# My first steps with OpenHab **URL:** \ **Category:** Beginners\ **Tags:** openhab2\ **Created:** [July 31, 2019, 9:31am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/my-first-steps-with-openhab/78995 "2019-07-31T09:31:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 18
**Author:** ![MDAR](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/mdar/32/57900_2.png) [@MDAR](https://community.openhab.org/u/MDAR)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 9:54am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/my-first-steps-with-openhab/78995/18 "2020-05-22T09:54:18Z")
Hi This is s great thread you’ve created. I’ve got a couple of customers with ModBus kit that I’ve managed to steer clear of, having read your thread, I’m glad I have. I am really pleased to read that you are mastering your setup and getting it to work how you want it to. As Rich says, these kinds of threads are incredibly useful in all kinds of ways. > [@LordLiverpool](#): > > Apparently PaperUI uses a database, So here’s a common bit of confusion. From what I understand… The whole setup of openHAB2 Things, Items and their links are stored in JSON files. Regardless of how the individual parts are created. - RestAPI - PaperUI - Text files - And others that access the RestApi To start with, I restricted myself to PaperUI, because my needs were basic and it seemed to work well. As I branched out into different bindings and third party connectivity (like Tagging & Metadata for Alexa & Google Assistant) it became clear that PaperUI can’t do everything. Having read lots of other people’s thoughts and comments (for which I’m very grateful), I’ve adopted the following pattern Add bindings through PaperUI wherever possible, as dependencies are taken care of there. Create Bridge Things in a Text file (however I’ve recently learnt that the auto generated Thing ID can be set when created in PaperUi, which makes restoring / moving systems much easier) Use PaperUI exclusively for adding Things, as getting the channel & trigger syntax right can be troublesome Create Text file Items, which can be manipulated quite easily. Adding groups, tags, metadata and secondary links to bindings (for example the amazingly useful Expire binding) I’ve gone as far as to make one Item file template which has everything I could need, which I copy and trim / edit until I have all the items for a Thing in a corresponding Item file. This way, I can quickly find and edit the Items. (“Alt & Click drag” is an amazing editor feature that I discovered on this journey) These threads show the evolution. > [@New Velbus binding](https://community.openhab.org/t/new-velbus-binding/39711/34): > > With the fabulous assistance of @jeshab the Alexa Skill can now set BOTH the Velbus Operating Mode and the “Presets” for that mode, or as Velbus refers to them, the thermostat modes. Be aware that the voice instruction do have to be extremely precise. As an example I’ve updated the Items template in the ZIP Jeremy’s solution can be found here [Alexa Smart Home Skill V3 is now live! - #337 by jeshab](https://community.openhab.org/t/alexa-smart-home-skill-v3-is-now-live/79848/337)confetti_ball > [@Alexa Smart Home Skill V3 is now live!](https://community.openhab.org/t/alexa-smart-home-skill-v3-is-now-live/79848/337): > > Based on my understanding it seems that what you call “thermostat mode” is more like preset target temperature settings and the “operating mode” is the actual thermostat mode. Out of curiosity, is there a way to turn off your thermostat? The setpoint tagging example you mentioned wouldn’t work as it is limited to #eco only at this point and to thermostats supporting dual setpoint modes. Anyway, wouldn’t BackBedroomGP2\_CurrentTargetTemperature point to the relevant item when the thermostat is s… > [@openHAB Google Assistant Integration v2.0](https://community.openhab.org/t/openhab-google-assistant-integration-v2-0/85573/345): > > Just a quick try using sitemap (with this mapping) on the Thermostatmode item.. It works like a dream: Selection item=VmbeloMode mappings=[SAFE="SAFE", NIGHT="NIGHT", DAY="DAY", COMFORT="COMFORT"] But I guess what you´re trying to do is to control the acutal heater, right? Thats the OpMode item and not the ThermostatMode item. This tells that your item changed from SAFE to heat.. BUT! thats the ThermostatMode item.. And it does not accept the “heat” command as far as I understand.. So it… --- _[View the full topic](https://community.openhab.org/t/my-first-steps-with-openhab/78995)._