# How to trigger a web page to pop up the minute a serial output satisfies a condition?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** http-request\
**Created:** [31 August 2021 13:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444 "2021-08-31T13:36:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [31 August 2021 13:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/1 "2021-08-31T13:36:16Z")

</div>

I recently made a sensor using my Arduino that essentially displays the distance between an object continuously, it outputs to the serial monitor with no issue whatsoever. I wanted to spice it up by connecting it to my Pi and playing music whenever the distance would be a certain value, and saw that Node Red would be the best option for it, so I connected it, tested it and saw that it picked up on the output from the Arduino straight to the debug screen.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/c/9/c93f22c281525e4464914e80a07b71e350f54be6.png)

Problem is, I wanted to create a conditional statement that would trigger a web page(Random Youtube Video) to pop up and basically play it but after trying to find tutorials online to see if such had ever been done, I had never found any. No tutorials or anything. Therefore, I would be happy if you could explain the solution plus any learning material I could use for this.

Thank you in advance

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nlecaude](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nlecaude/32/25_2.png) [@nlecaude](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/nlecaude)\
**Post date:** [31 August 2021 13:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/2 "2021-08-31T13:46:45Z")

</div>

If your raspberry pi is not headless you can use an exec node to start chrome on your Raspberry pi.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [31 August 2021 15:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/3 "2021-08-31T15:23:20Z")

</div>

Can i still do that headless? I connect to it via remote desktop.  
So this exec node would basically take in the command of, say "if msg.payload = distance: 20cm, thne pop up browser with video" and work?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nlecaude](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nlecaude/32/25_2.png) [@nlecaude](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/nlecaude)\
**Post date:** [31 August 2021 15:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/4 "2021-08-31T15:54:41Z")

</div>

yes, although on Rasperry Pi you can also use OmxPlayer and youtube-dl to play videos directly to the frame buffer, see  
[https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=63632](https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=63632)  
You could also use the Exec node for that.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [31 August 2021 17:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/5 "2021-08-31T17:49:55Z")

</div>

That's cool I think I almost get it now, just unsure of how one triggers the exec node whenever the condition is true. For example

if (msg.payload = 'Distance 20cm') {  
--do something to trigger exec node  
}

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [31 August 2021 20:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/6 "2021-08-31T20:44:15Z")

</div>

> [@Kanjo](#):
>
> just unsure of how one triggers the exec node whenever the condition is true.

If that is the only thing happening in the `function` node, I'd use a `switch` node and then connect the output to an `exec` node to run what you want.

Also if you use this  
`if (msg.payload = 'Distance 20cm') {`  
in a function node, it will always be true because the single `=` assignes the variable the value of the string. You want to use `==`

here is a simple examle using the `switch` node:

```auto
[{"id":"e2f048968c3d7a0b","type":"inject","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"Distance 20cm","payloadType":"str","x":260,"y":240,"wires":[["35a58c1abb9ccdc9"]]},{"id":"35a58c1abb9ccdc9","type":"switch","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"Distance 20cm","vt":"str"},{"t":"else"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":2,"x":480,"y":300,"wires":[["1808531aabcb9fc2"],["55e42dc49cd65f7e"]]},{"id":"55e42dc49cd65f7e","type":"debug","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":730,"y":360,"wires":[]},{"id":"1808531aabcb9fc2","type":"exec","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","command":"echo","addpay":"","append":"'hello world'","useSpawn":"false","timer":"","winHide":false,"oldrc":false,"name":"","x":710,"y":280,"wires":[["699a4598a4066475"],["9e2c6190b283ca9f"],["6f48b5d1cb4946a8"]]},{"id":"ab0f9213b4e2682b","type":"inject","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"Distance 99cm","payloadType":"str","x":260,"y":360,"wires":[["35a58c1abb9ccdc9"]]},{"id":"699a4598a4066475","type":"debug","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":870,"y":240,"wires":[]},{"id":"9e2c6190b283ca9f","type":"debug","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":870,"y":280,"wires":[]},{"id":"6f48b5d1cb4946a8","type":"debug","z":"e041ef3e956367b4","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":870,"y":320,"wires":[]}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nlecaude](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nlecaude/32/25_2.png) [@nlecaude](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/nlecaude)\
**Post date:** [31 August 2021 20:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/7 "2021-08-31T20:50:43Z")

</div>

Here's an example with a change node (to extract the number) and a switch node.  
The advantage here is you can do things like greater than or less than in the switch node:

