is already on but still blank.

You’re partially correct. There is no way to copy the entity in the Automations page unless you switch to yaml mode with this new implementation.

However, the Developer tools does show a dedicated copy icon next to the (optional) entity. I’m not sure why this was left out in the automations page, maybe they missed it or left it out on purpose.

I suggest you clarify your initial post, given that there is indeed a way to copy the entity.

Why take something so useful away… is my only point.
Thanks guys for all the workarounds…
I don’t see that copy icon in my selector, as pictured above.

Maybe it’s just a bug. :crossed_fingers:

The dev tools dont help, if i want to lookup/copy an entity from any place it is used (automation, card, …) to use it elsewhere.

I suggest you re-read my post in its entirety. I made 2 things quite clear there:

  1. It could be a bug and they missed adding the copy icon, or it could have been intentionally left out.
  2. You can still grab the entity in Automations or Cards by switching to yaml mode. It’s just one (admittedly annoying) extra click.

Whether you feel this is a bug or a missed feature, the only place to raise frontend issues is on github.

Proposing a button “copy entity-id” located nearby an entity selector could be a good way.

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Yes, this is already implemented in the dev tools page (see my screenshot in the previous post)

I genuinely think they forgot to add it to the Automations & Cards, given it’s implemented in Dev tools with no issues.

A better way would be adding this button onto the field. Or on the right side.