# Converting joined strings to UTF-8 string

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948>\
**Category:** Industrial\
**Tags:** http-request\
**Created:** [13 September 2021 08:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948 "2021-09-13T08:01:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 08:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/1 "2021-09-13T08:01:32Z")

</div>

Hi there,  
I am new to node red. I am using version 1.0.3. I have an application where I am trying to convert multiple data from PLC tags(int, float data type) to String by using Join node and then pushing it forward on http req node.  
I get the data in string type when checked through the Debug node for Join, but the Debug node of http req says "Invalid payload". I do not have access to buffer parser node, as I saw in some topics, that node was used. Is there any other solution for this?

 ![Screenshot (176)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/9/a931265ad52f483624ff900e0504220b2334b106.png)  
 ![Screenshot (178)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/b/5bb48d1290d18839434f3f50462898a159c3820e.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 08:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/2 "2021-09-13T08:53:23Z")

</div>

How do you have the http node configured?  
The ‘invalid request’ msg is coming from the http node so the data in msg.payload is not valid for what ever request you are attempting. Without seeing the configuration it is hard to guess what is happening.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/3 "2021-09-13T09:03:23Z")

</div>

I am attaching the configuration of both the Join and http nodes. Here the Url is of a local server.

 ![Screenshot (179)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/d/0/d08bf6d024a2fbf2f027fc293b755c2e6a616b95.png)  
 ![Screenshot (180)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/e/1e87536439f7da8f16da0e6380f79d5725f2f199.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/4 "2021-09-13T09:12:44Z")

</div>

You are using a `get` request but trying to send data. Have you tried using a `put`?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/5 "2021-09-13T09:15:13Z")

</div>

msg.payload has to be a object to add as query string

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/6 "2021-09-13T09:18:17Z")

</div>

Yes. When I use PUT or POST, I do not get any sort of response on the server. Only when I am using GET, i am getting the string on server. Attaching both instances as well.  
First image shows the strings coming up empty when i use PUT/ POST function.

 ![Capture](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/6/e6c6048539849e5637478994ac5d85245ddb19b5.jpeg)  
Secong image gives me the data, but i do not want the topic name attached with it, and also the data format should be just the values separated by a comma. eg:(1,2,3,4,5)  
 ![Screenshot(173)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/2/3/23b1b980475a845b6ff1ef54ab3f9f26f626c186.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/7 "2021-09-13T09:20:48Z")

</div>

When I keep msg.payload as an object, i get the output as follows

\<!doctype html\> Welcome to XAMPP ...

 ![Screenshot (181)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/0/5/05634460f58900c722e9e1def2fa6162656e6d46.png)  
 ![Screenshot (182)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/7/7771c188f2920464205b8311593b15d915d3103e.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/8 "2021-09-13T09:26:07Z")

</div>

here are 2 examples. One appends the query string set to msg.payload.q  
the other uses mustache template to add the string to the url.

```auto
[{"id":"35ee5dc.934a3a2","type":"inject","z":"b779de97.b1b46","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"1,2,3,4,5,6","payloadType":"str","x":260,"y":3220,"wires":[["bb02f58b.6d116"]]},{"id":"bb02f58b.6d116","type":"http request","z":"b779de97.b1b46","name":"","method":"GET","ret":"txt","paytoqs":"ignore","url":"http://www.google.com/search?q={{payload}}","tls":"","persist":false,"proxy":"","authType":"","x":490,"y":3200,"wires":[["71ce21dc.3f43a"]]},{"id":"71ce21dc.3f43a","type":"debug","z":"b779de97.b1b46","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":660,"y":3300,"wires":[]},{"id":"fab3a2e1.3fa208","type":"http request","z":"b779de97.b1b46","name":"","method":"GET","ret":"txt","paytoqs":"query","url":"http://www.google.com/search","tls":"","persist":false,"proxy":"","authType":"","x":380,"y":3380,"wires":[["71ce21dc.3f43a"]]},{"id":"4cc7aed6.0f8ba","type":"inject","z":"b779de97.b1b46","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload.q","v":"1,2,3,4,5,6","vt":"str"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":200,"y":3380,"wires":[["fab3a2e1.3fa208"]]}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/9 "2021-09-13T09:29:30Z")

</div>

Where should i use this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:30 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/10 "2021-09-13T09:30:45Z")

</div>

you copy it, then in the node-red editor press ctrl i, paste the code and press import

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 09:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/11 "2021-09-13T09:59:41Z")

</div>

If I use Join to create an object, and in http node if I append qs then I Get the data on the http in this form:

