# Flows not importing correctly between machines
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336
**Category:** General
**Created:** [9 September 2019 23:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336 "2019-09-09T23:28:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [9 September 2019 23:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/1 "2019-09-09T23:28:02Z")
(Also partly `DASHBOARD` as well, but....)
As you may have seen I have been working on a dashboard recently for "machine health".
I got the layout nice and was happy.
I exported it and then imported it on another machine.
Ok, one was a RPI 2 and the new one is a RPz.
The screens are different.
Why? How?
I'm looking into it, but just to _put it out there_.
Good: (Original machine)
Bad: (New machine)
Here is what I have found so far:
Is this a problem/bug?
No `spacer` on the second one.
This is done by:
```auto
export - to clipboard - whole flow
import - from clipboard
```
in the menu
---
### Author:  [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 01:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/2 "2019-09-10T01:35:55Z")
Same versions of everything ?? i.e. Dashboard and NR ?
With all your recent dramas it is a fair chance their are some differences
Also i assume (but would like to confim) - the client where the browser is running is the same machine each time
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 01:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/3 "2019-09-10T01:44:07Z")
(Weird, I didn't get a notification of your reply)
Source machine specs:
Dashboard: 2.15.5
NR: 0.20.5
Machine:
```auto
pi@BedPi:~ $ sysinfo
Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Rev 1.1
PRETTY_NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux 9 (stretch)"
NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux"
VERSION_ID="9"
VERSION="9 (stretch)"
ID=raspbian
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/"
SUPPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianForums"
BUG_REPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianBugs"
Raspberry Pi reference 2017-09-07
Generated using pi-gen, https://github.com/RPi-Distro/pi-gen, 496e41575eeb9fa13f394ffb407b7bc1d00b21c2, stage5
pi@BedPi:~ $
```
Destination:
Dashboard: 2.16.2
NR: 0.20.5
Machine:
```auto
pi@TelePi:~ $ sysinfo
Raspberry Pi Zero W Rev 1.1
PRETTY_NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux 9 (stretch)"
NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux"
VERSION_ID="9"
VERSION="9 (stretch)"
ID=raspbian
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/"
SUPPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianForums"
BUG_REPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianBugs"
Raspberry Pi reference 2017-09-07
Generated using pi-gen, https://github.com/RPi-Distro/pi-gen, 496e41575eeb9fa13f394ffb407b7bc1d00b21c2, stage5
pi@TelePi:~ $
```
The destination is newer/later than the source.
The last bit:
Yes, I am viewing both remote machines from the one machine.
---
### Author:  [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 02:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/4 "2019-09-10T02:34:38Z")
Corect me if i am wrong - wasn't 2.16 of the Dashboard where they introduced the new visual placement mode (presumably as a long term replacement for spacers) - could this have some effect ?
I think it would be worthwhile duplicating the SD card (as a backup) and then upgrading the Dashboard on the donor machine
Craig
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 02:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/5 "2019-09-10T02:40:19Z")
Well, ok. I'll indulge you on that idea of the versions.
However, if the source is 2.15.5 has a `spacer` in its layout and I import it to 2.16.2 which is later on.
Shouldn't it work? (Backwards compatible)
It isn't that I am taking a dashboard from 2.16.2 and importing it to 2.15.5.
Which I would understand if the new dashboard threw a _hissy fit_.
So why can't 2.16.2 understand a 2.15.5 one?
I don't mind updating. But it seems weird.
---
### Author:  [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 02:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/6 "2019-09-10T02:42:03Z")
I am not saying that is the issue - but it is an obvious point of difference between the two machines that directly impacts the Dashboard (presumably you have checked that the nodes being used are the same versions)
As an easy to address test, duplicaitng the SD card and trying an update of the dashboard would seem to me to be the quickest way to isolate this from the variables
Craig
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 02:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/7 "2019-09-10T02:56:09Z")
I updated the `dashboard` on the source machine.
Both 2.16.2
Both machines NR 0.25.0
For the sake of the exercise I renamed the ORIGINAL flow `Machine_Health_x` and exported it to the clipboard, and renamed it back to normal.
On the destination machine (which is now updated. ssh'ed to it and `node-red-stop` `node-red-start`. I prefer that to `node-red-restart` only that I see things happening better.)
Imported the flow.
SAME.
I was going to export the `spacer` but obviously that's never going to be done.
Standby for another test scenario shortly.
Pics to show:
No comments this time.
    
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 03:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/8 "2019-09-10T03:05:46Z")
For another test I made a whole new flow.
See pics.
 
Not rocket science.
See the space in the picture.
Now when I import it to the other machine
This is the clipboard
```auto
[{"id":"7df28960.69c3f","type":"tab","label":"Flow 1","disabled":false,"info":""},{"id":"7f04e85f.dc9a5","type":"comment","z":"7df28960.69c3f","name":"TEST FLOW","info":"","x":260,"y":80,"wires":[]},{"id":"eb42e04.dd725a","type":"ui_button","z":"7df28960.69c3f","name":"","group":"6d1158d6.a6ee18","order":1,"width":"3","height":"1","passthru":false,"label":"button","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","icon":"","payload":"HELLO","payloadType":"str","topic":"","x":170,"y":190,"wires":[["3bc6e6fa.99a0ba"]]},{"id":"3bc6e6fa.99a0ba","type":"ui_text","z":"7df28960.69c3f","group":"6d1158d6.a6ee18","order":3,"width":"3","height":"1","name":"","label":"text","format":"{{msg.payload}}","layout":"row-spread","x":340,"y":190,"wires":[]},{"id":"6d1158d6.a6ee18","type":"ui_group","z":"","name":"Group 1","tab":"a2899bec.f8999","order":1,"disp":true,"width":"12","collapse":false},{"id":"a2899bec.f8999","type":"ui_tab","z":"","name":"TEST","icon":"dashboard","order":6,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]
```
The spacer isn't there - to the best of my knowledge.
---
### Author:  [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 04:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/9 "2019-09-10T04:05:23Z")
Dumb question - have you tried to flush your browsers cache ?
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 04:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/10 "2019-09-10T04:15:55Z")
Good question. I've fallen for that before.
And points for checking.
Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult. Flushing the cache is a good suggestion. But is/would PRIVATE BROWSING be just as good?
The RPI's are password locked for editing and as they are my machines, I don't have the passwords handy. (Don't go there please.)
I opened a PRIVATE window on my NUC.
Loaded NR edit and imported the flow to the NUC's NR.
No `spacer` node listed.
Out of interest, do you get the `spacer` if you import the flow?
---
### Author:  [@krambriw](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/krambriw)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 05:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/11 "2019-09-10T05:22:13Z")
I tried the import, no spacer
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [10 September 2019 05:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/flows-not-importing-correctly-between-machines/15336/12 "2019-09-10T05:26:47Z")
Thank you! @krambriw
It isn't me going mad.