Adding a human-readable description for custom characteristics

[Jchristf]

I'm using nrf52 S140. 

We have a working product that exposes various custom services and charateristics.  However, in nrfConnect these are extremely hard to understand because you just see UUIDs and HEX-values.  On top it say "Unknown Characteristic"  - I assume that is because it is not a standard Bluetooth type of characteristic.

I have followed various thread on the forum for adding User Descriptor to a characteristic, but none that actually work.   At most I can get a descriptor added to my service, but it still just shows its value as HEX in NrfConnect...

Is it really not possible to represent custom characteristics human readable form in nrfConnect?

thx.

Jacob

[tesc]

Hi,

There is a json file describing how characteristics should behave in nRF Connect for Desktop. You can open the json file from the nRF Connect for Desktop BLE app from the cogwheel menu on the adapter:

It already contains a couple of examples. You can add a name for a UUID (which will then be displayed instead of the UUID), as well as tell nRF Connect to show the given characteristic value in "TEXT" format.

Regards,
Terje

[Jchristf]

Great - we mostly use iOS and android versions - any way to load the Json definition on those platforms? Thx

[tesc]

Hi,

Sorry for the long delay!

Yes. You can import and export definitions, using the same format, at least in the Android version (I do not have an iOS device here so cannot check.)

On nRF Connect for Android: From the menu (three vertical lines at top left of the screen) choose "Definitions". Then use the top right menu (three dots above each other) to export all, export user defined definitions only, or import.

The format should be the same json format as used by the nRF Connect for Desktop BLE app. That includes assigning the "TEXT" format to characteristics. You will get a quite large set of definitions from the "export all" choice, that you can use for reference.

Regards,
Terje