Add mode trigger to SmartThings channel on IFTTT

[mbmccormick (Matt Mc Cormick)]

Would be great if we could get a mode trigger added to the SmartThings channel on IFTTT.com. For example, If the mode is changed to Goodbye, then send me a text message “The house has been armed away.”

[JDRoberts]

There are two ways to do this now, although neither is perfect.

1. whenever you do something that changes the mode behind the scenes, whether it’s a hello home action or a smartapp, have that flip a virtual switch. You can use that virtual switch to trigger IFTTT. However, if you just change the mode manually through the mobile app, it won’t catch it.

2. alternatively, create a smartapp to subscribe to mode changes and and flip that switch. This has the advantage of picking up even manual mode changes, but the disadvantage of requiring more system resources and more custom code. See @baldeagle072 's comment below. (Edited to correct for subscription method.)

Both require some custom coding, if only to set up the virtual switch. ( btw, @baldeagle072 has a smartapp that simplifies creating a tile for a virtual switch. )

[kevintierney]

It’s pretty easy to do with virtual switches. Here’s a thread on it

Can someone modify the big switch app to call Hello Home Phrases?

I am trying to figure a way to call hello home phrases from the dashboard. I can create a virtual switch, put it in the lights and switches dashboard and then associate the big switch smart app with it. Triggering the virtual switch would trigger the big switch and if the big switch could run a hello home phrase we would be good to go. So can someone modify the smartapp to trigger a hello home phrase instead of individual switches?

For me, I use a modified version of what’s in that thread along with virtual momentary switches. I only use the switches to send the commands and so I use the momentary switches (not monitoring the state). The benefit of the momentary switches is that when pressed, they send an on command followed by an off. I use the app to monitor only the on commands and send the HH command.

IFTTT then can send on commands to the virtual switch or monitor for the switch being turned on. Monitoring the on works well. I use it to trigger harmony commands via IFTTT when I push the virtual button.

Here’s my modified code in case you want to use it. In addition to only using the on command, there’s an optional delay, which I use in my case to set the away mode. This way, I can arm the away mode 60 seconds after pressing the button so I can get out the door without an alert.

https://github.com/tierneykev/SmartThings/blob/master/Hello%20Home%20Momentary%20Switch

[vitamincm (Christopher Masiello)]

This is all pretty cool, but seriously, SmartThings needs to update the API/IFTTT capabilities already. It can’t be that big of a deal.

[baldeagle072 (Eric R)]

@JDRoberts

schedule a smartapp to run occasionally, check the mode, and flip that switch

You don’t need to schedule to check the mode. You can subscribe to mode changes using subscribe(location, onLocation). In onLocation(evt), evt.value should give you your mode that was just changed to. It even works when you manually change mode in the mobile app

[JDRoberts]

@baldeagle072

You don’t need to schedule to check the mode. You can subscribe to mode changes using subscribe(location, onLocation). In onLocation(evt), evt.value should give you your mode that was just changed to. It even works when you manually change mode in the mobile app

Awesome, I will edit my post.

[meagermind]

Agreed. I’m surprised changing modes wasn’t a trigger to begin with.

Is there a better place to request this be added to the integration with IFTTT?