# 🎉 Node-RED 4.0.0-beta.2 released
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026
**Category:** News
**Tags:** docker
**Created:** [5 April 2024 13:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026 "2024-04-05T13:39:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [12 April 2024 05:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/21 "2024-04-12T05:29:40Z")
Thanks Bart.
It was one of my dumb questions.
Ooops.
---
### Author:  [@fmarzocca](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/fmarzocca)
#### Post date: [12 April 2024 08:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/22 "2024-04-12T08:02:41Z")
Is there any breaking change in this version to be aware of?
---
### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [12 April 2024 08:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/23 "2024-04-12T08:19:53Z")
The switch to baseline node.js v18 is the main breaking change it seems.
However, if you use JSONata in your own function nodes, that now needs to be treated as an async function it looks like.
---
### Author:  [@fmarzocca](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/fmarzocca)
#### Post date: [12 April 2024 08:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/24 "2024-04-12T08:41:20Z")
Thank you!
---
### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [14 April 2024 10:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/25 "2024-04-14T10:26:54Z")
There is still something not right with the blue dots on subflow tabs. If you edit the subflow properties the dot appears, but it doesn't go away if you deploy.
---
### Author:  [@gregorius](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/gregorius)
#### Post date: [14 April 2024 13:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/26 "2024-04-14T13:59:01Z")
Hi There,
I just installed 4.0.0.beta.2 and can I ask whether the new red line in the menu bar will remain?
new:
old:
The red line is - across the entire screen - very glaring and a little annoying on my eyes.
Somehow it also even more glaring with the sidebar is greyed out (e.g. when opening the settings):
Is there a reason for the new red line? Does it fulfil a specific function or is it just decoration?
---
### Author:  [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)
#### Post date: [14 April 2024 14:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/27 "2024-04-14T14:38:56Z")
It was a change proposed here: [Header Styling Improvements - Proposal (with Draft PR)](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/header-styling-improvements-proposal-with-draft-pr/86270)
Didn't receive any objections at the time, but feedback is always welcome.
---
### Author:  [@gregorius](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/gregorius)
#### Post date: [14 April 2024 15:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/28 "2024-04-14T15:20:12Z")
Thanks for the background details, I made my comments over [there](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/header-styling-improvements-proposal-with-draft-pr/86270/6)
---
### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [20 April 2024 09:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/29 "2024-04-20T09:09:58Z")
I find that I have a short flow exported from this beta version that won't import into 3.1.9, giving
**Error** : TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'length')
I think it is the subflow that is causing the problem
```auto
[{"id":"ec0f63498106e425","type":"subflow","name":"Empty subflow property test","info":"","category":"","in":[],"out":[{"x":440,"y":80,"wires":[{"id":"48fce04ebb8a6bbe","port":0}]},{"x":440,"y":180,"wires":[{"id":"14b4297f97abdf9c","port":0}]}],"env":[{"name":"value1","type":"str","value":""},{"name":"value2","type":"str","value":""}],"meta":{},"color":"#DDAA99"},{"id":"48fce04ebb8a6bbe","type":"inject","z":"ec0f63498106e425","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"}],"repeat":"5","crontab":"","once":true,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"${value1}","payloadType":"str","x":210,"y":80,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"14b4297f97abdf9c","type":"inject","z":"ec0f63498106e425","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"}],"repeat":"5","crontab":"","once":true,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"${value2}","payloadType":"str","x":210,"y":180,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"9eca47c26aa9291e","type":"subflow:ec0f63498106e425","z":"bdd7be38.d3b55","name":"empty property test","env":[{"name":"value2","value":"a value","type":"str"}],"x":450,"y":3280,"wires":[["ad46caabb2f31ef4"],["9dc2dc5cebac6292"]]},{"id":"ad46caabb2f31ef4","type":"debug","z":"bdd7be38.d3b55","name":"VALUE 1","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":700,"y":3260,"wires":[]},{"id":"9dc2dc5cebac6292","type":"debug","z":"bdd7be38.d3b55","name":"VALUE 2","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":700,"y":3320,"wires":[]}]
```
---
### Author:  [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)
#### Post date: [20 April 2024 10:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/30 "2024-04-20T10:17:10Z")
Just had restart my beta.2 installed (running on my Linux Mint desktop) after installing @Paul-Reed latest simpletime module update and I'm faced with this
```Welcome
===================
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [info] Node-RED version: v4.0.0-beta.2
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [info] Node.js version: v20.12.2
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [info] Linux 6.5.0-1016-oem x64 LE
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [info] Loading palette nodes
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [debug] logger Node logging turning on logging next 111 log points
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [info] logger Node Copyright 2020 Jaroslav Peter Prib
20 Apr 11:14:20 - [debug] logger Node test active
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] Settings file : /home/simon/.node-red/settings.js
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] Context store : 'default' [module=localfilesystem]
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] User directory : /home/simon/.node-red
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] Flows file : /home/simon/.node-red/flows.json
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1880/
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [warn]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Your flow credentials file is encrypted using a system-generated key.
