# Node-RED 4.0 beta + Dashboard 2

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Tags:** node-red-dashboard\
**Created:** [15 March 2024 08:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452 "2024-03-15T08:54:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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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:** [15 March 2024 08:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/1 "2024-03-15T08:54:56Z")

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> [@tada Node-RED 4.0.0-beta.1 released](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-0-beta-1-released/86433/1):
>
> If you hit any problems, please report them either as a reply on this topic,

If I have a Dashboard 2 related issue should I ask that here or start a new thread?  
In case the answer is 'here', I am testing widgets in a subflow, which is working well. The question is how do I set the size of the widget? When I click the size it pops up the box with the squares in, but it won't let me select anything. Or is that WIP?

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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:** [15 March 2024 09:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/2 "2024-03-15T09:03:33Z")

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> [@Colin](#):
>
> In case the answer is 'here', I am testing widgets in a subflow, which is working well. The question is how do I set the size of the widget? When I click the size it pops up the box with the squares in, but it won't let me select anything. Or is that WIP?

I'll suggest starting a dedicated topic for NR4/DB2 so that @Steve-Mcl and @joepavitt can pitch-in without swamping the more general beta discussion.

Will move your post (and this reply) to a new topic to get that started.

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**Author:** ![joepavitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/joepavitt/32/59722_2.png) [@joepavitt](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joepavitt)\
**Post date:** [15 March 2024 09:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/3 "2024-03-15T09:21:55Z")

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It was [spotted in review](https://github.com/FlowFuse/node-red-dashboard/pull/634#issuecomment-1985876956), and is still a bit of a WIP. The workaround (at the moment) as that you have to set the width of the widget _before_ moving it into the subflow.

The width sizing widget falls over in the subflow as it's parent group is actually unknown at that point, so the `elementSizer()` has no maximum to draw from.

Issue: [Subflows: Element Sizer widget doesn't work after being placed inside a subflow · Issue #683 · FlowFuse/node-red-dashboard · GitHub](https://github.com/FlowFuse/node-red-dashboard/issues/683)

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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:** [16 March 2024 09:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/4 "2024-03-16T09:24:34Z")

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Ideally I would like to be able to set the size via subflow properties. I have added that to the issue.

Also, if one has multiple widgets in the subflow I can't see how to define the order in which they appear.

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**Author:** ![joepavitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/joepavitt/32/59722_2.png) [@joepavitt](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joepavitt)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2024 12:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/5 "2024-03-16T12:49:39Z")

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For the element sizer - I suspect that's going to be very very tricky (@Steve-Mcl?) - but I do understand the UX benefits.

The core Node-RED sub-flows would need to support that as an element type, which they do not, and then Dashboard 2.0 would need a way on every `elementSizer` to be able to say _"drive this by an environment variable"_

> If one has multiple widgets in the subflow I can't see how to define the order in which they appear.

Not sure that's possible right now, one for Steve. Although possibly in the sidebar?

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**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2024 13:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/6 "2024-03-16T13:50:36Z")

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It is super tricky in it's current form.

The sizer cannot (easily) be supplied values via subflow properties. (Visually that is)

I did do a version of this using overrides but i was never fully happy with all the edge cases and considerations of how a node author wrote their edit form (video [here](https://github.com/node-red/designs/discussions/77#discussioncomment-7667736))

Of course you can already (today) override any properties you wish by manually modifying the flow and setting the value of the property to `${xxx}`

* * *

#### moving forward

A solution that fits more nodes, but requires the node developer to make considerations when designing the edit form is providing typedInputs for all things that could/should be override-able.

So for the sizer, it would be good if we provide the sizer element as a component option in a typedInput. I _think_ it is possible today but not 100% sure. However, we still have options. Like a checkbox that hides the element sizer and shows width and height inputs. Or lose the element sizer altogether and provide 2 separate width and height inputs from the outset.

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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:** [15 April 2024 13:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-4-0-beta-dashboard-2/86452/7 "2024-04-15T13:51:27Z")

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