Add debug mode and harden notify flow in Alarm Notification

- Add `debug_enabled` input that surfaces per-stage persistent
  notifications ([1/4] trigger, [1.5/4] conditions, [2/4] message,
  [2.25/4]/[2.75/4] around the service call, [3/4] result,
  [3.5/4] post-branch checkpoint, [4/4] alarm control).
- Include a `blueprint_version` stamp in [1/4] so it's obvious
  when a stale cached copy is still running.
- Gate the notify branch on `trigger.id == 'sensor_on'` so clearing
  a sensor no longer fires a stray notification when another sensor
  is still active.
- Replace `binary_sensors.index()` (sandbox-restricted) with a
  namespace loop and drop the `sensor_index.__class__` reference
  that broke the [2/4] render.
- Drop `response_variable` from the notify call — it could abort
  the script past `continue_on_error` when the service didn't
  declare response support.
- Add `continue_on_error` on notify and alarm service calls so one
  misconfigured step doesn't cancel the whole automation.
- Tighten `has_notify_target`/`has_alarm_switch` to also reject
  whitespace, '[]', and 'None' string forms.

Version bumped 2.5.2 → 2.6.4.

Common/Alarm Notification/README.md

@@ -8,7 +8,50 @@ This blueprint monitors multiple binary sensors and triggers push notifications
 - Debounce timer to prevent false alarms from brief sensor triggers
 - Optional melody and volume selection for alarm devices
 - Automatic alarm turn-off when all sensors clear
+- Notifications are only sent on sensor ON (not on clear)
+- Built-in debug mode that creates persistent notifications at each stage
+
+## Debug Mode
+
+Enable the **Debug** → **Enable Debug Logging** toggle to create persistent
+notifications at each execution stage. Use this when notifications are not
+reaching the target device:
+
+1. **[1/4] Trigger Received** — shows trigger ID, entity, state transition,
+   which sensors are currently on, the resolved notify target, and whether
+   it is considered "usable" by the condition check.
+2. **[2/4] Sending Notification** — shows the target entity, sensor index,
+   and the exact message that will be sent.
+3. **[3/4] Notification Sent** — shown after the `notify.send_message` call.
+   Contains a troubleshooting checklist if the notification never arrives.
+4. **[4/4] Alarm Control Done** — shows which alarm switch action was taken.
+
+Additionally, stage info is written to the HA system log under the
+`blueprint.alarm_notification` logger.
+
+### Common causes of "no notification delivered"
+
+- The notify integration is offline or the target device has notifications
+  disabled.
+- `notify_target` is not actually a notify **entity**. Test from Developer
+  Tools → Actions → `notify.send_message` with the same target and
+  message; if that fails there, it will fail in the blueprint too.
+- The sensor state change was shorter than the debounce duration and the
+  `sensor_on` trigger never fired. Temporarily set debounce to `0` to rule
+  this out.
+- The notify integration rejects the message (e.g., Telegram bot with an
+  invalid `chat_id` in its configuration). Check the HA log for the
+  failing service call.
+
+### Implementation note: notify via `notify.send_message`
+
+The blueprint uses `action: notify.send_message` with
+`target.entity_id: "{{ notify_target }}"`. This is the canonical modern HA
+pattern and requires `notify_target` to be a notify **entity** (visible in
+Developer Tools → States). Integrations that only register a `notify.<name>`
+service but no entity are not supported by this blueprint directly — create
+a notify entity for them or adapt the blueprint.
 
 ## Author
 
-Alexei Dolgolyov (dolgolyov.alexei@gmail.com)
+Alexei Dolgolyov (<dolgolyov.alexei@gmail.com>)

Common/Alarm Notification/blueprint.yaml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Multi-Sensor Alarm & Notification Blueprint
-# Monitors sensors and triggers notifications and alarms when activated.
+# Monitors sensors and triggers notifications and alarm actions when activated.
 # See README.md for detailed documentation.
 
 blueprint:
@@ -119,6 +119,23 @@ blueprint:
           selector:
             text:
 
