Use a helper as a source

[emiliosic]

I'd like to be able to use a helper as a source:
I created a Helper 'Input Boolean' that changes based on HomeKit presence.
However I cannot use it with composite tracker because inputs can only be entities,

[pnbruckner]

"Input Boolean" helpers are entities. Their domain is input_boolean. However, composite only accepts entities in the device_tracker or binary_sensor domains, or any other entity that has the required attributes (see the docs.)

So, instead of an Input Boolean helper, you should make a Binary Sensor Template helper. I.e., when creating the helper, pick Template instead of Toggle, then on the next page select "Template a binary sensor".

[pnbruckner]

If you can't make that work, let me know. It probably wouldn't be that difficult to add support for input_boolean entities and make them behave just like binary_sensor entities.

[emiliosic]

Thanks. That makes sense. I'm confused however how to create the template, because the value is not related to anything in HA. What I want to do is expose it to HomeKit and then have an automation in Apple Home to change it based on HomeKit's presence state.
Looking at the template documentation, it seems to indicate that it needs an event to change the value, which I don't have in HA: https://mantikor.github.io/components/binary_sensor.template/

[pnbruckner]

Can you share the YAML code of how you're setting the input_boolean?

[emiliosic]

Configured it from the UI: From Helpers, created a Toggle. Only asks for the name and icon.
Don't see anything in the configuration yaml, but see this on /root/config/.storage/input_boolean:

{
  "version": 1,
  "minor_version": 1,
  "key": "input_boolean",
  "data": {
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "hkha_my_presence",
        "name": "HKHA My Presence",
        "icon": "mdi:account"
      }
    ]
  }
}

[pnbruckner]

Thanks, but I was asking for code that changes that helper. An automation, script, ...

[emiliosic]

Ah, there's nothing in HA that changes it. The way it works is that the HA helper is exposed as a switch in Apple Home (HomeKit), which is exposed via the 'HomeKit Bridge' service.
Then I use a HomeKit automation that changes the state of the button whenever the presence in HomeKit changes.
To test it manually, I can press the button in the Apple Home app or from the HA interface. Either way it changes immediately on both platforms.

[pnbruckner]

Ah, there's nothing in HA that changes it. The way it works is that the HA helper is exposed as a switch in Apple Home (HomeKit), which is exposed via the 'HomeKit Bridge' service.

It would seem to be the HomeKit Bridge service that changes it. That is in HA. However, I don't know anything about that integration, so I'm not sure how it could be made to work with a template binary sensor, if at all.

One easy thing to do would be to create a template binary sensor that just mirrors the state of the input boolean helper. Then use the template binary sensor entity with the composite integration.

Let's leave this open to remind me to add direct support for input boolean helpers.

[pnbruckner]

@emiliosic I know it's been quite a while, but I finally have some time to spend on HA integrations again. Do you still need or want support for input boolean helpers?

[emiliosic]

I'm all set for now because I end up creating a template binary sensor as you suggested. It's been working fine for a few months now, but I barely remember what I had to do to get this working and it was more complicated than what it needed to be.
In the end, ended up using Alarmo, this plugin, the template binary sensor. All so I could reflect the presence of persons in the house based on their Apple Home status.
So I do think that if this plugin can be more flexible in what it takes as an input and avoid the template, it can be useful to others as well.
Thanks!