Yeah... I use helpers a lot. I probably use booleans and timers more than the others, but I have plenty of number and text helpers as well. Thanks for watching... and the comment. Been a while since I've heard from you!
Welcome to the Home Assistant rabbit hole! It can get deep at times, but glad you are finding my Home Assistant 101 videos helpful. They are generally targeted towards those just starting out, but there are a few topics that might help you out as you get a little more advanced as well. And of course, I'm always happy to help out and try to answer any questions you might have. Thanks for watching and taking time to leave a comment!
Wow, what an fantastic tutorial, particularly the structure of providing notated yaml alongside practical examples. After bumbling through much of what is covered here I cannot help but think that this should be mandatory viewing for anyone starting with Home Assistant. You are an excellent ambassador for the community, many thanks!
Thanks for the comment and kind words. While it does tend to make my videos longer than most, I like to include the "why" as well as the "how" so that those that might be a bit newer can understand the steps and be able to better adapt what I show for their own projects or needs. As far as YAML, it was pretty much what I learned as back when I started with Home Assistant. Back then, you had to do nearly everything in YAML and there weren't any 'UI editors'. So I try to always show both options... the UI editor method for those newer to Home Assistant and the YAML method for those "old timers" like me that still prefer to do everything in YAML. Thanks again for the very nice comment. It's comments like yours that motivate me to keep making videos!
I was pretty happy with figuring that out myself. But to make it work, I had to use the actual entity names in the input_select (e.g. remote.roku_ultra). Unfortunately, the input_select isn't exactly like combo/dropdowns in other languages, where you have both a return value and a display element for each list item. Instead, you only have the displayed text as the value. I could have used friendly names and a series of 'choose' options in the scripts, but that was a ton of extra YAML and since my entity names were descriptive enough for my needs, I used the entity names, which made the scripts much simpler. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the video. I'm trying to set up a form to add a calendar event, but whenever I add the input_text entity to a card it simply shows the state, not a text entry field. If I click on the state the more-info pops up and there is a text entry field there. How do you get the text entry field on your dashboard bu default? I've only been able to do it using custom:text-input-row... Fianlly, are you aware of a date-picker entity that would work for this?
Try using an entities card (not the single Entity card). While an entities card supports multiple entities, you can also use it with a single entity. In this case, it will show it as an input field where you can make entry. That's the type of card I used in the video to show an entry field (or a drop down selection) for all three of the different helper types. As far as a date picker, if you add the Time & Date integration (if you don't have it already), you can create a date entity and then if you put that on the same type of entities card, it will include a button with a pop-up calendar/date picker. There may be additional HACS components, but this can be done with "stock" Home Assistant to provide a date picker on your dashboard. Hope that points you in the right direction!
I developed my own theme... basically just by copying/modifying the default theme for a few tweaks. Most of the cards seen in this video are just the default stock cards. The only exceptions (I believe) are the custom button card and the custom text divider, both of which are available via HACS. I've started implementing some of the tile cards and need to play around with the new 'sections' for dashboards, especially for my mobile dashboard. It could use some work and doesn't look as nice as some of the others meant to display on a tablet or PC.
@15:05, you mention a "LED Maker Clock" and you show off a nice Scoreboard on your deshboard. Can you let me know which component this is? I am looking for a similar solution! th-cam.com/video/LxWUMvKzFkE/w-d-xo.html
It's something that I custom built with WS2812b LED strips and an ESP8266. I wrote custom Arduino code to make it all work. I have a very early (and poorly made) video on the matrix and its features: th-cam.com/video/uV_HQpqIp2I/w-d-xo.html Do note that while this version requires Home Assistant/MQTT for control, I am currently working on a standalone version that doesn't require Home Assistant, is about 30% smaller and has it's own web interface for settings and control. I suspect that I'll have this version done and possibly a video on the build sometime before Spring. But the code for the original Home Assistant version is available out on Github and there is also a blog article (links to both in the video description) on the build process. Of course I'd be happy to answer any questions about the matrix clock as well.
I've just recently started using input helpers. This video will save me a ton of learning!
Yeah... I use helpers a lot. I probably use booleans and timers more than the others, but I have plenty of number and text helpers as well.
Thanks for watching... and the comment. Been a while since I've heard from you!
I just jumped into this rabbit hole, and your videos are absolutely spot on for what I need. Well made and explained!
