# Initialize text node

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Tags:** node-red-dashboard\
**Created:** [17 November 2024 10:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197 "2024-11-17T10:10:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NodyRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@NodyRed](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/NodyRed)\
**Post date:** [17 November 2024 10:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197/1 "2024-11-17T10:10:22Z")

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Using the text node with Value format set to {{msg.Value}} is there a way to initialize the value format?  
After starting dashboard it takes until the first message with msg.Value to show whatever msg.Value is. Until then it is just blank. I could use a inject node, but is not so nice having many text nodes.

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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:** [17 November 2024 10:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197/2 "2024-11-17T10:33:29Z")

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> [@NodyRed](#):
>
> After starting dashboard

What do you mean by 'starting dashboard'? It should only reset if you restart node-red or Deploy.

If it is just on node-red restart is it not better to leave it blank to indicate that it has not yet got a valid value?

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**Author:** ![NodyRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@NodyRed](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/NodyRed)\
**Post date:** [17 November 2024 10:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197/3 "2024-11-17T10:57:21Z")

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starting means deploy or restarting node-red.  
In my case it may take longer time until a message is received by the text node. Actually displaying a icon. In case of deploy it leaves this empty and I would like to have a initial value (in my case icon) after restarting or deploying.

Like with the chart node it has a field "blank label", that is kind of what I'm looking for. Admitting that it might me more useful on a chart node.

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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:** [17 November 2024 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197/4 "2024-11-17T11:16:36Z")

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I think you will have to use an inject node in that case.

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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:** [1 December 2024 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/initialize-text-node/93197/5 "2024-12-01T11:16:55Z")

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