# Another suggestion for "unused" widgets/etc

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [14 February 2019 08:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954 "2019-02-14T08:54:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2019 08:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954/1 "2019-02-14T08:54:02Z")

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Though maybe moot with the proposed new functionality mentioned by Nick, but still:  
Just to put it out there.

I admit I have uploaded a few flows too which have dashboard items.  
People have said that it is/was not fun/nice because it causes unused things after testing/debugging.

Maybe it would be nice when you delete tabs/groups that as they are "empty" they get _auto deleted_.

I get that when building a new group the _group_ will initially be empty, and so it would cause a problem with handling it.

But as a thought to get around that, a new way of building a _group_ would be used.  
Not too difficult. Here is how I see it would be done:  
Drag a dashboard item into the work area.  
The red triangle will appear.  
Create a new group and all is good.

That way is not too different to the way which would cause the problem with the way I suggested is to create the _group_ prior to dragging the dashboard item into the work area.

Just a thought.

With this way an automatic _tidy up_ could be applied to happen automatically.

As a final option: This could be turned on/off so if people want unused _groups (etc)_ then there is no problem.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2019 11:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954/2 "2019-02-14T11:40:31Z")

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It is a little annoying to have to hunt down and manually delete the configuration nodes for Dashboard. Even more so when you paste in someone's example code for a quick test.

Not really a priority issue though.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2019 12:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954/3 "2019-02-14T12:26:17Z")

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I usually spin up a clean workspace/project before importing something totally random - then re-export just the parts I need into my "real" flow.

On export if tabs/groups are really empty we do usually flag that as part of the deployed success banner - click the link takes you to the config nodes menu showing the unused tabs/groups - which you can then easily delete before exporting. We can't force users to tidy up - no more than I can get my kids to tidy their rooms.

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/e/e5a9fea4d16133eced9b6b6dc114999243977be8.png)

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2019 16:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954/4 "2019-02-14T16:44:43Z")

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> [@dceejay](#):
>
> I usually spin up a clean workspace/project before importing something totally random - then re-export just the parts I need into my "real" flow.

Yes, i guess I'm either too lazy or too short of time ... lets go with the latter!

> [@dceejay](#):
>
> we do usually flag that as part of the deployed success banner

That certainly works as advertised - just a slight annoyance for those of us with OCD 🙂

> [@dceejay](#):
>
> We can't force users to tidy up - no more than I can get my kids to tidy their rooms.

Haha, speaking as someone who is 3/4 of the way through clearing out our loft/office space after 20 years of accumulation, this hits a little close to home!

I could have set up a computing museum with the stuff I've now disposed of - including one of those wonderful IBM PS/2 mechanical keyboards.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2019 17:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/another-suggestion-for-unused-widgets-etc/7954/5 "2019-02-14T17:21:58Z")

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yes - typing ctrl-c then node-red blank.json can get arduous

hah - I have two of the PC AT keyboards in my office !