# Downloaded a flow - how do I find unknown node dependencies?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [12 August 2022 14:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365 "2022-08-12T14:45:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![filipmu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/filipmu/32/66121_2.png) [@filipmu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/filipmu)\
**Post date:** [12 August 2022 14:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/1 "2022-08-12T14:45:31Z")

</div>

First time user here - I managed to download a flow from the [flows.nodered.org](http://flows.nodered.org) library: [https://flows.nodered.org/flow/54bea677f001eb07b2f68171fab028d4](https://flows.nodered.org/flow/54bea677f001eb07b2f68171fab028d4)

I see it depends on some unknown nodes, like 'ui\_button', 'ftp in',...

I go to the node palette install tab and do a search for 'ui\_button' and 5 modules are available. When I type a search of 'ftp in', 8 modules are available.

How do I find the right module that contains the nodes marked unknown in this flow?

Shouldn't the dependencies be listed in the flow library page for this flow?

What steps am I missing to make the nodes recognized in the library flow?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [12 August 2022 14:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/2 "2022-08-12T14:59:32Z")

</div>

Welcome to the forum @filipmu

It says in the text on that page that it needs node-red-contrib-ftp and node-red-contrib-image-tools, which you can install using Manage Palette in the node red menu. If it needs ui\_button then it should have said that it also needs node-red-dashboard, which includes the basic ui\_ nodes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [12 August 2022 15:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/3 "2022-08-12T15:43:53Z")

</div>

> [@filipmu](#):
>
> How do I find the right module that contains the nodes marked unknown in this flow?

You can use the rather well hidden [Flow Inspector](https://flows.nodered.org/inspect) to see what nodes are in a flow.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [12 August 2022 15:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/4 "2022-08-12T15:48:43Z")

</div>

That can certainly be useful, but can often be confusing. For example, in this case it suggests half a dozen possible ftp nodes and several different dashboards.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![filipmu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/filipmu/32/66121_2.png) [@filipmu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/filipmu)\
**Post date:** [12 August 2022 20:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/5 "2022-08-12T20:06:56Z")

</div>

Thanks for all the info - this is helpful. It's too bad the flow library doesn't make requirements mandatory, or better yet - the library names should be recorded in the flow json so that its more or less self-contained rather than depending on someone documenting it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul-Reed](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/paul-reed/32/66906_2.png) [@Paul-Reed](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Paul-Reed)\
**Post date:** [12 August 2022 20:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/6 "2022-08-12T20:25:56Z")

</div>

> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> You can use the rather well hidden [Flow Inspector](https://flows.nodered.org/inspect)

Hhm... I didn't know that existed either!  
What is the navigation route for users to find the Flow inspector?  
I've probably missed it, but I didn't find any links to it from [Documentation : Node-RED](https://nodered.org/docs/)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [12 August 2022 20:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/7 "2022-08-12T20:33:36Z")

</div>

It was announced quite a while ago, can't remember the details I'm afraid.

[New thing: Flow Inspector - General - Node-RED Forum (nodered.org)](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/new-thing-flow-inspector/20573)

Jan 2020

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul-Reed](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/paul-reed/32/66906_2.png) [@Paul-Reed](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Paul-Reed)\
**Post date:** [12 August 2022 20:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/8 "2022-08-12T20:42:45Z")

</div>

Thanks @TotallyInformation  
I see in that thread that @cymplecy has already suggested a menu link for users to access the function.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [12 August 2022 21:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/9 "2022-08-12T21:05:31Z")

</div>

Probably needs someone to submit a PR to the docs. 😃

---

<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:** [26 August 2022 21:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/downloaded-a-flow-how-do-i-find-unknown-node-dependencies/66365/10 "2022-08-26T21:05:53Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 14 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.