If the system-generated key is lost for any reason, your credentials
file will not be recoverable, you will have to delete it and re-enter
your credentials.
You should set your own key using the 'credentialSecret' option in
your settings file. Node-RED will then re-encrypt your credentials
file using your chosen key the next time you deploy a change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] Starting flows
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] Started flows
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [tcp in:d7c0249d3f58dd78] listening on port 2883
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [udp in:b429a00a6c19aa83] udp listener at 0.0.0.0:39988
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [udp out:Playroom .30] udp re-use socket: 39988 -> 192.168.0.30:38899
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [udp out:Sky switch .34] udp re-use socket: 39988 -> 192.168.0.34:38899
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [udp out:Garden .40] udp re-use socket: 39988 -> 192.168.0.40:38899
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [warn] [alexa-remote-account:Win11Alexa] ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'd:\alexa180923c.txt'
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [alexa-remote-account:Win11Alexa] intialising "Win11Alexa" with the PROXY method and NO saved data...
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [warn] [alexa-remote-account:Win11Alexa] open localhost:3456 in your browser
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [mqtt-broker:192_168_0_23] Connected to broker: mqtt://192.168.0.23:1883
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [info] [mqtt-broker:bd0b59ec09738e10] Connected to broker: mqtt://test.mosquitto.org:1883
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [red] Uncaught Exception:
20 Apr 11:14:21 - [error] TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'close')
at FSWatcher.close (node:internal/fs/recursive_watch:86:31)
at Timeout._onTimeout (/usr/lib/node_modules/node-red/node_modules/node-watch/lib/has-native-recursive.js:99:13)
at listOnTimeout (node:internal/timers:573:17)
at process.processTimers (node:internal/timers:514:7)
simon@simon-HP-Desktop-M01-F1xxx:~/.node-red$
```
---
### Author:  [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)
#### Post date: [20 April 2024 10:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/31 "2024-04-20T10:23:15Z")
I have a tab that uses the filemon node so after running in safe mode - I disabled it and then everything was fine again
But as soon as I re-enabled the tab and deployed - NR stopped again
Went back and just disabled the filemon node and no error
---
### Author:  [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)
#### Post date: [20 April 2024 11:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/32 "2024-04-20T11:57:12Z")
@cymplecy looks like an issue with the filemon node rather than the beta.
---
### Author:  [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)
#### Post date: [21 April 2024 00:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/33 "2024-04-21T00:18:33Z")
> [@cymplecy](#):
>
> `20 Apr 11:14:21 - [warn] [alexa-remote-account:Win11Alexa] ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'd:\alexa180923c.txt'`
Possibly an issue accessing the filesystem ?
---
### Author:  [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)
#### Post date: [21 April 2024 06:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/34 "2024-04-21T06:28:36Z")
Ignore that - that was just an unused Alexa node now removed anyway
(It was when this machine was running Windows)
Its the watch node that seems to be the issue
---
### Author:  [@boehan](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/boehan)
#### Post date: [2 May 2024 09:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/35 "2024-05-02T09:38:51Z")
**UI-dashboard elements within new subflow-function: using multiple ui-groups and subflow-sharing with values does not work**
_ **1. using multiple ui-groups does not work** _
I have created a subflow with control elements on the left-hand side (group\_left) and the video with instructions on the right-hand side (group\_right). However, when instantiating the subflow, only the first ui-group is used. If you look on the subflow preview, you will see that for both, group\_left and group\_right , env-group-left is used. Accordingly, there are not two groups but only one.
_ **2. subflow-sharing with values does not work** _
If you import the following flow, it does not contain the UI information for the subflow instances.
