I had to re-install a child device and now I have unknown devices in a few of my pistons. Is there a way to replace all of these at once with the new(old) device without having to edit each piston?
I don't think so.
I have always wished for a cross-ref app to list where all devices are used; I have 120 pistons and play with devices and beta loads all the time.
Doing a Swap Device works well for a single device but I usually have multiple devices like Chromecast where I have to manually fix errant devices.
I find it's best to start, architecturally, with assigning often used devices to a global variables.
That way you have to make only one change to a global var device used in multiple piston locations.
I did not think so, especially for child devices. Thus the warning on that page. I have nearly 200 pistons that I "tweak" often. And, of course, that usually gets me into trouble with devices. I have often needed a cross-ref list as well. I have many global variables assigned just for swapping out. But I hate to have EVERY device connected to a global variable. Oh well, time to edit a few pistons...
I agree. I try to stay away from all devices have a global.
All my day-to-day stable devices are hard coded.
All my groups for mass changes (all light off etc.) or initialisation have a global as well as my integer settings that I use everywhere e.g temp, lux, humidity.