Possible to template "expanded" state?

[jabronimus]

This is a great card, so thank you for making this!

The feature I would like is the ability to "template" the "expanded" state. As an example, instead of expanded: true or expanded: false, I would like to be able to do something like the following:

expanded: |
  {% if states('input_boolean.washing_machine_running') == 'on' %}
    true
  {% else %}
    false
  {% endif %}

[MelleD]

This is exactly what is currently not possible and for this you would have to control the HA backend. A good place to start could be the mushroom card. That's where it was implemented.

If anyone has experience with this, I would be happy if someone could contribute this feature.

Maybe it is also possible to set the status via card mod. Haven't tried it myself yet.

[jabronimus]

Yeah, I mean I could use a conditional card, duplicate the expander card info with one version being "expanded: true" and one version being "expanded: false", and set the conditions in the conditional card ... but that's like ... a LOT of work.

A decluttering template might also be an option.

[MelleD]

but that's like ... a LOT of work.

It depends, i'am using the YAML Mode in HA for my UI. There you can move the the complete expander card into one file and then just reuse it in your conditional card with !include.
I do this a lot to have only one single place when I have cards in more than one places in my UI.

e.g.

      - type: conditional
        condtions:
          - condition: state
            entity: sensor.waschmaschine
            state: "on"
        card: 
          - type: custom:expander-card
            expanded: true
            cards: !include my-expander.yaml
      - type: conditional
        condtions:
          - condition: state
            entity: sensor.waschmaschine
            state: "off"
        card: 
          - type: custom:expander-card
            expanded: false
            cards: !include my-expander.yaml

[jabronimus]

That's what i ended up doing, so i'm going to consider this closed

[MelleD]

From my point of view it can remain open, the feature definitely makes sense to offer template support :)

[rodehoed]

Hi all. And especially @MelleD , the include trick. Can this be used to change the background color of the expand card too based on a sensors state too?

And btw great work! I think it should be include in HA by default, such a handy and space saving function!

[MelleD]

Yes why not you can create 2 cards with different background and check with conditional which you would like to show.
Or you try card mod https://github.com/MelleD/lovelace-expander-card?tab=readme-ov-file#card-mod

[mdagbro]

Hi! I was looking for this feature too to automatically expand the room I'm in.

I understand having a template may be impossible for now.. But how about tying it to a binary_sensor? Would that be possible? Then we could create helper sensors with templates (or use existing sensors)