Can I create a virtual switch with 'On,' 'Off,' and 'Auto' states to manage a 'holiday mode'? When set to 'On,' this switch should deactivate Zigbee sockets and heating, and its state should be queryable by automations (e.g., preventing pool heating). 'Off' should reverse these actions.
#Virtual switch
torpid compass
marble cosmos
Yes, those are called helpers (Settings => Devices & services => Helpers). If you only want 'On' and 'Off' you can make a input_boolean (in UI known as Toggle). But if you require three states you can make an input_select (Dropdown in the UI). That allows you to freely assign states.
This you can use in (a) automation(s) to do what you want.