AWTRIX does not render integers or numeric sensor data in YAML templates

[Turtlepaw]

Bug report

Describe the bug

AWTRIX fails to render integer values (such as sensor data) when the output consists solely of a number. However, when appending a non-numeric character (e.g., a space, letter, or symbol), AWTRIX renders the value correctly.

Additional information

• Devices involved:
  • Model: Ulanzi Awtrix Smart Pixel Clock 2882 (TC001)
  • awtrix3 version: 0.96

To Reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

• Set up AWTRIX with a custom sensor app to display step count or other numeric values (e.g., from a Home Assistant sensor).
• Use a YAML template that outputs an integer value, such as:

text: >
  {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') | int %}
  {{ steps }}

• AWTRIX fails to display anything (blank screen).
• Modify the template by appending a non-numeric character (e.g., a space, letter, or symbol) to the output, such as:

text: >
  {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') | int %}
  {{ steps ~ '*' }}

• AWTRIX now renders the text (e.g., 5000*).

Expected behavior

AWTRIX should render the integer (e.g., 5000) directly without requiring any additional characters.

Screenshots

Logs

No logs

Workaround

Appending an invisible character (like a zero-width space) or a visible symbol to the output forces AWTRIX to display the numeric value.

Example working code:

text: >
  {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') | int %}
  {{ steps ~ '​' }}  # Appending zero-width space

Additional context

This bug seems related to how AWTRIX processes or parses numeric values in YAML templates. It treats numeric-only outputs as invalid and doesn’t render them unless a non-numeric character is appended.

[eku]

What does the JSON structure that is sent to Awtrix look like?

[Blueforcer]

That's not a Bug.
According to the documentation, you need to send a String in the "text" key, not a number.

So it should be

text: > {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') %} {{ steps }}

To make sure it is a string use

text: > {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') | string %} {{ steps }}

[Turtlepaw]

Hi, @Blueforcer, when using the code you provided:

text: >
  {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') | string %}
  {{ steps }}

It still fails to render the text.

📸 Awtrix Image

🤖 Home Assistant Automation

This automation uses a third-party library: 10der/homeassistant-custom_components-awtrix

alias: Awtrix Steps
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4
  - trigger: time_pattern
    minutes: "14"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: awtrix.awtrix_2d8db4_push_app_data
    data:
      name: Steps
      data:
        text: >
          {% set steps = states('sensor.google_pixel_watch_daily_steps_4') |
          string %}  {{ steps }}
        icon: "30415"
        duration: 0
        pushIcon: 0
        lifetime: 900
        repeat: 1
mode: single

[Honusnap]

The problem is most certainly caused by the way the text is sent to the publish order, it's lost somewhere.