+    # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Debug Configuration
+    # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    debug_group:
+      name: "Debug"
+      collapsed: true
+      input:
+        debug_enabled:
+          name: Enable Debug Logging
+          description: >
+            When enabled, creates persistent notifications at each stage of execution:
+            trigger received, notification attempt, notification result, alarm control.
+            Use to troubleshoot why notifications aren't reaching the target.
+          default: false
+          selector:
+            boolean:
+
 # Restart mode ensures rapid sensor changes are handled cleanly
 mode: restart
 
@@ -153,23 +170,31 @@ variables:
   melody_id: !input melody_id
   volume_select: !input volume_select
   volume_id: !input volume_id
+  is_debug: !input debug_enabled
 
   # Computed state values
   enabled_sensors: "{{ binary_sensors | select('is_state', 'on') | list }}"
-  is_any_sensor_on: "{{ enabled_sensors | length > 0 }}"
+  is_any_sensor_on: "{{ (binary_sensors | select('is_state', 'on') | list | length) > 0 }}"
+
+  # Whether a usable notify target is configured
+  has_notify_target: "{{ notify_target is not none and (notify_target | string | trim) not in ['', '[]', 'None'] }}"
+
+  # Whether alarm control is configured
+  has_alarm_switch: "{{ alarm_switch is not none and (alarm_switch | string | trim) not in ['', '[]', 'None'] }}"
 
   # Small delay between setting melody/volume to ensure device processes each command
   delay_between_commands_ms: 100
 
-  # Debug flag - set to true to enable persistent notifications for troubleshooting
+  # Version stamp so debug output can confirm which blueprint revision is live.
-  is_debug: false
+  # Bump this whenever debug/flow logic changes.
+  blueprint_version: "2.6.4 (notify.send_message + entity_id)"
 
 # =============================================================================
 # Actions
 # =============================================================================
 action:
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  # Debug Logging (optional)
+  # Debug Stage 1: Trigger Received
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   - choose:
       - conditions:
@@ -178,45 +203,222 @@ action:
         sequence:
           - service: persistent_notification.create
             data:
-              title: "Alarm Notification Debug"
+              notification_id: "alarm_debug_trigger"
+              title: "Alarm Debug [1/4]: Trigger Received"
               message: >
-                Trigger: {{ trigger.id }}
+                Blueprint version: {{ blueprint_version }}
+
+
+                Trigger ID: {{ trigger.id }}
+
                 Entity: {{ trigger.entity_id }}
 
-                Sensors: {{ binary_sensors }}
+                From: {{ trigger.from_state.state if trigger.from_state is not none else 'n/a' }}
-                Active: {{ enabled_sensors }}
+                → To: {{ trigger.to_state.state if trigger.to_state is not none else 'n/a' }}
-                Any On: {{ is_any_sensor_on }}
+
+
+                All monitored sensors: {{ binary_sensors }}
+
+                Currently active (on): {{ enabled_sensors }}
+
+                Any sensor on: {{ is_any_sensor_on }}
+
+
+                Notify target: {{ notify_target }}
+
+                Has notify target: {{ has_notify_target }}
+
+                Alarm switch: {{ alarm_switch }}
+
+                Has alarm switch: {{ has_alarm_switch }}
+          - service: system_log.write
+            data:
+              level: info
+              logger: blueprint.alarm_notification
+              message: >-
+                Trigger '{{ trigger.id }}' from {{ trigger.entity_id }};
+                active={{ enabled_sensors }};
+                notify_target={{ notify_target }};
+                has_notify_target={{ has_notify_target }}
 