Welcome to the Home Assistant rabbit hole! It can get deep at times, but glad you are finding my Home Assistant 101 videos helpful. They are generally targeted towards those just starting out, but there are a few topics that might help you out as you get a little more advanced as well.
And of course, I'm always happy to help out and try to answer any questions you might have. Thanks for watching and taking time to leave a comment!
Wow, what an fantastic tutorial, particularly the structure of providing notated yaml alongside practical examples. After bumbling through much of what is covered here I cannot help but think that this should be mandatory viewing for anyone starting with Home Assistant. You are an excellent ambassador for the community, many thanks!
Thanks for the comment and kind words. While it does tend to make my videos longer than most, I like to include the "why" as well as the "how" so that those that might be a bit newer can understand the steps and be able to better adapt what I show for their own projects or needs.
As far as YAML, it was pretty much what I learned as back when I started with Home Assistant. Back then, you had to do nearly everything in YAML and there weren't any 'UI editors'. So I try to always show both options... the UI editor method for those newer to Home Assistant and the YAML method for those "old timers" like me that still prefer to do everything in YAML.
Thanks again for the very nice comment. It's comments like yours that motivate me to keep making videos!
Love that idea with controlling multiple Rokus. That is GREATNESS!
I was pretty happy with figuring that out myself. But to make it work, I had to use the actual entity names in the input_select (e.g. remote.roku_ultra). Unfortunately, the input_select isn't exactly like combo/dropdowns in other languages, where you have both a return value and a display element for each list item. Instead, you only have the displayed text as the value. I could have used friendly names and a series of 'choose' options in the scripts, but that was a ton of extra YAML and since my entity names were descriptive enough for my needs, I used the entity names, which made the scripts much simpler.
Thanks for the comment!
thank you very much 😀
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the video. I'm trying to set up a form to add a calendar event, but whenever I add the input_text entity to a card it simply shows the state, not a text entry field. If I click on the state the more-info pops up and there is a text entry field there. How do you get the text entry field on your dashboard bu default? I've only been able to do it using custom:text-input-row... Fianlly, are you aware of a date-picker entity that would work for this?
Try using an entities card (not the single Entity card). While an entities card supports multiple entities, you can also use it with a single entity. In this case, it will show it as an input field where you can make entry. That's the type of card I used in the video to show an entry field (or a drop down selection) for all three of the different helper types.
As far as a date picker, if you add the Time & Date integration (if you don't have it already), you can create a date entity and then if you put that on the same type of entities card, it will include a button with a pop-up calendar/date picker. There may be additional HACS components, but this can be done with "stock" Home Assistant to provide a date picker on your dashboard.
Hope that points you in the right direction!
@@ResinChemTech Perfect. Thanks!
What theme and cards are you using? Looks a lot nicer than mine!
I developed my own theme... basically just by copying/modifying the default theme for a few tweaks. Most of the cards seen in this video are just the default stock cards. The only exceptions (I believe) are the custom button card and the custom text divider, both of which are available via HACS.
I've started implementing some of the tile cards and need to play around with the new 'sections' for dashboards, especially for my mobile dashboard. It could use some work and doesn't look as nice as some of the others meant to display on a tablet or PC.
@ResinChemTech do you have a link to the ones on HACS?
Custom Button Card: github.com/custom-cards/button-card
Custom Text Divider: github.com/iantrich/text-divider-row
@15:05, you mention a "LED Maker Clock" and you show off a nice Scoreboard on your deshboard. Can you let me know which component this is? I am looking for a similar solution!
th-cam.com/video/LxWUMvKzFkE/w-d-xo.html
It's something that I custom built with WS2812b LED strips and an ESP8266. I wrote custom Arduino code to make it all work. I have a very early (and poorly made) video on the matrix and its features: th-cam.com/video/uV_HQpqIp2I/w-d-xo.html
Do note that while this version requires Home Assistant/MQTT for control, I am currently working on a standalone version that doesn't require Home Assistant, is about 30% smaller and has it's own web interface for settings and control. I suspect that I'll have this version done and possibly a video on the build sometime before Spring.
But the code for the original Home Assistant version is available out on Github and there is also a blog article (links to both in the video description) on the build process. Of course I'd be happy to answer any questions about the matrix clock as well.
@@ResinChemTech Nicely done sir! Thanks for the info, and Happy Holidays!
Very "Helpful"!! 😂
I see what you did there! Thanks.... and thanks for the comment.