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Step 3 create items for our new thing
we do this in /etc/openhab2/items by adding the new items to a file with the extention *.itmes. In my case I add all items to the file Wohnung.items. How you handle this is your decision. I recommend to mount the /etc/openhab2 folder to your windows / mac PC that you can easily work on the openHAB configuration with an editor or the Eclipse Smart Home Designer.
![](https://albold-home.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/mountConfig.jpg)
Open your *.items file in the editor of your choice and add am item for the door/window contact state. This item shall be of type Contact.
In my case I add two lines for two new contacts. Door left and right in my dining room (Sorry for the german names…)
Contact cEsszimmerTuerRechts "Esszimmer Tür rechts [%s]" {channel="homematic:HG-HM-Sec-SCo:xxxxxxx:OEQxxxxxxx:1#STATE"} Contact cEsszimmerTuerLinks "Esszimmer Tür links [%s]" {channel="homematic:HG-HM-Sec-SCo:xxxxxxx:OEQxxxxxxx:1#STATE"}
For the battery status you need to add Switch items:
Switch B_Esszimmer_TuerRechts "Batterie Esszimmertürsensor rechts" {channel="homematic:HG-HM-Sec-SCo:xxxxxxxx:OEQxxxxxxx:0#LOWBAT"} Switch B_Esszimmer_TuerLinks "Batterie Esszimmertürsensor links" {channel="homematic:HG-HM-Sec-SCo:xxxxxxxx:OEQxxxxxxx:0#LOWBAT"}
You can copy the channel reference from the paper ui page. Save the items file and wait a few second. Reload the paper ui page with your thing and you will see that the circles of the state channel are connected now.
![](https://albold-home.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PaperUINewThinks4.jpg)
You successfully created an item and you are ready now to write your first rules.