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  # Send Notification (when sensor turns ON)
+  # Debug Stage 1.5: What the notification-branch conditions evaluate to
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   - choose:
       - conditions:
           - condition: template
-            # Only notify if a sensor is on and notification target is configured
+            value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
-            value_template: "{{ is_any_sensor_on and notify_target is not none }}"
+        sequence:
+          - service: persistent_notification.create
+            data:
+              notification_id: "alarm_debug_pre_notify"
+              title: "Alarm Debug [1.5/4]: Evaluating notify conditions"
+              message: >
+                trigger.id = {{ trigger.id }}
+
+                trigger.id == 'sensor_on': {{ trigger.id == 'sensor_on' }}
+
+                has_notify_target: {{ has_notify_target }}
+
+                Combined (should be True to enter notify branch):
+                {{ trigger.id == 'sensor_on' and has_notify_target }}
+
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  # Send Notification (only on sensor_on, when target configured)
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  - choose:
+      - conditions:
+          # Single template condition avoids any quirks with condition: trigger
+          # inside a choose block.
+          - condition: template
+            value_template: "{{ trigger.id == 'sensor_on' and has_notify_target }}"
         sequence:
           - variables:
-              # Get the sensor that triggered this automation
+              # The sensor that fired this trigger
               sensor: "{{ trigger.entity_id }}"
-              # Find index of this sensor in the list
+              # Namespace-loop avoids Jinja sandbox restrictions on list.index()
-              sensor_index: >
+              sensor_index: >-
-                {% set idx = binary_sensors | list %}
+                {%- set ns = namespace(idx=-1) -%}
-                {{ idx.index(sensor) if sensor in idx else -1 }}
+                {%- for s in binary_sensors -%}
-              # Get custom message or use default
+                  {%- if s == sensor -%}{%- set ns.idx = loop.index0 -%}{%- endif -%}
-              message: >
+                {%- endfor -%}
-                {% set messages = notify_texts | list %}
+                {{ ns.idx }}
-                {% if sensor_index >= 0 and sensor_index < messages | length %}
+              # Resolve message (strip whitespace to keep notifications clean)
-                  {{ messages[sensor_index] }}
+              message: >-
-                {% else %}
+                {%- set messages = notify_texts | list -%}
-                  Alarm: {{ state_attr(sensor, 'friendly_name') | default(sensor) }} triggered
+                {%- set idx = sensor_index | int(-1) -%}
-                {% endif %}
+                {%- if idx >= 0 and idx < messages | length -%}
+                {{ messages[idx] }}
+                {%- else -%}
+                Alarm: {{ state_attr(sensor, 'friendly_name') or sensor }} triggered
+                {%- endif -%}
 
-          - service: notify.send_message
+          # Debug Stage 2: Variables computed, about to send
+          - choose:
+              - conditions:
+                  - condition: template
+                    value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
+                sequence:
+                  - service: persistent_notification.create
+                    data:
+                      notification_id: "alarm_debug_notify_attempt"
+                      title: "Alarm Debug [2/4]: Sending Notification"
+                      message: >
+                        Target: {{ notify_target }}
+
+                        Sensor: {{ sensor }}
+
+                        Sensor index (raw): "{{ sensor_index }}"
+
+                        Messages defined: {{ notify_texts | length }}
+
+                        Resolved message: "{{ message }}"
+
+          # Debug Stage 2.25: About to invoke service
+          - choose:
+              - conditions:
+                  - condition: template
+                    value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
+                sequence:
+                  - service: persistent_notification.create
+                    data:
+                      notification_id: "alarm_debug_pre_service"
+                      title: "Alarm Debug [2.25/4]: Before notify.send_message"
+                      message: >
+                        Blueprint version: {{ blueprint_version }}
+
+                        About to call: action notify.send_message
+
+                        with target.entity_id: {{ notify_target }}
+
+                        and data.message: "{{ message }}"
+
+          # Send via notify.send_message targeting the notify entity.
+          # This matches the canonical HA pattern used by working automations.
+          # continue_on_error ensures the alarm-control stage still runs
+          # if the notify integration is misconfigured.
+          - action: notify.send_message
+            metadata: {}
             target:
               entity_id: "{{ notify_target }}"
             data:
               message: "{{ message }}"
+            continue_on_error: true
+
+          # Debug Stage 2.75: Service call returned (success or caught error)
+          - choose:
+              - conditions:
+                  - condition: template
+                    value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
+                sequence:
+                  - service: persistent_notification.create
+                    data:
+                      notification_id: "alarm_debug_post_service"
+                      title: "Alarm Debug [2.75/4]: After notify.send_message"
+                      message: >
+                        notify.send_message to {{ notify_target }} returned
+                        (either success or continue_on_error caught it).
+
+                        If this notification is missing but [2.25/4] is
+                        present, the call raised an error that
+                        continue_on_error did NOT catch. Check the HA log
+                        and verify {{ notify_target }} is a notify entity
+                        (Developer Tools → States should list it).
+
+          # Debug Stage 3: Notification result
+          - choose:
+              - conditions:
+                  - condition: template
+                    value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
+                sequence:
+                  - service: persistent_notification.create
+                    data:
+                      notification_id: "alarm_debug_notify_result"
+                      title: "Alarm Debug [3/4]: Notification Sent"
+                      message: >
+                        notify.send_message dispatched to {{ notify_target }}
+                        with message: "{{ message }}".
+
+                        If nothing arrived on the device, check:
+
+                        1) HA log for errors from the notify integration
+
+                        2) That the underlying integration (Telegram bot,
+                        mobile app, etc.) is online
+
+                        3) Test from Developer Tools → Actions:
+                        notify.send_message with target {{ notify_target }}
+
+          - service: system_log.write
+            data:
+              level: info
+              logger: blueprint.alarm_notification
+              message: >-
+                Notification attempted to {{ notify_target }};
+                sensor={{ sensor }}; message='{{ message }}'
+
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  # Debug Stage 3.5: Unconditional checkpoint so we can tell whether the
+  # notification branch silently aborted the script above. If this appears
+  # but [2/4] or [3/4] don't, the variables block or notify.send_message
+  # errored silently.
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  - choose:
+      - conditions:
+          - condition: template
+            value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
+        sequence:
+          - service: persistent_notification.create
+            data:
+              notification_id: "alarm_debug_after_notify"
+              title: "Alarm Debug [3.5/4]: After notify branch"
+              message: >
+                Execution reached this point. trigger.id = {{ trigger.id }}.
+
+                If [2/4] and [3/4] did NOT appear above, the notify branch
+                either did not enter (check [1.5/4]), or errored silently
+                in the variables / notify.send_message step.
+                Check Home Assistant log for Jinja or service errors.
 
