# Frequently Asked Questions, or "How Do I ...?"

How do I format dates?

Use [strftime](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#strftime-strptime-behavior) in `value_template` or `date_template`: ```yaml # returns "20.03.2020" value_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%d.%m.%Y")}}' date_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%d.%m.%Y")}}' # returns "03/20/2020" value_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%m/%d/%Y")}}' date_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%m/%d/%Y")}}' # returns "Fri, 03/20/2020" value_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%a, %m/%d/%Y")}}' date_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%a, %m/%d/%Y")}}' ```

How do I show the number of days to the next collection?

Set `value_template` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml value_template: 'in {{value.daysTo}} days' ```

How do I show Today / Tomorrow instead of in 0 / 1 days?

Set `value_template` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml # returns "Today" if value.daysTo == 0 # returns "Tomorrow" if value.daysTo == 1 # returns "in X days" if value.daysTo > 1 value_template: '{% if value.daysTo == 0 %}Today{% elif value.daysTo == 1 %}Tomorrow{% else %}in {{value.daysTo}} days{% endif %}' ```

How do I join waste types in a value_template?

Use the `join` filter: ```yaml # returns "Garbage, Recycle" value_template: '{{value.types|join(", ")}}' # returns "Garbage+Recycle" value_template: '{{value.types|join("+")}}' ``` Note: If you don't specify a `value_template`, waste types will be joined using the `separator` configuration variable.

How do I setup a sensor which shows only the days to the next collection?

Set `value_template` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml value_template: '{{value.daysTo}}' ```

How do I setup a sensor which shows only the date of the next collection?

Set `value_template` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml value_template: '{{value.date.strftime("%m/%d/%Y")}}' ```

How do I configure a sensor which shows only the waste type of the next collection?

Set `value_template` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml value_template: '{{value.types|join(", ")}}' ```

How do I configure sensors which show the first, second, third collection?

Set `event_index` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml sensor: - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: first_garbage_collection event_index: 0 value_template: '{{value.types|join(", ")}} in {{ value.daysTo }} days' - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: second_garbage_collection event_index: 1 value_template: '{{value.types|join(", ")}} in {{ value.daysTo }} days' - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: third_garbage_collection event_index: 3 value_template: '{{value.types|join(", ")}} in {{ value.daysTo }} days' ```

How do I configure a sensor to show only collections of a specific waste type?

Set `types` within the sensor configuration: ```yaml sensor: - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: next_garbage_collection types: - Garbage - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: next_recycle_collection types: - Recycle ``` Note: If you have set an alias for a waste type, you must use the alias name.

How can I rename an waste type?

Set `alias` in the customize section of a source: ```yaml waste_collection_schedule: sources: - name: NAME customize: - type: Very long garbage name alias: Garbage - type: Very long recycle name alias: Recycle ```

How can I hide a waste type I don't want to see?

Set `show` configuration variable to *false* in the customize section of a source: ```yaml waste_collection_schedule: sources: - name: NAME customize: - type: Unwanted Waste Type show: false ```

How do I show a coloured Lovelace card depending on the due date?

You can use [Button Card](https://github.com/custom-cards/button-card) to create a coloured Lovelace cards: ![Button Card](/images/button-cards.png) ```yaml # configuration.yaml sensor: - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: MyButtonCardSensor value_template: '{{value.types|join(", ")}}|{{value.daysTo}}|{{value.date.strftime("%d.%m.%Y")}}|{{value.date.strftime("%a")}}' ``` ```yaml # button-card configuration type: 'custom:button-card' entity: sensor.mybuttoncardsensor layout: icon_name_state2nd show_label: true label: | [[[ var days_to = entity.state.split("|")[1] if (days_to == 0) { return "Today" } else if (days_to == 1) { return "Tomorrow" } else { return "in " + days_to + " days" } ]]] show_name: true name: | [[[ return entity.state.split("|")[0] ]]] state: - color: red operator: template value: '[[[ return entity.state.split("|")[1] == 0 ]]]' - color: orange operator: template value: '[[[ return entity.state.split("|")[1] == 1 ]]]' - value: default ```

Can I also use the Garbage Collection Card instead?

Yes, the [Garbage Collection Card](https://github.com/amaximus/garbage-collection-card) can also be used with *Waste Collection Schedule*: ```yaml # configuration.yaml sensor: - platform: waste_collection_schedule name: garbage_days details_format: appointment_types value_template: "{{ value.daysTo }}" types: - Garbage - platform: template sensors: garbage: value_template: > {% if states('sensor.garbage_days')|int > 2 %} 2 {% else %} {{ states('sensor.garbage_days')|int }} {% endif %} attribute_templates: next_date: "{{ state_attr('sensor.garbage_days', 'Garbage') }}" days: "{{ states('sensor.garbage_days')|int }}" ``` ```yaml # garbage-collection-card configuration entity: sensor.garbage type: 'custom:garbage-collection-card' ```

How can I sort waste type specific entities?

Prerequisites: You already have dedicated sensors per waste type and want to show the sensor with the next collection in a Lovelace card. Add `add_days_to: True` to the configuration of all sensors you want to sort. This will add the attribute `daysTo` which can be used by e.g. [auto-entities](https://github.com/thomasloven/lovelace-auto-entities) to sort entities by day of next collection.