# Capabilities for a thermostat

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804>\
**Category:** Developers\
**Created:** [February 21, 2022, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804 "2022-02-21T13:00:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reyntjensw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/reyntjensw/32/34189_2.png) [@reyntjensw](https://community.homey.app/u/reyntjensw)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/1 "2022-02-21T13:00:01Z")

</div>

Hi

I’m building an integration for a WEM thermostat and I’d like to visualise the outside temperature, the inside temperature (measure\_temperature), the min and max temperature. But I have an issue finding the corresponding capabilities ([Tutorial: Device Capabilities - Homey Apps SDK v3](https://apps-sdk-v3.developer.homey.app/tutorial-device-capabilities.html)).

Is there a way to create your own capabilities?

Wouter

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/2 "2022-02-21T13:05:01Z")

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> [@reyntjensw](#):
>
> Is there a way to create your own capabilities?

Sure: [Capabilities - Homey Apps SDK](https://apps.developer.homey.app/the-basics/devices/capabilities#custom-capabilities)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reyntjensw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/reyntjensw/32/34189_2.png) [@reyntjensw](https://community.homey.app/u/reyntjensw)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/3 "2022-02-21T16:06:14Z")

</div>

Is it also possible to use global icons such as the ones that are in use by Homey?  
I’d like to use the thermometer icon that is standard.

Thanks!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/4 "2022-02-21T17:04:08Z")

</div>

I think you have to copy them into your app.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reyntjensw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/reyntjensw/32/34189_2.png) [@reyntjensw](https://community.homey.app/u/reyntjensw)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/5 "2022-02-21T20:52:07Z")

</div>

Where can I download them?  
I’ve looked into some apps that I have but I cannot find any, is there a way to open existing apps and grab the images?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Adrian\_Rockall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/adrian_rockall/32/13209_2.png) [@Adrian\_Rockall](https://community.homey.app/u/Adrian_Rockall)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/6 "2022-02-21T21:11:56Z")

</div>

If use use sub capabilities then you will automatically get the icon.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 6:26am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/7 "2022-02-22T06:26:24Z")

</div>

I assumed that they are shown on the web dashboard, so you can use your browser to download them. Or, as @Adrian_Rockall suggests, use [subcapabilities](https://apps.developer.homey.app/the-basics/devices/capabilities#using-the-same-capability-more-than-once).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reyntjensw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/reyntjensw/32/34189_2.png) [@reyntjensw](https://community.homey.app/u/reyntjensw)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/8 "2022-02-27T22:49:48Z")

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@robertklep I tried downloading the image but it is embedded inside the code

`<span class="css-11y1nwh efypr2h0" style="--url:url(data\:image\/svg\+xml\;base64\,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDggNDgiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI\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\+PC9zdmc\+); --size:52px; --color:var(--color-icon-light); --display:inline-block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></span>`

@Adrian_Rockall can you please give me a bit more info about the subcapabilities?  
This is how my capability looks like, I know there is an image tag

```auto
{
    "type": "number",
    "title": {
        "en": "Outside temperature",
        "nl": "Buitentemperatuur"
    },
    "uiComponent": "sensor",
    "getable": true,
    "setable": false,
    "units": {
        "en": "°C"
    },
    "min": -20,
    "max": 40
}

```

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Adrian\_Rockall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/adrian_rockall/32/13209_2.png) [@Adrian\_Rockall](https://community.homey.app/u/Adrian_Rockall)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/9 "2022-02-27T23:24:24Z")

</div>

> [@reyntjensw](#):
>
> can you please give me a bit more info about the subcapabilities?

Basically you use the standard temperature capability in your driver definition but add a .outside (or whatever you want) to the end. So:

```auto
"capabilities": [
        "measure_temperature.outside ",
    ],
    "capabilitiesOptions":
    {
        "measure_temperature.outside ":
        {
            "title":
            {
                "en": "Outside temperature",
            }
        },
    },

```

You can have as many of those as you like just by changing the postfix and adding he relevant `capabilitiesOptions` to set the title.

> **[Capabilities](https://apps.developer.homey.app/the-basics/devices/capabilities#using-the-same-capability-more-than-once)**
>
> A capability is a programmatic representation of a device's state.

> **[Capabilities](https://apps.developer.homey.app/the-basics/devices/capabilities#capability-options)**
>
> A capability is a programmatic representation of a device's state.

