openHAB 2 Basics - Items & Links | Creation and Configuration

[@SanchoSanto]

I wish you would've gone into more details on setting up groups. I understood how to set up items and link them but I'm having trouble setting up groups then linking them to things.

[@BKHobby]

I know - I was trying to fit as much information as possible, without getting too deep (Items are definitely a huge topic that I could go on for hours about!) - But, we can work out any issues you're having on the Discord!

[@winddancer77]

This video was really helpful. Just getting started with openhab and couldn't find a way how to group items. 😄

[@BKHobby]

Great to hear that!! Keep watching for more openHAB videos soon :)

[@kmtsvetanov]

Thank you for the interesting video. I'm going to keep watching them. Now i know how to make fast changes in my code.

[@BKHobby]

@Kiril Tsvetanow - Thanks for watching - I'm really happy my videos are helping! :)

[@kmtsvetanov]

Just one question. How to tell the code what items file to use? Can you have more than one items file active ?

[@BKHobby]

@@kmtsvetanov - all of your .items files will be processed by openHAB as soon as you hit save - as long as the file is in the "items" folder, has a ".items" extension, and contains valid item configuration entries, those items & links will be added to the openHAB configuration (you can verify this by looking at the logger output when hitting Save). This is why it's nice to use config files, because if you have, let's say, 200 items, you can divide them up into separate files (lights.items, sensors.items, hvac.items, etc...) and make them more readable to you. Finding/editing them in PaperUI is not as simple....

[@andriyyarish8628]

Clear and nice explanation - thank you!

[@Aerogrow]

Heads up; if you use simple mode and then try to modify them after = will not work. You have to link them in paperUI non-simple-mode to get the parents group popup to work.

[@Magicman8508]

Can you please make an example how to use HTTP Bindings? I'm using a self-created device which response to url+get requests. But if i go to paper UI -> Configuration -> Things -> Add Things -> HTTP Binding it shows just an empty page.

[@mfreiher]

Hi, great videos. I am having a problem with my Visual Studio with Win10. When i press items i get "Error while connecting to openHAB REST API. getaddrinfo ENOTFOUND openhabianpi". Set openhab host.

[@jointstrike2]

how do you get to use visual studio code to edit a file on the pi while its running?

[@BKHobby]

You need to enable the Samba shares (using openhabian-config, for example), then you can just access the pi share (oh-config directory) directly.

[@jimyehoo]

Wonder if you would make a video on how to add the mqtt definition in the items? I know this maybe ahead of your planning, but I find this part the most powerful part of the openhab and yet very confusing to me. And which OpenHAB extension do you use with the VS Code? I have both openHAB and File Tree view, but they are not like the one you are showing. thanks

[@BKHobby]

@Jim Yeh - That is definitely a good idea, but if you haven't seen them already, watch my videos on the NodeMCU Kube LED controller and multi-sensor, specifically on configuring them with openHAB (they're on my openHAB playlist here - kzbin.info/aero/PLH-d6dcsARGPnXoLnArHDCkOgwfVBDPWd ). Both of those devices use MQTT (sensor for reporting, LED controller for command/status) and I use the item definition to link them to my openHAB config. That said, with version 2.4 of openHAB, there will be a new MQTT version 2 binding available, which I hear will allow auto discovery and configuration of MQTT devices as Things (device) with Channels (MQTT topic). With that, the old style of defining MQTT connections in the items file may very well become moot...

[@BKHobby]

As for your VSCode question, I use OH extension version 0.4.0, with the latest VSCode (1.28.1). Check to make sure you're using those latest versions, as the interface has changed in the last few releases.

[@TheMmike87]

Hi, How have you added the shortcut openhab in visualstudio code? i opened the folder openhab-conf but i can't search the configured things.. Than i have added a satel alarm binding, the output works fine but the partitions wont arm.. i don't know why... thank you m

[@BKHobby]

@TheMmike87 - please watch my "Edit Configs" video, which shows you how to add the openHAB extension to VSCode, and how to configure it. If you're not seeing the openHAB things and items in your VSCode, that tells me either your extension is not installed, or it's not finding your openHAB server. I unfortunately do not have any experience with the Satel alarms or bindings, but have you checked the openHAB forums at community.openhab.org? You can also join the Discord server (ttps://discord.gg/jUr7J4u) to see if anyone there has any experience with it!

[@eskilr]

Hey! I was just wondering if you could do a video about mappings and how to use mappings with for instance the selection element type or switch

[@BKHobby]

@Eskil R - Very good suggestion - I will add it to the "Sitemaps & UIs" video (the next one in the series) since that's where mappings are most useful, anyway. Thanks!

[@eskilr]

@@BKHobby It would also be nice if you cold include some simple HSBType explaining

[@BKHobby]

@Eskil R - Ah yes, HSBType conversion to/from RGB gave me fits when I was first trying to do it ;) I'll add it to the list, but probably talk about it when I get to Rules (since that's where it's used the most).

[@MarkSouthee]

Shame the Visual Studio openhab extension won't install on the Mac version of Visual Studio. Surprised that no-one has written a Sublime Text openhab package either!

[@MarkSouthee]

I should update my comment. I'd downloaded the IDE version of Visual Studio. You need the Code version. Then the extension installs no problem on the Mac version :-)

[@BKHobby]

@Mark Southee - thanks for the update, I'm sure it will help any other Mac users who watch this video! :)

[@Lesterandsons]

Thanks a lot

[@marekhalmo2813]

Wow so helpfull!

[@adtwomey]

(from CHAT) nice I didn't get why you in your Things Video you don't use Bindings???? I didn't get why you use your away???

[@BKHobby]

@Aaron Twomey - I'm not sure what you mean? Do you mean why I use the configuration file (addons.cfg)? It's really just a preference for me - I love the config files - again, for a quick restore (basically, just copy my config file directory over a new install, and everything gets automatically installled/restored).

[@adtwomey]

@@BKHobby yep that what I was talking about. Now I get it when you do a quick restore 😀