diff --git a/src/HomeSpan.h b/src/HomeSpan.h
index fefbfb9..00c559e 100644
--- a/src/HomeSpan.h
+++ b/src/HomeSpan.h
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ union UVal {
   double FLOAT;
   const char *STRING;
 
+  void set(FORMAT fmt, const char *val){
+    STRING=val;
+  };
+
   template <typename T> void set(FORMAT fmt, T val){
 
     switch(fmt){
@@ -98,7 +102,7 @@ union UVal {
       break;
     }
   } // set()
-
+ 
   template <class T> T get(FORMAT fmt){
   
     switch(fmt){
@@ -125,7 +129,7 @@ union UVal {
         return((T) FLOAT);
         
       case FORMAT::STRING:
-        Serial.print("*** ERROR:  Can't use getVal() or getNewVal() for string Characteristics.\n\n");
+        Serial.print("\n*** WARNING:  Can't use getVal() or getNewVal() with string Characteristics.\n\n");
         return(0);
     }
 
@@ -331,6 +335,11 @@ struct SpanCharacteristic{
   template <class T=int> T getNewVal(){return(newValue.get<T>(format));}              // returns UVal newValue
     
   template <typename T> void setVal(T val){
+
+    if(format==STRING){
+      Serial.printf("\n*** WARNING:  Attempt to update Characteristic::%s(\"%s\") with setVal() ignored.  Can't update string characteristics once they are initialized!\n\n",hapName,value.STRING);
+      return;
+    }
     
     value.set(format, val);
     newValue.set(format, val);
@@ -382,4 +391,4 @@ struct SpanButton{
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-#include "Services.h"
+#include "Span.h"
diff --git a/src/Services.h b/src/Span.h
similarity index 99%
rename from src/Services.h
rename to src/Span.h
index f28516e..563babd 100644
--- a/src/Services.h
+++ b/src/Span.h
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ namespace Service {
 #define CREATE_CHAR_UINT32(HAPCHAR,DEFVAL) struct HAPCHAR : SpanCharacteristic { HAPCHAR(uint32_t val=DEFVAL) : SpanCharacteristic {&hapChars.HAPCHAR} { init(val); } };
 #define CREATE_CHAR_UINT64(HAPCHAR,DEFVAL) struct HAPCHAR : SpanCharacteristic { HAPCHAR(uint64_t val=DEFVAL) : SpanCharacteristic {&hapChars.HAPCHAR} { init(val); } };
 #define CREATE_CHAR_BOOL(HAPCHAR,DEFVAL) struct HAPCHAR : SpanCharacteristic { HAPCHAR(boolean val=DEFVAL) : SpanCharacteristic {&hapChars.HAPCHAR} { init(val); } };
-#define CREATE_CHAR_STRING(HAPCHAR,DEFVAL) struct HAPCHAR : SpanCharacteristic { HAPCHAR(const char *val=DEFVAL) : SpanCharacteristic {&hapChars.HAPCHAR} { value.STRING=val; } };
+#define CREATE_CHAR_STRING(HAPCHAR,DEFVAL) struct HAPCHAR : SpanCharacteristic { HAPCHAR(const char *val=DEFVAL) : SpanCharacteristic {&hapChars.HAPCHAR} { init(val); } };
 
 namespace Characteristic {