When you define the flow card you name it `measure_temperature_outside_changed` and in your code you add:  
`this.outsideTrigger = this.homey.flow.getDeviceTriggerCard( 'measure_temperature_outside_changed' );`

The `measure_temperature_outside_changed.json` file will be something like:

```auto
{
    "title": {
        "en": "The outside temperature changed",
    },
    "platforms": [
        "local"
    ],
    "tokens": [
        {
            "name": "measure_temperature_outside",
            "type": "number",
            "title": {
                "en": "Outside Temperature",
            },
            "example": 25
        }
    ],
    "args": [
        {
            "name": "device",
            "type": "device",
            "filter": "driver_id=YOUR_DRIVER"
        }
    ]
}

```

Then it will trigger automatically when the capability value changes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 6:20am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/10 "2022-02-28T06:20:16Z")

</div>

> [@reyntjensw](#):
>
> I tried downloading the image but it is embedded inside the code

Extract the Base64-encoded data and decode it:

```auto
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M23.7 0c3.3 0 5.988 2.688 5.988 5.988v22.443A10.688 10.688 0 0 1 34.4 37.3c0 2.858-1.113 5.546-3.133 7.566A10.631 10.631 0 0 1 23.7 48c-2.86 0-5.547-1.112-7.567-3.133A10.631 10.631 0 0 1 13 37.3a10.688 10.688 0 0 1 4.712-8.87V5.989A5.997 5.997 0 0 1 23.7 0Zm0 2.214a3.75 3.75 0 0 0-2.666 1.108 3.75 3.75 0 0 0-1.109 2.666V29.04c0 .39-.207.751-.543.952a8.566 8.566 0 0 0-3.023 3.041 8.473 8.473 0 0 0-1.149 4.263 8.43 8.43 0 0 0 2.487 6.003 8.43 8.43 0 0 0 6.003 2.487 8.43 8.43 0 0 0 6.003-2.487 8.43 8.43 0 0 0 2.487-6.003 8.463 8.463 0 0 0-1.149-4.263 8.537 8.537 0 0 0-3.023-3.041 1.111 1.111 0 0 1-.544-.952V5.988a3.75 3.75 0 0 0-1.108-2.666A3.75 3.75 0 0 0 23.7 2.214Zm1.685 15.083V31.16a6.442 6.442 0 0 1 4.763 6.225 6.447 6.447 0 1 1-8.129-6.225V17.297h3.366Z" fill="#313132" fill-rule="evenodd"/></svg>

```

Save that as `icon.svg`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reyntjensw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/reyntjensw/32/34189_2.png) [@reyntjensw](https://community.homey.app/u/reyntjensw)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 8:22am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/11 "2022-02-28T08:22:50Z")

</div>

> [@Adrian\_Rockall](#):
>
> capabilitiesOptions

@Adrian_Rockall thanks for the info, that is working perfectly and is way easier than expected.  
One last thing, when I check the values in the app, I’m getting 2 times "temperature’ instead of temperature and the translation of the capability which is described in the driver.compose.json file

```auto
    "capabilities": [
        "measure_temperature.outside",
        "measure_temperature"
    ],
    "capabilitiesOptions": {
        "measure_temperature.outside ": {
            "title": {
                "en": "Outside temperature",
                "nl": "Buitentemperatuur"
            }
        }
    },

```

Any suggestions here?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Adrian\_Rockall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/adrian_rockall/32/13209_2.png) [@Adrian\_Rockall](https://community.homey.app/u/Adrian_Rockall)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 8:57am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/12 "2022-02-28T08:57:01Z")

</div>

After changing the code, have you deleted and re-added the device?  
Could you show a screenshot so I can make sure I am understanding correctly?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reyntjensw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/reyntjensw/32/34189_2.png) [@reyntjensw](https://community.homey.app/u/reyntjensw)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 1:50pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/14 "2022-02-28T13:50:19Z")

</div>

There was a space after the capabiltiesOptions, that is why it was not picked up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RonnyW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ronnyw/32/10879_2.png) [@RonnyW](https://community.homey.app/u/RonnyW)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/capabilities-for-a-thermostat/60804/15 "2022-03-05T19:29:44Z")

</div>

One addition…  
You can’t change the icon for default capabilities or subcapabilities based on default capabilities - as far as I tried all combinations overwriting the capability settingsnin the driver.  
So if you are planning to use separate icos for your capabilities, better define your own custom capability.  
But use measure\_ or meter\_ as prefix to get these values selectable on the device tile.

Example for individual capability with their icon:

 ![Screenshot_20220305-202850_Homey](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/8/d/8ddc0762b565b36d4c3aea2242fa91c44c8fe718.jpeg)