# Folder Structured Flows

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430>\
**Category:** Developing Nodes\
**Created:** [9 July 2026 03:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430 "2026-07-09T03:50:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Robert0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/robert0/32/108008_2.png) [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2026 03:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/1 "2026-07-09T03:50:18Z")

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Hi everyone,

I have seen quite a few comments about Node-RED’s flat flow structure, and for larger projects I personally find it frustrating to scroll through endless flows.

I am working on a plugin that adds some structure to the Node-RED Explorer.

I know Node-RED is designed as a flat, tab-based editor, and that flows are stored in a single `flows.json` file. However, for larger projects, I think many users could benefit from an extra layer of visual organization for readability and maintainability.

Here a preview of what I have working so far:

 ![619154250-b46befc9-8c53-4467-9c53-545fd5e20016](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/b/8b979ebb1b471e82990a1c3716c4e64cf2e45191.png)  
The plugin currently allows you to:

- Drag and drop flows
- Create folders
- Move flows into folders
- Customize icons and colors
- Apply bulk actions such as hide, lock, and more
- Export/import your `flows.json` while keeping the same structure for another user

The plugin is available through the Node-RED Palette Manager if anyone would like to try it.

I am looking for people who are interested in testing it, giving feedback, and helping shape it into something stable, foolproof, and useful for larger Node-RED projects.

Feel free to reply here or send me a DM if you would like to help.

_Note: I am not a good developer, I made this for me and collegues. However I think it could be beneficial for anyone._

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**Author:** ![bakman2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bakman2/32/6207_2.png) [@bakman2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bakman2)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2026 04:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/2 "2026-07-09T04:20:08Z")

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I think Node-RED version 5 provide [something similar](https://nodered.org/blog/2026/06/09/version-5-0-released#the-explorer-and-information-sidebars) ?

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**Author:** ![Robert0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/robert0/32/108008_2.png) [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2026 04:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/3 "2026-07-09T04:47:44Z")

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As far as I read and see, its the same explorer as from earlier version. Not sure what they changed.

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**Author:** ![bakman2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bakman2/32/6207_2.png) [@bakman2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bakman2)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2026 05:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/4 "2026-07-09T05:01:26Z")

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Maybe so, although now you can put the panel on the left in the UI. I don't really see a difference to your plugin 😬

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**Author:** ![Robert0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/robert0/32/108008_2.png) [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2026 05:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/5 "2026-07-09T05:27:13Z")

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Yes, i tried to visually recreate the original explorer to keep it authentic.

So visually its the same explorer, but then with all the features I mentioned in the main post.

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**Author:** ![Robert0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/robert0/32/108008_2.png) [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2026 08:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/6 "2026-07-09T08:00:21Z")

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Oh I just noticed what you meant. You meant to say that 5.0 has folders in the flow explorer?

Im not dure if that is right. I have it here but it doesnt show any structured set up.

I did believe one of the developers said maybe in v6.0+

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**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:** [9 July 2026 12:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/7 "2026-07-09T12:47:19Z")

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> [@bakman2](#):
>
> I don't really see a difference to your plugin 😬

To be clear, Robert's new plugin enables you to organise your tabs into folders visually. The built-in Explorer does not do this AFAIK and I couldn't see any way to do it.

> [@Robert0](#):
>
> testing it

Apart from the comments on Discord Robert ...

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/0/3/0374d21e9b391cb70123ce76c3bbba44409ba120.png)

There is an issue with indentation. In the above example, the first 3 entries are inside the "Disabled" folder, the rest are not. There is no visual difference.

It would also, I think, be helpful to have disabled folders in grey like the built-in explorer since the little icons are not really very clear as to their meaning.

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**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:** [9 July 2026 13:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/8 "2026-07-09T13:05:11Z")

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Unfortunately, there do appear to be other issues.

I tried to move the sidebar to the left-top instead of right-top, deployed and the sidebar icon disappeared, reloading the page made the sidebar disappear as well. Only restarting node-red and reloading the page made the icon reappear - but it was back in its original place and my folders had disappeared.

In addition, at this point, trying to add a new folder again adds the folder but does not let me edit the name. In addition, the browser is now using around 10% CPU which it wasn't before.

I'm also getting a bunch of console errors from the Editor page as well - VM464 is your node.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/c/b/cb606f3aef5a635277ff8ead5bc2044ab03388a5.png)

Will have to remove for now I'm afraid.

* * *

Oh, and I see that you have manually embedded a bunch of CSS in the Editor code, you don't need to do that, you can load it as a CSS file from your HTML file.

* * *

Ah, and this doesn't look quite right:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/f/af59700b394f9d5018c623ac6605006d17f99644.png)

There should be a plugin listed there I think.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Robert0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/robert0/32/108008_2.png) [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Post date:** [10 July 2026 00:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/9 "2026-07-10T00:33:42Z")

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Thank you for the feedback.  
I have addressed the problems and pushed a fixed to a new npm name.  
The name should make it more clear, when searching for something like folders.

The error messages seemed to come from when I attempt to overwrite the information panel with random data of something that is not selected and does not exist (folders). I left it out for now as it did not have much value.

- Mass locking, hiding, disabling works properly now. Avoiding the subflows as they can only be hidden.
- I merged the flows and subflows for now.
- I added rihght click for easy access.

Let me know if there is anything else!

`node-red-contrib-folders`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Robert0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/robert0/32/108008_2.png) [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Post date:** [13 July 2026 12:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/10 "2026-07-13T12:29:08Z")

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I pushed an update to make it now replace the current explorer instead of copying it. Added some features and cleaned up some buggy stuff.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [11 September 2026 12:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/folder-structured-flows/101430/11 "2026-09-11T12:29:28Z")

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