# \`Link\` node suggestion

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [28 April 2020 23:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706 "2020-04-28T23:37:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [28 April 2020 23:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/1 "2020-04-28T23:37:55Z")

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For a long time I didn't use `link` nodes.

Only when I started multiple tabs did they become viable and I saw their use.

Between tabs is a given for them as you can't put a _wire_ between different tabs.

Since using `link` nodes, I have established a couple of _rules_. I may post them in another thread.

So, I have a `link out` node connected to a `link in` node on another tab.  
I select the `link out` node and an orange link appears showing the links to other tabs.  
To get to them, you click on the desired link name and the editor jumps to that tab.

Nice.

Alas this doesn't work if the links are all on the same tab.

Now, usually if it is on the same tab, they aren't needed. But as I have since learnt: That doesn't always hold true.

Usually flows start in the top left corner and _grow_ from there.

This is because the node's `in` is on the left and the `out` is on the right.

So as the flow progresses, you connect an `out` to the next node's `in`. Thus it goes from left to right.

Now and then you need a _wire_ to go from the right to the left.

Not a bit problem, but sometimes aesthetics come in and those wires going _the wrong way_ don't look too nice.

In those cases you use the `link` node.

So?

Well, if the flow is big - as in: **big** - it could be a fair distance.

## Suggestion

An option to go to the other end of a link even if it is on the same tab.

This may require not so much the node to allow this, but the _virtual wire_. But I think that wouldn't be possible because of the nature of how that part works.

So similar to when the link is to another tab:  
A small tree pops up listing all the connections.  
Local **and** remote.  
Local links are also shown similar to remote links, but then _virtual wire_ then exits the text and continues to the other `link` node on the same tab.

See picture.

So the _internal_ link would go through a box similar to the one shown in red then continue to it's node.

![Screenshot from 2020-04-29 09-33-02](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/e/8e4d793ff4f6e8710ade4ae107bea1cc22a658d2.png)

Maybe the box could be solid rather than dashed, but I think that is more an aesthetic thing than a practical thing.  
That the _virtual wire_ would exit the right side should be enough of an indication it is on the same tab.

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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:** [29 April 2020 09:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/2 "2020-04-29T09:48:23Z")

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Doesn't it show the wire back to or from the other link node when you click it?  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/d/ed8d7a9a7a3c7c418a7b1683728d4b98eca79169.png)

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [29 April 2020 09:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/3 "2020-04-29T09:52:56Z")

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Yes it does. But if it is at the other side of the tab it is annoying having to scroll the screen while leaving the _wire_ active so you can trace it.

If you accidentally click the wire disappears and you have to start again.

It is only a suggestion because I am (more and more) doing just that.

I am at the right of the window and there is a link that goes to the left side (bottom to top, or top to bottom also) and it is not fun scrolling the window.

This is painful because you can't just use the side scroll bars as you lose sight of the _wire_.

MMB click/dragging works, but it is slow and you have the chance of clicking LMB as mentioned and losing the _wire_.

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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:** [29 April 2020 10:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/4 "2020-04-29T10:03:00Z")

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I make my flows always fit completely in across the screen so that I never have to scroll sideways. I always keep them no more than one or two screens high also. Any more than that becomes too much to take in I find.  
Sometimes I extract a block of nodes that fulfil a defined chunk of logic out to a subflow even if it is used only once a I prefer that to linking to a different tab then linking back again.

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**Author:** ![kuema](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kuema/32/6542_2.png) [@kuema](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kuema)\
**Post date:** [29 April 2020 10:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/5 "2020-04-29T10:07:33Z")

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You can also use the minimap at the bottom-right corner of the canvas for large flows.

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**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [29 April 2020 10:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/6 "2020-04-29T10:08:17Z")

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Thanks for the suggestion @Trying_to_learn. Consider it noted.

Whilst there are patterns of use to avoid having wires spanning large distances, sometimes it does happen. Having a quick an easy way to jump to the other end of a wire is an interesting concept that could well apply to all wires - not just those of the link node. Not sure how best to trigger it - I think your suggestion of adding the 'local' nodes to the list of nodes we should could potentially be confusing as you'd have that node as well as the wire. But as a general concept, its worth considering.

If anyone wanted to propose ideas for how this would look then please do share.

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [29 April 2020 10:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/7 "2020-04-29T10:15:15Z")

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Nick,

I do accept that the _normal_ wires can suffer from this as well.

It is just that the `link` node offers the option to jump to the other end of the _wire_ but it is conditional that the other end is on another tab.  
Making it link to the other end if the other node is on the same tab shouldn't be too hard to implement for that node specifically.

I don't want to complicate it by making it work for any connection.

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**Author:** ![ristomatti](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ristomatti/32/5857_2.png) [@ristomatti](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ristomatti)\
**Post date:** [11 May 2020 13:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/8 "2020-05-11T13:16:32Z")

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Perhaps the virtual wire could have a button inline near the beginning? Something like the arrows in this mockup:  
`[node]o--->>>--------------o[node]`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [12 May 2020 00:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/9 "2020-05-12T00:14:44Z")

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> [@ristomatti](#):
>
> inline near the beginning

And end.... You may be chasing it from the other end too....

### Edit

Is the _direction_ that important?

Though at each end a little _thing_ to click to take you to the other end is still something.

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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:** [11 July 2020 00:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/link-node-suggestion/25706/10 "2020-07-11T00:14:50Z")

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