```auto
> 103.123.37.32 - - [13/Sep/2021:15:25:55 +0530] "GET /?q=[object%20Object]&utc_date_time=231&speed_log=2&me_rpm=3&speed_gps=4&dist_in_manoeuvre=5&dist_in_seapass=6&dist_engine=7&time_steaming_seapass=8&time_steaming_manoeuvre=9&speed_calculated_at_slip=10&slip=11&propulsion_efficiency=12&me_turboc_rpm=13&me_rev_ctr=14&me_torque_measured=15&me_power_meaured=16&me_load=17&me_energy_measured=18&me_power_fm_consumption=19&me_torque_fm_consumption=20 HTTP/1.1" 302 - "-" "-"
> 103.123.37.32 - - [13/Sep/2021:15:25:55 +0530] "GET /dashboard/ HTTP/1.1" 200 7577 "http://103.251.48.37:447/?q=[object%20Object]&utc_date_time=231&speed_log=2&me_rpm=3&speed_gps=4&dist_in_manoeuvre=5&dist_in_seapass=6&dist_engine=7&time_steaming_seapass=8&time_steaming_manoeuvre=9&speed_calculated_at_slip=10&slip=11&propulsion_efficiency=12&me_turboc_rpm=13&me_rev_ctr=14&me_torque_measured=15&me_power_meaured=16&me_load=17&me_energy_measured=18&me_power_fm_consumption=19&me_torque_fm_consumption=20" "-"

```

Now i can work with this output, but i don't need the tagname in it. I require the data as 231,2,3,4,etc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 10:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/12 "2021-09-13T10:11:41Z")

</div>

You have to give us an example of how a finished url should look.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 10:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/13 "2021-09-13T10:41:03Z")

</div>

The data should be a raw text consisting only of values, separated by a comma. Something like this:

`321,2,3,4,2.3,0.0,12,31,3.2,` etc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 10:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/14 "2021-09-13T10:43:25Z")

</div>

How is that an example of the url?

we need to see what you put in browser when it works  
All we know is the start of url and the data, we need to see an example of complete url

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 11:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/15 "2021-09-13T11:22:37Z")

</div>

As of now, I am not putting it in any browser, but just checking it locally on XAMPP Control Panel, which is our local server.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 11:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/16 "2021-09-13T11:24:41Z")

</div>

Either way how many times do i have to ask to see a full example of the url?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aakash](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aakash)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 11:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/17 "2021-09-13T11:34:28Z")

</div>

I have attached the screenshot earlier. The url that I am using is this: [http://103.251.48.37:447](http://103.251.48.37:447)

 ![Screenshot (180)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/e/1e87536439f7da8f16da0e6380f79d5725f2f199.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2021 11:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/18 "2021-09-13T11:37:16Z")

</div>

I will ask one last time, then i will give up in frustration.

We need to see how the url looks when put together, as your explanations are confusing and incomplete

eg [http://102.153.367.23:447?somename=1,2,3,4,5,6](http://102.153.367.23:447?somename=1,2,3,4,5,6)  
or [http://102.153.367.23:447/1,2,3,4,5,6](http://102.153.367.23:447/1,2,3,4,5,6)  
or some other format

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2021 11:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/converting-joined-strings-to-utf-8-string/50948/19 "2021-11-12T11:37:19Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.