```auto
[{"id":"169422d2.3157e5","type":"inject","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"\"Distance: 69cm\\n\"","payloadType":"json","x":610,"y":140,"wires":[["9a611463.ab80c8"]]},{"id":"33cb67c6.2c46e8","type":"switch","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"69","vt":"num"},{"t":"gt","v":"60","vt":"num"},{"t":"gt","v":"100","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":3,"x":1050,"y":140,"wires":[["56c76e80.e86208"],["c242e13a.006e58"],["2c28dfc2.5636d"]]},{"id":"9a611463.ab80c8","type":"change","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"convertToNumber","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"$match(payload, /\\d+/).match ~> $number","tot":"jsonata"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":830,"y":140,"wires":[["33cb67c6.2c46e8"]]},{"id":"4ab23ba8.f66c1c","type":"inject","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"\"Distance: 144cm\\n\"","payloadType":"json","x":610,"y":180,"wires":[["9a611463.ab80c8"]]},{"id":"56c76e80.e86208","type":"debug","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1210,"y":120,"wires":[]},{"id":"c242e13a.006e58","type":"debug","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1210,"y":160,"wires":[]},{"id":"2c28dfc2.5636d","type":"debug","z":"853cfa30.9644a","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1210,"y":200,"wires":[]}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [3 September 2021 17:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/8 "2021-09-03T17:05:32Z")

</div>

Uh I'm not sure if it's me but I just see this:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/3/a3d81a5d399d79b62f49f1c94de0033519498413.png)

I'm new to the site and Node Red, so I'm unsure if that is what I'm supposed to see or not

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [3 September 2021 17:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/9 "2021-09-03T17:08:56Z")

</div>

Did you copy the flow and import it?

If you put your cursor near the end of the line, a copy icon should show up  
or you can select the entire line and copy/paste it into your flow.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [3 September 2021 18:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/10 "2021-09-03T18:42:09Z")

</div>

Oh shoot I did not know that, thank you so much for letting me know. Played around with both your flows and learnt a lot from the nodes.  
Several questions however:  
I intended on making the switch node pick up the output from my Arduino, but was unsure of how to actually pull out, say "Distance: 20cm" from the Arduino Output. I did add a function inbetween the arduino and an exec output to do something, but it still did not respond with anything. This was the code inside the function:

```auto
if (msg.payload === "Distance: 20") {
    msg.payload = "Distance is 20cm, nice"
    return msg;
}

```

Another question is traversing between directories on raspberry pi: I can easily make a shutdown command with what you guys provided, but cannot for some reason, navigate through directories or make chain commands like this one: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/1/111aa3437152335a835cef2bb57ffc4d25997bd1.png)  
Like it cannot go to that directory and make a new folder named "hello world" but somehow can make a directory of its own without traversing through directories.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [3 September 2021 19:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/11 "2021-09-03T19:32:04Z")

</div>

Without seeing the actual data coming from the arduino it is hard to give you an answer.

As for the second question, please provide the flow.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [4 September 2021 01:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/12 "2021-09-04T01:13:28Z")

