# Getting started with Dashboards

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [6 April 2020 14:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322 "2020-04-06T14:59:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jakorten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jakorten](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jakorten)\
**Post date:** [6 April 2020 14:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/1 "2020-04-06T14:59:14Z")

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Hi gals and guys,

I'm just starting with Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi:  
Node-RED version: v1.0.3  
Node.js version: v10.15.2  
Linux 4.19.97-v7l+ arm LE (Raspbian Buster)

The thing is I want to create a simple MQTT application:

- a switch that will send an MQTT command that will switch on an LED at some IoT device (Arduino Nano 33 IoT).

I try to follow tutorials but they seem to be too old as I don't see the Dashboard functionality in my Node-RED installation (e.g. [http://www.steves-internet-guide.com/node-red-dashboard/](http://www.steves-internet-guide.com/node-red-dashboard/))

I did issue a "npm install node-red-dashboard" but to no avail and I suppose it has to do with that line at [https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-dashboard](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-dashboard) that says:

"From version 2.10.0 you can create and install widget nodes like other Node-RED nodes. See the Wiki (link to Wiki / Github) for more information."

But for a Node-RED novice like me that waterfall of JavaScript is a little too much right now. Once I figure it out I will make a tutorial about it so any help appreciated to give me some intermediate hints that will allow me to solve this puzzle.

(B.t.w. the Arduino side / MQTT broker etc. is already working fine, that is no problem at all, I can also configure the MQTT out node in Node-RED without any problems, but if I try to add a switch it comes up with another node that is a "branching decision" instead of a 'hardware' switch.).

Thanks in advance for your patience and guidance.

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**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [6 April 2020 15:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/2 "2020-04-06T15:43:57Z")

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> I did issue a "npm install node-red-dashboard"  
> Did you do this while in the .node-red directory?  
> If you did it while you were in the home directory start off by removing it

```auto
cd $home
npm remove node-red-dashboard
cd .node-red
npm install node-red-dashboard

```

restart NR and if you scroll down in the node list, you shuld see a bunch of dashboard nodes.

add a `butto`n node and connect it to a `debug` node and tr it out. Then get your flow working triggering it from an `inject` node.

Once you have that working, it should be a peice of cake to connect the button to the flow and get it to work.

Take it one step at a time and build on what you just accomplished and you'll be fine.

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**Author:** ![jakorten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jakorten](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jakorten)\
**Post date:** [6 April 2020 15:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/3 "2020-04-06T15:51:53Z")

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Very good thinking, @zenofmud that was indeed my problem! I have some Node.js experience but it could be better and that's why I forgot about issuing it in the right place. Now I do have the dashboard icon in the first place and also nice nodes including button!

I will experiment also with the debug and inject nodes then! Thanks again.

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**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [6 April 2020 16:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/4 "2020-04-06T16:33:06Z")

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Don't forget you can inseall nodes from the node-red dashboard. Click on the hamburger menu on the top right and select "Manage Palette" option. Note, some nodes will require to stop/start nore-red to be fully installed.

Now get building!

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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:** [6 April 2020 16:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/5 "2020-04-06T16:57:41Z")

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Tip: use the hamburger menu \> manage palette to install nodes.

Edit i am a parrot

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**Author:** ![jakorten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jakorten](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jakorten)\
**Post date:** [6 April 2020 17:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/6 "2020-04-06T17:15:09Z")

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Great! Thanks guys. I already had the LED working over Mosquitto with the Arduino BLE 33 IoT. Was very simple in the end of course. Only the tutorial I started with (that one used the ESP8266) just assumed one had the dashboard installed already. Beginners 'bad-luck' of course. I will do some more experiments with it, but first I'll try to make a simple sensor to connect to that board to do the reverse (monitor values of the 'Thing' from Node-RED).

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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:** [20 April 2020 17:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/getting-started-with-dashboards/24322/7 "2020-04-20T17:27:32Z")

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