```auto
[{"id":"2dc76c16782a0f28","type":"subflow","name":"Control | Video","info":"","category":"Learning Templates","in":[{"x":40,"y":100,"wires":[{"id":"4ae3f2307fe76502"}]}],"out":[{"x":540,"y":100,"wires":[{"id":"b2fa1dab31f28faf","port":0}]},{"x":540,"y":140,"wires":[{"id":"c41fc291958f40f6","port":0}]}],"env":[{"name":"tab","type":"ui_tab","value":"","ui":{"type":"conf-types"}},{"name":"group_left","type":"ui_group","value":"","ui":{"type":"conf-types"}},{"name":"group_right","type":"ui_group","value":"","ui":{"type":"conf-types"}},{"name":"youtube-iframe-url","type":"str","value":"","ui":{"type":"input","opts":{"types":["str"]}}},{"name":"instruction","type":"str","value":"Instruction"}],"meta":{},"color":"#3FADB5","icon":"font-awesome/fa-file-video-o"},{"id":"4ae3f2307fe76502","type":"function","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","name":"Subflow Tabcontrol","func":"node.warn(env.get(\"NR_SUBFLOW_NAME\"));\nmsg.payload = { \"tab\": env.get(\"NR_SUBFLOW_NAME\").split(\":\")[0] };\nnode.warn(msg.payload);\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"timeout":0,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","libs":[],"x":170,"y":100,"wires":[["42d44f55191bdca5"]]},{"id":"42d44f55191bdca5","type":"ui_ui_control","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","name":"","events":"all","x":295,"y":100,"wires":[[]],"l":false},{"id":"b2fa1dab31f28faf","type":"ui_button","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","name":"","group":"${group_left}","order":0,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"Next","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"topic","topicType":"msg","x":390,"y":100,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"c41fc291958f40f6","type":"ui_button","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","name":"Back","group":"${group_left}","order":0,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"Back","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"topic","topicType":"msg","x":390,"y":140,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"27c35dc690efc5f0","type":"ui_button","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","name":"","group":"${group_left}","order":0,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"Repeat","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"repeat","topicType":"str","x":400,"y":180,"wires":[["e5b9f28d0bbb932a"]]},{"id":"e5b9f28d0bbb932a","type":"ui_template","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","group":"${group_left}","name":"Instruction","order":0,"width":0,"height":0,"format":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","storeOutMessages":true,"fwdInMessages":true,"resendOnRefresh":true,"templateScope":"local","className":"","x":610,"y":260,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"baa49d6ec9eaa16e","type":"ui_template","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","group":"${group_left}","name":"","order":0,"width":0,"height":0,"format":"","storeOutMessages":true,"fwdInMessages":true,"resendOnRefresh":true,"templateScope":"local","className":"","x":315,"y":260,"wires":[["392d5f147552d538"]],"l":false},{"id":"392d5f147552d538","type":"function","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","name":"Get youtube-iframe","func":"msg.payload=env.get(\"youtube-iframe-url\");\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"timeout":0,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","libs":[],"x":430,"y":260,"wires":[["e5b9f28d0bbb932a"]]},{"id":"21eebace1fcd43b2","type":"ui_text","z":"2dc76c16782a0f28","group":"${group_left}","order":0,"width":0,"height":0,"name":"Instruction","label":"${instruction}","format":"{{msg.payload}}","layout":"row-spread","className":"","style":false,"font":"","fontSize":16,"color":"#000000","x":410,"y":220,"wires":[]},{"id":"7304c8ccf3e22593","type":"subflow:2dc76c16782a0f28","z":"64266d5c05f7d609","name":"Learning episode 1: Creating a flow","env":[{"name":"tab","value":"a0acaf95295b58ad","type":""},{"name":"group_left","value":"4744e47c0d8d47ad","type":""},{"name":"group_right","value":"d9526704bc06be8c","type":""},{"name":"youtube-iframe-url","value":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/46Ak61c_ymc?si=Dy8L3wT2W0yNnebG","type":"str"},{"name":"instruction","value":"CREATING A FLOW","type":"str"},{"name":"youtube-videolink","value":"","type":"str"},{"name":"videolink","value":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/46Ak61c_ymc?si=Dy8L3wT2W0yNnebG","type":"str"},{"name":"base","value":"7b4c2d84ca99dc9d","type":"str"}],"x":260,"y":160,"wires":[["3cb411f8d023d01f"],[]]},{"id":"3cb411f8d023d01f","type":"subflow:2dc76c16782a0f28","z":"64266d5c05f7d609","name":"Learning