# Initialize Node-Red

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [7 March 2023 00:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204 "2023-03-07T00:10:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/1 "2023-03-07T00:10:19Z")

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I'm relatively new to using Node-Red.  
I've been able to create several flows, but this is not like any development environment I've ever worked with.  
When Node-Red opens in a browser the old flow is present; I've already exported the old flows and would like to create a completely new set of flows. How, can the old flows be completely cleared from the editor?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![MecatronicaMADE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@MecatronicaMADE](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/MecatronicaMADE)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/2 "2023-03-07T00:20:14Z")

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Hi @xytsrm you can double click on the flow tab and disable on delete flow or simply hide it.

[workspace - Flows](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/editor/workspace/flows)

if you hover over the tab, you have the option to hide.

![Screenshot from 2023-03-06 18-17-54](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/0/5/0541721155c8706699792a48f6fb9c827e2ea959.png)

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**Author:** ![stephenn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/stephenn/32/66644_2.png) [@stephenn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/stephenn)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/3 "2023-03-07T00:21:36Z")

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Where are you exporting a flow where it still works? Typically deleting a flow means that it's gone and won't run. I'm confused.

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**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/4 "2023-03-07T00:35:52Z")

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I've tried deleting the tabs, but the flows remain in a list on the right; if you click one of those flows the tab reappears. I would like to reinitialize the development environment as it was when originally installed.

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**Author:** ![smanjunath211](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/smanjunath211/32/95742_2.png) [@smanjunath211](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/smanjunath211)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/5 "2023-03-07T00:36:34Z")

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rename the flows.json to some thing else (rather than delete if you want to use it again ever) in the NR folder and restart node-red

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**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/6 "2023-03-07T00:37:19Z")

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stephenn, when you export you create a complete copy as a JSON file that can be re-imported anytime.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/7 "2023-03-07T00:39:47Z")

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smanjunath211, where is the flows.json stored?

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**Author:** ![smanjunath211](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/smanjunath211/32/95742_2.png) [@smanjunath211](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/smanjunath211)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/8 "2023-03-07T00:41:17Z")

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you can find it in the startup info on the console

```auto
7 Mar 00:15:50 - [info] 

Welcome to Node-RED
===================

7 Mar 00:15:50 - [info] Node-RED version: v3.0.0
7 Mar 00:15:50 - [info] Node.js version: v16.16.0
7 Mar 00:15:50 - [info] Windows_NT 10.0.19044 x64 LE
7 Mar 00:15:52 - [info] Loading palette nodes
7 Mar 00:16:00 - [info] Dashboard version 3.3.1 started at /ui
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [info] Settings file : c:\Users\OEEHo\.node-red2\settings.js
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [info] Context store : 'memoryOnly' [module=memory]
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [info] Context store : 'file' [module=localfilesystem]
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [info] User directory : c:\Users\OEEHo\.node-red2
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [info] Flows file : c:\Users\OEEHo\.node-red2\flows.json
7 Mar 00:16:01 - [info] Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1881/
7 Mar 00:16:02 - [warn] 

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 00:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/9 "2023-03-07T00:43:35Z")

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Thanks, I think I've already found it, but I wanted to make sure that was the correct file.

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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:** [7 March 2023 09:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/10 "2023-03-07T09:46:48Z")

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> [@xytsrm](#):
>
> I've tried deleting the tabs, but the flows remain in a list on the right;

In that case you had just hidden it, not deleted it. @MecatronicaMADE indicted how to delete it.

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**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 13:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/11 "2023-03-07T13:04:35Z")

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Yeah Colin, I was able to read what MacatronicMade wrote, but smanjunath's suggestion was the most useful to me.

I would have still preferred a more formalized method of reinitializing the Node-Red IDE. Such as when on Exporting all flows the flows.json file is reinitialized; perhaps to include a popup that gives the option the reinitialize on full-export.

Thanks, X.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [7 March 2023 13:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/12 "2023-03-07T13:36:33Z")

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> [@xytsrm](#):
>
> when on Exporting all flows the flows.json file is reinitialized; perhaps to include a popup that gives the option the reinitialize on full-export.

Absolutely not. Then every time you export in order to make a backup you would have that annoying popup, and in addition a careless click would destroy your flows.  
If, in a LibreOffice or Word document, you selected and exported the full contents you would not expect it to delete your original would you?

It is very unusual to want to discard the current flows file, but if it is necessary then deleting the flows file is, after all, a very easy thing to do.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paulkeates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@paulkeates](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/paulkeates)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 14:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/13 "2023-03-07T14:14:56Z")

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Hi,

I'd recommend using the 'Projects' feature instead of your current method. You can then keep as many Flows as you want, separate them - your choice. But each Project becomes a separate file that makes it easier to understand the contents / features / focus. Much like a Word or Excel document...

Cheers,

Paul

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 15:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/14 "2023-03-07T15:25:00Z")

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Really, simple solution have two export options press normal export, or press export with reset. No popups necessary.

I'm a can-do type,  
X.

P.S. Guess that's why they have "Projects".

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![xytsrm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/6de8d8/32.png) [@xytsrm](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/xytsrm)\
**Post date:** [7 March 2023 15:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-node-red/76204/15 "2023-03-07T15:27:02Z")

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Thanks Paul, now that's a useful suggestion. I've heard about "Projects", I need to look into that.  
Do you know of any good how-to videos on "Projects".?

X.

UPDATE: Found this video on Projects: [Introduction to Node-RED Projects - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bto2rz7bY3g&t=503s)