Switch at sunset - add offset & also show in Lights & Switches?

SmartApps & Automations
#1

I have a light that I want to turn on an hour before sunset. I saw in the developer documentation that there is example code that takes sunset with offset, and it’s pretty much 100% there.

But by doing this, I lose the shortcut of having the light switch in the “Lights & Switches” category.

Is there a way to modify the built-in script to have an offset or is there a way for a SmartApp to publish into the Lights & Switches category?

#2

I’m not quite sure what the issue is: creating a custom smartapp with offset won’t remove the light from a Lights and Switches Shortcut. They just become two parallel means of control. But perhaps I’m not understanding something?

Meanwhile, I did want to mention that there is an offset option built in to Hello Home Actions, which might be the fastest solution.

Leave the Shortcut group as is.
Set up a parallel Hello Home Action with the offset, including whatever individual lights you like.
Done.

768×1024 78.9 KB

This is one of the differences between shortcuts and hello home actions.

But again setting up the Hello Home Action doesn’t remove a light from its shortcut group, it’s just a parallel means of control.

1 Like
#3

Great info here, I’ll check it out. And sorry for the confusion - my initial issue was that by removing the built-in smartapp amd making my own, I lose the shortcut out of “Lights & Switches”.

I’ll read these links you’ve posted for more info. Thanks

2 Likes
#4

If you need more info about Hello Home Actions, this might also be of interest:

2 Likes