# Modbus value display problem
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117
**Category:** General
**Tags:** modbus
**Created:** [22 May 2026 17:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117 "2026-05-22T17:47:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jlt57](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jlt57)
#### Post date: [22 May 2026 17:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117/1 "2026-05-22T17:47:14Z")
Hello everyone,
I'm having a problem with Modbus and data display.
(I'm a beginner, but I think I understand the basics of Node-RED.)
When I send a query of several words to a PLC, the data arrives correctly (in an array), it's accurate, and it appears in the debug window without any issues.
However, I can't get the value, for example, [1] from the word table to display in a numeric field.
Could you please explain why? It works in debug mode but not in the dashboard, as a numeric type.
Thank you in advance.
Note-Red : 4.1.10
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### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [22 May 2026 20:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117/2 "2026-05-22T20:49:05Z")
Welcome to the forum @jlt57
From looking at this fragment of your screencapture:
I think you are using the original node-red-dashboard extension.
Be aware that the original dashboard is deprecated, and if you are new to Node-red you should probably consider working with an alternative such as @flowfuse/node-red-dashboard, which is sort of the official replacement.
Other dashboard extensions are available too.
If you were to pass your array to a dashboard _text_ widget you would see both elements
But you are using a _numeric input_ widget, which expects to receive a single value and it gets confused.
Further, you have told it, if a number is entered, to set msg.topic to msg.payload[1], which I suspect was clutching at straws trying to get it to work!
I suggest that you would benefit from watching this playlist: [Node-RED Essentials](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyNBB9VCLmo1hyO-4fIZ08gqFcXBkHy-6). so that you know more about messages and their properties.
How can you fix it?
Unless you switch to the new dashboard, your best bet is to use a change node to set msg.payload to msg.payload[1] before you pass it to the numeric input node.
But is a numeric input widget the right one? Are you allowing the user to change the value, or just displaying it?
Perhaps a text node is all you need, set to display msg.payload[1]
NB if my screen captures are too small for you to make out the detail, just click to see the full sized version.
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### Author:  [@jlt57](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jlt57)
#### Post date: [23 May 2026 08:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117/3 "2026-05-23T08:44:17Z")
Hello
Thank you so much for all these explanations.
I'll look into it and keep you posted.
Thanks again
Have a good weekend
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### Author:  [@jlt57](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jlt57)
#### Post date: [25 May 2026 08:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117/4 "2026-05-25T08:59:25Z")
Hello Jbudd,
I looked at the links you sent, thank you.
My tests are working now, I'll continue.
I now need to look into how to secure access to the dashboard from outside the local network.
I already have an OpenVPN tunnel that I open when needed, which is already secure for accessing the local network.
Have a good day!
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [23 August 2026 08:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/modbus-value-display-problem/101117/5 "2026-08-23T08:59:53Z")
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