Input datetime - Spook 👻 a scary powerful toolbox for Home Assistant.

The input datetime helper in Home Assistant holds a date, a time, or both, that can be set from the frontend or from automations, and used as a trigger. An alarm clock you can put on a dashboard, for example.

Spook adds actions to the input datetime integration to create and delete these helpers from automations and scripts.

Devices & entities¶

Spook does not provide any new devices or entities for this integration.

Actions¶

Spook adds the following new actions to your Home Assistant instance:

Create an input datetime¶

Creates a new input datetime helper, the same as adding one on the helpers page. Great for a script that needs to remember a moment only for itself: it can make one, and delete it again when it is done.

Open your Home Assistant instance and show the Actions tool with a specific action selected.

Action properties
Action	Input datetime: Create an input datetime 👻
Action name	`input_datetime.create`
Action targets	No targets
Action response	Optional, the `entity_id` of the new input datetime
Spook's influence	Newly added action
Tools	Try this action

Action data parameters
Attribute	Type	Required	Default / Example
`name`	string	Yes	`Wake up`
`input_datetime_id`	string	No	`wake_up`
`has_date`	boolean	No	`false`
`has_time`	boolean	No	`true`
`initial`	string	No	`07:30:00`
`icon`	string	No	`mdi:alarm`

At least one of has_date and has_time has to be on, and both are off when left out, so give at least one. An initial value has to be something Home Assistant can read as a date, a time, or both; one it cannot is refused before anything is made.

Without an input_datetime_id, the entity ID follows the name, as it does in the UI, and gets a number at the end if that name is already taken. With an input_datetime_id, you get exactly that entity ID or an error: one that is already taken is refused, rather than quietly given a number at the end.

Example action in YAML

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
action: input_datetime.create
data:
  name: "Wake up"
  input_datetime_id: wake_up
  has_time: true
  initial: "07:30:00"
response_variable: created

The new input datetime’s entity ID is then in {{ created.entity_id }}.

Delete an input datetime¶

Deletes one or more input datetime helpers made in the UI or with the action above, disabled ones included. Input datetimes set up in YAML can only be removed from the YAML.

Everything in the list is checked first: if one of them cannot be deleted, none of them are.

Action properties
Action	Input datetime: Delete an input datetime 👻
Action name	`input_datetime.delete`
Action targets	No targets
Action response	No response
Spook's influence	Newly added action
Tools	Try this action

Action data parameters
Attribute	Type	Required	Default / Example
`entity_id`	string \| list of strings	Yes	`input_datetime.wake_up`

Example action in YAML

1
2
3
action: input_datetime.delete
data:
  entity_id: input_datetime.wake_up

Repairs¶

Spook has no repair detections for this integration.

Use cases¶

Some use cases for the enhancements Spook provides for this integration:

Let a script make the date or time it needs, and clean it up again afterwards, so the helpers page only has input datetimes you actually use.

Blueprints & tutorials¶

There are currently no known blueprints or tutorials for the enhancements Spook provides for this integration. If you created one or stumbled upon one, please let us know in our discussion forums.

Feature requests, ideas, and support¶

If you have an idea on how to further enhance this integration, for example, by adding a new action, entity, or repairs detection; feel free to let us know in our discussion forums.

Are you stuck using these new features? Or maybe you’ve run into a bug? Please check the Support page on where to go for help.