MQTT - Space in line causing parse error

Setup, Configuration and Use Beginners
1

Hello, I am having a problem with a space in my items file, here is how I have it listed:

Number attic_t2 "AC Output Temperature [%.1f F]" { mqtt="<[mosquitto:emon/attic_temp_probes/external\ temperature:state:default]" }

Here is the error that I am getting:

2016-06-13 04:35:08.634 [ERROR] [i.internal.GenericItemProvider] - Binding configuration of type 'mqtt' of item ‘attic_t2‘ could not be parsed correctly. org.openhab.model.item.binding.BindingConfigParseException: Missing mqtt binding configuration for item attic_t2

After reading up on everything I could find, I thought escaping the space with the \ was the correct way to go, but openhab seems to disagree!

Can someone explain how to escape the space properly?

Many Thanks

2

Here is an example that works for me.

Number temp_supply "Supply Temperature [%.1f °C]" <temperature> (temperature , GF_Mancave) { mqtt =
	"<[mqttService:myHouse/services/hvac/unit1/temp:state:default]" }

I wonder if the problem is because you have “” after external. Have you tried “/” instead?

3

I Just re-read your message. Not sure you can have spaces in a topic. Do you need to have a space, or can you use the underscore character?

4

Hi Mike -

MQTT allows spaces in topics, we use them all the time…does OH not allow spaces in topics…?

We need to use a space, an underscore would require us to reprogram all of our arduino sketches!

5

To be honest, I am not sure. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will step in here…

I guess I have the luxury to be able avoid spaces as I am really only getting started with both openHAB 2 and also Arduino devices for my project.

6

Yeah, the docs seem to point to the fact that you can escape spaces, but I cannot seem to make it work.

7

Are you sure that the space in the topic name needs special handling?

8

And sometime the simplest solution is the correct solution…you are correct, it did not need to be escaped at all…

Thank You !!

1 Like
9

Please mark @watou 's posting as solution, so the thread will be marked as solved…

10

opps…thanks for the reminder! Done!