# Import flow - layout lost because no spacers imported

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [9 May 2020 08:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354 "2020-05-09T08:54:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bdbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@bdbell](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bdbell)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2020 08:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/1 "2020-05-09T08:54:11Z")

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I am working on a fairly large Home Automation GUI using Node-red and Dashboard - almost 700 nodes at this point...

I tried exporting it and importing to another raspberry pi today, and after I deployed it and looked at the UI the layout is totally wrong. I am using a few transparent groups to align and space things, and unless the groups have at least one spacer they don't appear - but when it is imported none of the spacers are imported, all lost. I am also creating a menu bar at the top with buttons for navigation between tabs, and have spacers between all of the buttons and they are also not imported - no spacers are being imported.

What I did is save the Export to a .json file, then downloaded it to my desktop PC, and opened it in Notepad++, copied it and then imported it on the second pi by pasting it into the Import window. Is there something wrong with my process, or is this a bug in Node-red?

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2020 10:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/2 "2020-05-09T10:29:01Z")

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Better to use Import from File from the Import dialog. Though I don't expect that is the problem.  
What version of node-red, node-red-dashboard and nodejs are you using on the second machine? If not up to date then try updating them.  
You can get the versions from the startup log.

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**Author:** ![bdbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@bdbell](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bdbell)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2020 12:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/3 "2020-05-09T12:10:42Z")

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Thanks @Colin - the versions were not the same, different core and different Dashboard, same nodejs - I updated all and tried again to import from file this time - same result - none of the spacers were there at all. Here are the versions I have installed on both pi's.

![Annotation 2020-05-09 195929](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/a/8aaee9c59188e59f47599eaa5b396279ebd3b0cd.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2020 12:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/4 "2020-05-09T12:46:27Z")

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Don't know in that case, I think you will have to wait for another to suggest something. @dceejay?  
Maybe this is relevant

> [@Copying dashboard TABs - is it possible?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copying-dashboard-tabs-is-it-possible/15500):
>
> I have designed a layout which I am repeating on my dashboards. I have made a GUI with buttons and a layout and would like to know if there is a way rather than selecting all the nodes and copying all the nodes and re-pasting, is there a way I can select a tab and copy it? Although the second/next copy would be nice if it was in its own tab. But if I am copying the tab. . . . . Anyway. So it possible?

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**Author:** ![bdbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@bdbell](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bdbell)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2020 17:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/5 "2020-05-09T17:28:57Z")

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Still nothing..if this is really not an issue with node red can anyone who has tested it and had success importing a flow with spacers please upload a copy of their flow for me to try?

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2020 20:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/6 "2020-05-09T20:02:05Z")

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No, it doesn't work for me either. The spacers are not exported. Perhaps this is just not possible at the moment.

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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:** [8 June 2020 20:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-flow-layout-lost-because-no-spacers-imported/26354/7 "2020-06-08T20:02:05Z")

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