items and macros: commas and field length

[Cloud8x4]

Hi,

I'm using Zabbix v2.0 but plan to upgrade to newer version soon.

I have 2 issues:

1. At the moment the limit of characters seems to be 255 for items and macro's.
   
   A minor note that you don't get a warning that characters are cut off when you write more than 255 characters but ah well ...
   
   I can bypass the max. nr. of characters by splitting the large item in multiple macros and using those in the item but I don't think that's a nice solution.
   
   Will the max. nr. of characters be higher in a newer version of Zabbix or do i have to manually change the database structure of the field?
   
   
2. What's the correct syntax for a custom item / remote command calling script with string parameters / are there escape characters I can use?
   
   For example:
   
   In my zabbix agent configuration file I have the following to be able to execute any script, because I dont' want to be dependant on scripts that change a lot and have to be updated at each client:
   
   UserParameter=testitem[/*],$1
   (escape character because else new list point will be made ...)
   
   In the zabbix webinterface, i create items
   • testitem[testscript.sh "parameter1"]
     This works as expected
     
   • testitem[testscript.sh "parameter1,parameter2"]
     This does not work; error: unterminated quote; reason is the comma
     
   • testitem["testscript.sh parameter1,parameter2"]
     This works. Even though there are no quotes around the parameters, they are still passed on correctly
     
   • testitem["testscript.sh parameter1(/"parameter2/"),parameter3"]
     I want to pass a string with a function containing another string, so using escape characters.
     Not working. Combination commas and quotes ... don't have solution for this.
   
   
   I'd like to know if there is a syntax I can use which works for every command I send; are there escape characters I can use?
   

Thanks in advance.