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # Alarm Device Control
@@ -224,20 +426,20 @@ action:
   - choose:
       - conditions:
           - condition: template
-            # Only control alarm if alarm switch is configured
+            value_template: "{{ has_alarm_switch }}"
-            value_template: "{{ alarm_switch | length > 0 }}"
         sequence:
           # Set melody (if configured)
           - choose:
               - conditions:
                   - condition: template
-                    value_template: "{{ melody_select | length > 0 and melody_id | length > 0 }}"
+                    value_template: "{{ melody_select is not none and (melody_select | string | trim) not in ['', '[]', 'None'] and (melody_id | string | length) > 0 }}"
                 sequence:
                   - service: select.select_option
                     target:
                       entity_id: "{{ melody_select }}"
                     data:
                       option: "{{ melody_id }}"
+                    continue_on_error: true
                   - delay:
                       milliseconds: "{{ delay_between_commands_ms }}"
 
@@ -245,13 +447,14 @@ action:
           - choose:
               - conditions:
                   - condition: template
-                    value_template: "{{ volume_select | length > 0 and volume_id | length > 0 }}"
+                    value_template: "{{ volume_select is not none and (volume_select | string | trim) not in ['', '[]', 'None'] and (volume_id | string | length) > 0 }}"
                 sequence:
                   - service: select.select_option
                     target:
                       entity_id: "{{ volume_select }}"
                     data:
                       option: "{{ volume_id }}"
+                    continue_on_error: true
                   - delay:
                       milliseconds: "{{ delay_between_commands_ms }}"
 
@@ -265,9 +468,30 @@ action:
                   - service: switch.turn_on
                     target:
                       entity_id: "{{ alarm_switch }}"
+                    continue_on_error: true
 
             # All sensors clear -> turn alarm OFF
             default:
               - service: switch.turn_off
                 target:
                   entity_id: "{{ alarm_switch }}"
+                continue_on_error: true
+
+          # Debug Stage 4: Alarm control done
+          - choose:
+              - conditions:
+                  - condition: template
+                    value_template: "{{ is_debug }}"
+                sequence:
+                  - service: persistent_notification.create
+                    data:
+                      notification_id: "alarm_debug_alarm_control"
+                      title: "Alarm Debug [4/4]: Alarm Control Done"
+                      message: >
+                        Alarm switch: {{ alarm_switch }}
+
+                        Action: {{ 'turn_on' if is_any_sensor_on else 'turn_off' }}
+
+                        Melody: {{ melody_id }} → {{ melody_select }}
+
+                        Volume: {{ volume_id }} → {{ volume_select }}

manifest.json

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "version": "2.5.2"
+  "version": "2.6.4"
 }