</div>

```auto
[
    {
        "id": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "type": "tab",
        "label": "Flow 1",
        "disabled": false,
        "info": ""
    },
    {
        "id": "4f56b568bc65e2cd",
        "type": "serial-port",
        "serialport": "/dev/ttyACM0",
        "serialbaud": "9600",
        "databits": "8",
        "parity": "none",
        "stopbits": "1",
        "waitfor": "",
        "dtr": "none",
        "rts": "none",
        "cts": "none",
        "dsr": "none",
        "newline": "\\n",
        "bin": "false",
        "out": "char",
        "addchar": "",
        "responsetimeout": "10000"
    },
    {
        "id": "9fc033063aefec68",
        "type": "function",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "CONDITION",
        "func": "//var newMsg = {payload:msg.payload.toString()};\nif (msg.payload === \"Distance: 20cm\") {\n msg.payload = \"Distance: 20cm\"\n return msg;\n}\n\n\n//Make a delimiter that splits the string into just the number then turn the numver into a variable which then acquires the variable data as the distance\n\n\n",
        "outputs": 1,
        "noerr": 0,
        "initialize": "",
        "finalize": "",
        "libs": [],
        "x": 470,
        "y": 340,
        "wires": [
            [
                "a327079557ed0ecf"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "880192a506a1f490",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "payload",
        "targetType": "msg",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 350,
        "y": 160,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "6fb6e8da868a6199",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "youtube-dl --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guf9R6qLpo4",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": "",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "Download video",
        "x": 820,
        "y": 640,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "4f762555f2e0498b",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "cd discord-bot-one",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": "",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "",
        "x": 510,
        "y": 500,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [
                "e603bb071891dc24"
            ],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "e603bb071891dc24",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "python3 musicPlayer.py",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": "",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "",
        "x": 750,
        "y": 500,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "169422d2.3157e5",
        "type": "inject",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "props": [
            {
                "p": "payload"
            },
            {
                "p": "topic",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "repeat": "",
        "crontab": "",
        "once": false,
        "onceDelay": 0.1,
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "\"Distance: 69cm\\n\"",
        "payloadType": "json",
        "x": 350,
        "y": 720,
        "wires": [
            [
                "9a611463.ab80c8"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "33cb67c6.2c46e8",
        "type": "switch",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "property": "payload",
        "propertyType": "msg",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "20",
                "vt": "num"
            },
            {
                "t": "gt",
                "v": "60",
                "vt": "num"
            },
            {
                "t": "gt",
                "v": "100",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "checkall": "true",
        "repair": false,
        "outputs": 3,
        "x": 790,
        "y": 720,
        "wires": [
            [
                "56c76e80.e86208"
            ],
            [
                "c242e13a.006e58"
            ],
            [
                "2c28dfc2.5636d"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "9a611463.ab80c8",
        "type": "change",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "convertToNumber",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "set",
                "p": "payload",
                "pt": "msg",
                "to": "$match(payload, /\\d+/).match ~> $number",
                "tot": "jsonata"
            }
        ],
        "action": "",
        "property": "",
        "from": "",
        "to": "",
        "reg": false,
        "x": 570,
        "y": 720,
        "wires": [
            [
                "33cb67c6.2c46e8"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "4ab23ba8.f66c1c",
        "type": "inject",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "props": [
            {
                "p": "payload"
            },
            {
                "p": "topic",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "repeat": "",
        "crontab": "",
        "once": false,
        "onceDelay": 0.1,
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "\"Distance: 144cm\\n\"",
        "payloadType": "json",
        "x": 350,
        "y": 760,
        "wires": [
            [
                "9a611463.ab80c8"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "56c76e80.e86208",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "false",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 950,
        "y": 700,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "c242e13a.006e58",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "false",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 950,
        "y": 740,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "2c28dfc2.5636d",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "false",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 950,
        "y": 780,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "e2f048968c3d7a0b",
        "type": "inject",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "Shutdown",
        "props": [
            {
                "p": "payload"
            },
            {
                "p": "topic",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "repeat": "",
        "crontab": "",
        "once": false,
        "onceDelay": 0.1,
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "Distance: 20cm",
        "payloadType": "str",
        "x": 160,
        "y": 1000,
        "wires": [
            [
                "35a58c1abb9ccdc9"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "35a58c1abb9ccdc9",
        "type": "switch",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "property": "payload",
        "propertyType": "msg",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "Distance: 20cm",
                "vt": "str"
            },
            {
                "t": "else"
            }
        ],
        "checkall": "true",
        "repair": false,
        "outputs": 2,
        "x": 290,
        "y": 1000,
        "wires": [
            [
                "5ced84db8af8c5b7"
            ],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "1808531aabcb9fc2",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "mkdir ayoo",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": "",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "",
        "x": 590,
        "y": 1180,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "5ced84db8af8c5b7",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "sudo shutdown now",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": " ",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "",
        "x": 460,
        "y": 980,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "830ee7b453faecee",
        "type": "serial in",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "Arduino Uno",
        "serial": "4f56b568bc65e2cd",
        "x": 290,
        "y": 340,
        "wires": [
            [
                "9fc033063aefec68"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "327d4cdc2343bd8b",
        "type": "inject",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "props": [
            {
                "p": "payload"
            },
            {
                "p": "topic",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "repeat": "",
        "crontab": "",
        "once": false,
        "onceDelay": 0.1,
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "Distance: 20cm",
        "payloadType": "str",
        "x": 680,
        "y": 140,
        "wires": [
            [
                "a327079557ed0ecf"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "a327079557ed0ecf",
        "type": "switch",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "property": "payload",
        "propertyType": "msg",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "Distance: 20cm",
                "vt": "str"
            },
            {
                "t": "else"
            }
        ],
        "checkall": "true",
        "repair": false,
        "outputs": 2,
        "x": 920,
        "y": 200,
        "wires": [
            [
                "55930c3cd6880ad0"
            ],
            [
                "a9084ac8e452b4cc"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "a9084ac8e452b4cc",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "payload",
        "targetType": "msg",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 1170,
        "y": 260,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "490d9ee71c4b326f",
        "type": "inject",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "props": [
            {
                "p": "payload"
            },
            {
                "p": "topic",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "repeat": "",
        "crontab": "",
        "once": false,
        "onceDelay": 0.1,
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "Distance: 99cm",
        "payloadType": "str",
        "x": 700,
        "y": 260,
        "wires": [
            [
                "a327079557ed0ecf"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "f5a24019efb82879",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "true",
        "targetType": "full",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 1310,
        "y": 140,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "43aa5375e45afe7f",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "true",
        "targetType": "full",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 1310,
        "y": 180,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "8eaeac2f8fa14fbb",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "true",
        "targetType": "full",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 1310,
        "y": 220,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "55930c3cd6880ad0",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "mkdir helloworld",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": "",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "",
        "x": 1000,
        "y": 80,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [
                "8175d9847bf2ee44"
            ],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "8175d9847bf2ee44",
        "type": "switch",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "name": "",
        "property": "payload",
        "propertyType": "msg",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "cd discord-bot-one",
                "vt": "str"
            },
            {
                "t": "else"
            }
        ],
        "checkall": "true",
        "repair": false,
        "outputs": 2,
        "x": 1190,
        "y": 80,
        "wires": [
            [
                "f20226285ae307ed"
            ],
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "f20226285ae307ed",
        "type": "exec",
        "z": "60cf67e173ed3e74",
        "command": "mkdir helloworld",
        "addpay": "",
        "append": "",
        "useSpawn": "false",
        "timer": "",
        "winHide": false,
        "oldrc": false,
        "name": "",
        "x": 1360,
        "y": 80,
        "wires": [
            [],
            [],
            []
        ]
    }
]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [6 September 2021 16:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/13 "2021-09-06T16:03:22Z")

</div>

Any issues with my flow?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 September 2021 16:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/14 "2021-09-06T16:26:02Z")

</div>

Put a `debug` on the output of the first `mkdir helloworld` and also put a seperate `debug` node on each the outputs of the `switch` node and take a ook at wht your flow is doing.

Each exec is independent of any other exec node. i.e. what you do in one - like issuing a 'cd' command -will have no effect on any other `exec` node. You must provide the full path to directories you want to use in any command. Note, you can build a command and pass it to the `exec` node in msg.payload and leave the 'command' option empty and check the `+ Append` option.

You also need to pass the path to a program you want to run. If you have a python program in `/home/pi/mypython/helloworld.py` and want to run it then you have to use `python3 /home/pi/mypython/helloworld.py`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [7 September 2021 00:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/15 "2021-09-07T00:25:20Z")

</div>

Thank you, I did that and tested my thing further to see where the problem was coming from, and I saw that it stemmed from the condition function that I had setup, holding this code inside:

