James M. Woodward

I continue to be perplexed but #homeassistant's lack of common sense options.

When a particular device turns on, I want to set a lamp to a specific brightness.

Is that option available?
No. I can toggle it, "Increase the brightness" or "decrease the brightness" but setting it to a specific value is MIA.

Who thought vague increase and decrease were useful, but not setting it to a specific value?

https://youtu.be/W63oJtX0dP8

Demolition Man - Illuminate Delluminate [HD]

YouTube
Sep 24, 2023 at 4:28amWeb
Show threadJames M. WoodwardSep 24, 2023

And yes. I can write yaml and do what I want, but really? The basic controls exposed by adding the device to a #Lovelace dashboard aren't available to a super simple automation?

But woo, glad they're focusing on voice control. That's clearly a critical function.

#snark
#homeassistant

Show threadRobert WardSep 24, 2023
@jmw Does using the “Lights: Turn On” service with a brightness not work for you? I have a few automations that use that to set lights to a certain value. All done in the UI.
Show threadJames M. WoodwardSep 24, 2023

@rtward I'll look into that. Thank you. Frankly I'm used to other systems that expose direct control when you pick the device and am not an expert in the nuances of Homeassistant.

So if it's possible (I presume it is based on your reply) then it feels like the interface for doing so could be worlds better.

Show threadPaul Sanders 😎Sep 24, 2023

@jmw @rtward yeah this should work (it’s how I do it)

The whole ‘service’ aspect is well confusing. Set and turn on/off have very weird behaviours depending on what the existing state is .

Show threadRobert WardSep 24, 2023
@jmw I can definitely get the confusion. I don’t know if this is the way the HA devs think of it, but in my mind “Device” actions are for device specific things. Changing config, custom stuff not common to other devices of the type. Services are for generic “actions”. Set the thermostat, turn on lights, start the vacuum. I’m guessing under the hood there’s more “smarts” to services that smooth out some cross device comparability issues.
Show threadJames M. WoodwardSep 24, 2023

@rtward I understand, and I get that HA is designed how it is. But, as I replied to another user, it just doesn't seem coherent that somebody has to know the right service name in order to control a device. Rather; Why don't the devices themselves indicate the services that call them? I am still boggled as to why the device control has increase and decrease brightness, but I shouldn't expect to find a direct control for its brightness level in the same settings.

I'm not a dev for HA, so I don't want to debate too heavily how it works, obviously I can't change it, I just don't think it makes good sense.