# Directory structure for flows
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504
**Category:** Feature Requests
**Created:** [10 January 2023 23:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504 "2023-01-10T23:26:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ryanlynnhorlacher](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ryanlynnhorlacher)
#### Post date: [10 January 2023 23:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504/1 "2023-01-10T23:26:06Z")
I'm beginning a project in which I expect to have many flows. I have not been able to find an option to organize flows in a directory-like structure for easier organization. Is there a reason this hasn't been attempted or is it already possible and I'm missing it?
If there is no option for this currently, I might be interested in submitting a PR if enough people think it's a good idea. I'd love some guidance from the core team on how they would like to see something like this implemented.
---
### Author:  [@yOyOeK1](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/yOyOeK1)
#### Post date: [11 January 2023 01:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504/2 "2023-01-11T01:29:50Z")
In my otdm-tools I have some helpers to manage flows as json's. It help you import export flow by flow and that way you can automate it?
> **[GitHub - yOyOeK1/oiyshTerminal: off-line iot collection](https://github.com/yOyOeK1/oiyshTerminal)**
>
> off-line iot collection . Contribute to yOyOeK1/oiyshTerminal development by creating an account on GitHub.
in repository you can find otdm-tools directory.
python3, jq, request as depes.
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### Author:  [@ryanlynnhorlacher](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ryanlynnhorlacher)
#### Post date: [11 January 2023 15:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504/3 "2023-01-11T15:25:15Z")
I don't need to import or export them. I'd just like to be able to organize them in Node Red in a simple directory structure. Instead of always seeing all tabs open at once, I'd like to be able to group tabs (flows) into directories and only open a single directory at a time.
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### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [11 January 2023 16:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504/4 "2023-01-11T16:17:21Z")
It's a bit clunky but you can hide flows individually (alt-w) or all but the current flow (no keyboard shortcut assigned, maybe alt-W).
Then shift-ctrl-f lists them and you can click on a hidden flow to unhide it.
You can assign a shortcut (maybe shift-alt-W) to show all flows too.
You can't currently group flows but you can drag related flows next to each other so they show up together in the list.
I wonder if the flow description could somehow be leveraged to group flows. I have no idea what people use this for. There is a Markdown editor with a "Preview" button.
A keyboard shortcut "Hide/show all flows with the same H1 in their description" perhaps.
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### Author:  [@yOyOeK1](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/yOyOeK1)
#### Post date: [11 January 2023 16:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504/5 "2023-01-11T16:35:59Z")
using otdm-tools:
`$ ./otdmTools.py -forceHost localhost -dnrfByUid "*" -oFile '/tmp/flowsListRes.json'`
Returns to /tmp/flowsListRes.json json with basic info about flows in localhost. It looks like .....
```auto
..........
},
{
"id": "e960dab18be5ba03",
"type": "tab",
"label": "mqtt hu to yss",
"disabled": false,
"info": "",
"env": []
}
]
```
so by doing:
`$ ./otdmTools.py -forceHost localhost -dnrfByUid "e960dab18be5ba03" -oFile '/tmp/flow_e960dab18be5ba03.json'`
You will get ready json for later to import.
RTFM of otdm-tools 🙂
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [12 March 2023 16:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/directory-structure-for-flows/73504/6 "2023-03-12T16:36:53Z")
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