```auto
if (msg.payload == "Distance: 20cm↵") {
    msg.payload = "Distance: 20cm"
    //return msg;
}
return msg;

```

It would return this:  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/1/510f56f6da79b669667bf92460e50f5030495fbd.png)

As you saw in that flow export, I have a switch that checks if "distance == 20cm", yet the problem is that even though this is satisfied all the time, the exec code is not executed. This is not the case, however, when using the **inject** button, as it straight away executes the code in the exec node(making some directory named "helloworld")  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/9/e91bd35da1bad670d029e0e2f47c00c851f3b9c5.png)

EDIT: I removed the function and connected straight from the Arduino serial into the switch, yet it still does not want to register that its satisfying the given requirements. Why is this the case?

**Arduino output:**  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/1/61d3b8f93a4bf0e8f295ad1f38bf6b0b99a6c270.png)

**Inject Output**  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/c/eca7afe7024a5308a9d9728d3b0955e728cdccef.png)

Of course, you'll see the difference here being the "↵" symbol. I'm unsure as to how once can compensate for this, maybe node red not working well with Arduino's new line maker but I do not understand what to do here.

What can I do to make this work? Because I'm not seeing what i'm missing here.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [7 September 2021 01:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/16 "2021-09-07T01:43:30Z")

</div>

> [@Kanjo](#):
>
> `if (msg.payload === \"Distance: 20cm\"`

msg.payload has a `return at the end so it will not match the string in the if statement.

And with that I’m off to bed.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [7 September 2021 05:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/17 "2021-09-07T05:54:43Z")

</div>

Use a switch node within the condition to check if the string “contains” rather than equals

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kanjo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@Kanjo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kanjo)\
**Post date:** [7 September 2021 14:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/18 "2021-09-07T14:10:27Z")

</div>

It's moments like this that make me feel dumb as hell for not seeing that the answer is simpler than it is. Thank you so much man, I switched it to "contains" as you mentioned and it worked flawlessly! Thank you so much

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [17 September 2021 17:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/19 "2021-09-17T17:27:02Z")

</div>

9 posts were split to a new topic: [Exec node calling python running pulse audio getting 'connection refused](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/exec-node-calling-python-running-pulse-audio-getting-connection-refused/51174)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [17 September 2021 17:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-trigger-a-web-page-to-pop-up-the-minute-a-serial-output-satisfies-a-condition/50444/20 "2021-09-17T17:29:17Z")

</div>