# Errors. Not getting the right/enough information in message

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [3 August 2023 23:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305 "2023-08-03T23:08:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**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:** [3 August 2023 23:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/1 "2023-08-03T23:08:46Z")

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Sorry folks, I know I've been down this road before.

I **thought** it was resolved. No it isn't.

```auto
{"payload":false,"topic":"1.144.27.171","_msgid":"cf9a26e019ea159f","device":"UpLink","IP":"1.144.27.171","_event":"node:ca7b2a2f.da6688","error":{"message":"TypeError: Cannot convert undefined or null to object","source":{"id":"d5c54ba3e866e2de","type":"function","name":"My blocker node. V6.3b","count":1}},"_error":"TypeError: Cannot convert undefined or null to object"}

```

the `source-id` isn't valid.

So how do I find where it is happening?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [4 August 2023 04:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/2 "2023-08-04T04:10:03Z")

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Search for node `d5c54ba3e866e2de` (ctrl-f)

Inside that, look for `source-id`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [4 August 2023 05:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/3 "2023-08-04T05:35:35Z")

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I thought the `d5c54ba3e866e2de` was not a valid node ID.

So searching for it is pointless.

But I have been (and probably am) wrong about that.

To my knowledge node-ids have `numbers.numbers` not `all just numbers`.

As per:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/a/bae9564de34a97704ce5d8e05cc1055a09ab911f.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [4 August 2023 06:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/4 "2023-08-04T06:34:36Z")

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> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> To my knowledge node-ids have `numbers.numbers` not `all just numbers`.

The id with a `.` is from a flow created on node-red v2.x. the id can be anything you please. You could edit your flows ids and put "i-am-node-1` in it if you want.

> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> As per:
> 
> ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/a/bae9564de34a97704ce5d8e05cc1055a09ab911f.png)

Do you have subflows?

What do you see if you search for `source-id`?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [4 August 2023 06:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/5 "2023-08-04T06:43:32Z")

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Yes, I have a lot of them.

(I have since edited the subflow and changed it as per the other thread. Not sure that changed the number or not.)

I think I see what you mean.

The `subflow` has that `id`.

But that isn't the same as what _we_ are seeing.

 ![Screenshot from 2023-08-04 16-39-00](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/5/35fe32ab1e5931ffc6c87247738a6342b2aed24d.png)

And.... This `id` is for the subflow. I use it several times in the flow.  
Each of those.... All the same `id`? Yeah, ok. I guess they can.  
As do.... Well. No.

If I have several `function` nodes in a flow: they all get unique `ids`.  
So if I use the same subflow several times each would get a unique `id`.

I'm still not understanding things.

My version of NR is 3.0.2 on that machine.  
I did a search (`ctl f` got the same requestor) and it isn't/wasn't found.  
So I am stumped to how to use the `source-id` in this scenario.

# SORRY

That was NODE-TYPE. and NOT **NODE-ID**.

But still confused.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [4 August 2023 06:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/6 "2023-08-04T06:50:28Z")

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Nodes inside Subflow instances get random ids auto assigned.

Did you search the string as suggested?

Ps. This is a good reason not to use subflows if you don't need to.

For example, if you are just tiding up your flows and want to make a nice little compact node, you will be far better off using link call. With link call, you can search the note IDs.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [4 August 2023 06:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/7 "2023-08-04T06:55:43Z")

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I believe I did - see reply 3.

This came about when I dug a bit deeper into what was happening when _some one cut the string_ which connects me to the internet. (In Oz we don't have a very good infrastructure, so I call it I say we use tin cans and tight string.)

As it was down for 6 hours I saw a lot of errors - as posted.

The `node-id` was the one I posted and I couldn't find.

Thinking about it - as there is only 1 `function` node in the subflow (and a `status` node) I am being a bit stupid making that a `subflow`.

I may spend a bit of time replacing the `subflow` with that one `function` node.

Ah.... Now I know why I did it this way.

I need to parse different parts of the message to see if they changed.  
Not always the `payload`.  
So I am kinda stuck with it.

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<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:** [3 October 2023 06:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-not-getting-the-right-enough-information-in-message/80305/8 "2023-10-03T06:55:44Z")

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