episode 2: Wiring Nodes","env":[{"name":"tab","value":"83034514a78cdb54","type":""},{"name":"group_left","value":"9efe9d26038fa7a3","type":""},{"name":"group_right","value":"c40f1eae8e806f12","type":""},{"name":"youtube-iframe-url","value":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ST7fiBLlfw?si=i1va2v-3eCS_lz4z","type":"str"},{"name":"instruction","value":"WIRING NODES","type":"str"},{"name":"youtube-iframe","value":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ST7fiBLlfw?si=i1va2v-3eCS_lz4z","type":"str"},{"name":"youtube-videolink","value":"","type":"str"},{"name":"videolink","value":"https://vod-progressive.akamaized.net/exp=1714496707~acl=%2Fvimeo-prod-skyfire-std-us%2F01%2F1878%2F19%2F484391248%2F2169120044.mp4~hmac=c8eeff945e178d1d1f282a3f118492c604ad0022b3823b2a39fc884820073712/vimeo-prod-skyfire-std-us/01/1878/19/484391248/2169120044.mp4","type":"str"},{"name":"base","value":"7b4c2d84ca99dc9d","type":"str"}],"x":640,"y":160,"wires":[[],["7304c8ccf3e22593"]]},{"id":"2cc22929a47b82b3","type":"ui_template","z":"64266d5c05f7d609","group":"d783cb980c3979fc","name":"Node-Red Dashboard Custom CSS","order":1,"width":0,"height":0,"format":"\n\n\n","storeOutMessages":true,"fwdInMessages":true,"resendOnRefresh":false,"templateScope":"global","className":"","x":260,"y":100,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"d783cb980c3979fc","type":"ui_group","name":"Demo","tab":"0449b3b1fea99d52","order":1,"disp":true,"width":"6","collapse":false},{"id":"0449b3b1fea99d52","type":"ui_tab","name":"Demo","icon":"dashboard","disabled":false,"hidden":false}]
```
For the subflow-instance "Learning episode 1: Creating a flow" you should see
- tab "Learning episode 1",
- group\_left "Controls",
- group\_right "Instructions",
but you don't.
Best regards, Andreas
---
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [3 May 2024 15:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/36 "2024-05-03T15:54:53Z")
Edit - Sorry, ignore this!
This simple flow might reasonably be expected to make "outputfile" a precise duplicate of "inputfile" and indeed the debug output suggests that it does.
```auto
[{"id":"e80cac0d72f2403e","type":"file in","z":"c39b66ab0a412ca4","name":"","filename":"/home/pi/inputfile","filenameType":"str","format":"utf8","chunk":false,"sendError":false,"encoding":"none","allProps":false,"x":530,"y":100,"wires":[["822d34e449703e1a","05062430139f4f92"]]},{"id":"05062430139f4f92","type":"file","z":"c39b66ab0a412ca4","name":"","filename":"/home/pi/outputfile","filenameType":"str","appendNewline":true,"createDir":false,"overwriteFile":"true","encoding":"none","x":750,"y":100,"wires":[["39cae6503e5aaea5"]]},{"id":"df6dafb983421621","type":"inject","z":"c39b66ab0a412ca4","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","x":340,"y":100,"wires":[["e80cac0d72f2403e"]]},{"id":"822d34e449703e1a","type":"debug","z":"c39b66ab0a412ca4","name":"Inputfile","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":520,"y":140,"wires":[]},{"id":"39cae6503e5aaea5","type":"debug","z":"c39b66ab0a412ca4","name":"Outputfile","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":720,"y":140,"wires":[]}]
```
However, it actually adds an extra new line character to "outputfile".
```auto
pi@AlsoPi:~ $ od -c inputfile
0000000 l i n e 1 \n l i n e 2 \n
0000014
pi@AlsoPi:~ $ od -c outputfile
0000000 l i n e 1 \n l i n e 2 \n \n
0000015
```
This was discussed a couple of years ago when it was suggested it might be changed for Node-red v4
---
### Author:  [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)
#### Post date: [3 May 2024 15:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/37 "2024-05-03T15:55:36Z")
Can you share the actual flow json? Or link to where it was previously discussed?
---
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [3 May 2024 15:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/38 "2024-05-03T15:58:25Z")
Post above amended to include flow.
[Original discussion](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/read-file-node-returns-one-line-too-many/68807)
---
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [3 May 2024 16:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/39 "2024-05-03T16:01:35Z")
I am no longer sure about this! The write file node does have "add newline" ticked...
But the debug output is deceptive.
---
### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [3 May 2024 16:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-2-released/87026/40 "2024-05-03T16:22:00Z")
The help text for the node says
On completion of write, input message is sent to output port.
So it outputs what you passed in, not what is written to the file.
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