# Cron json as variables
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222
**Category:** General
**Created:** [23 May 2025 07:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222 "2025-05-23T07:26:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Herbert](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Herbert)
#### Post date: [23 May 2025 07:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/1 "2025-05-23T07:26:23Z")
Hello I´m using some cron with fix values.
I want to refer to two Dashboard object for both variables toGrid and toSolar to adjust these values easier.
How is that possible?
Cron field:
```auto
{"toGrid":20.3,"toSolar":22.0}
```
```auto
[
{
"id": "0336f4fd93f378eb",
"type": "tab",
"label": "Flow 1",
"disabled": false,
"info": "",
"env": []
},
{
"id": "421982f94b43cd4a",
"type": "cronplus",
"z": "0336f4fd93f378eb",
"name": "Jede Minute Feb 1. bis 20.",
"outputField": "payload",
"timeZone": "",
"storeName": "",
"commandResponseMsgOutput": "output1",
"defaultLocation": "",
"defaultLocationType": "default",
"outputs": 1,
"options": [
{
"name": "schedule1",
"topic": "Minute",
"payloadType": "json",
"payload": "{\"toGrid\":20.3,\"toSolar\":22.0}",
"expressionType": "cron",
"expression": "0 * * 1-20 FEB *",
"location": "",
"offset": "0",
"solarType": "all",
"solarEvents": "sunrise,sunset"
}
],
"x": 460,
"y": 180,
"wires": [
[]
]
}
]
```
---
### Author:  [@Herbert](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Herbert)
#### Post date: [6 June 2025 16:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/2 "2025-06-06T16:10:57Z")
No answer here? Is my wish not possible? Maybe there are better solutions as my?
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [6 June 2025 16:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/3 "2025-06-06T16:36:52Z")
cronplus is 100% dynamic. Your dashboard would need to "create dynamic schedules".
Alternatively, you could use a change node to update the values to those created by your dashboard.
e.g. `cron-plus` --\> `change` (update `msg.payload.toGrid`, update `msg.payload.toSolar`) --\> next node
Alternatively, you could use a JSONata payload and dynamically create the payload using `$flowContext` for example!
---
### Author:  [@Herbert](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Herbert)
#### Post date: [6 June 2025 16:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/4 "2025-06-06T16:39:27Z")
Thanks for your feedback. In the meantime I thought it would be better to have a number from an MQTT device. But how I can integrate any number in the cron?
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [6 June 2025 16:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/5 "2025-06-06T16:40:12Z")
store the number in context
retrieve the number from context - use a change node or the other methods mentioned in last post.
---
### Author:  [@Herbert](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Herbert)
#### Post date: [6 June 2025 16:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/6 "2025-06-06T16:41:11Z")
OK thanks I will try that - I´m not an expert, but I do my best 😉
---
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [6 June 2025 16:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/7 "2025-06-06T16:43:19Z")
> [@Herbert](#):
>
> But how I can integrate any number in the cron?
Have Cron-plus inject a simple message at your sheduled times.
Use a change node, or other means, to insert the current values for msg.payload.toGrid and msg.payload.toSolar.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [4 September 2025 16:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cron-json-as-variables/97222/8 "2025-09-04T16:43:35Z")
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