# Prohibit nodes from overlapping

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [24 February 2026 08:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443 "2026-02-24T08:26:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JeroenVH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jeroenvh/32/53766_2.png) [@JeroenVH](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/JeroenVH)\
**Post date:** [24 February 2026 08:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/1 "2026-02-24T08:26:56Z")

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An issue I have encountered is that when you paste a node once to many they end up on top of each other.  
A solution would be to not allow a positioning (or dropping) of a node when it overlaps with another. Don't move the nodes you are bumping into, this to not create the Microsoft Word issue where moving a picture ruins all other layout.

Comming from a PLC IDE background there it is not possible to have function blocks overlap on a code section.

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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:** [24 February 2026 11:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/2 "2026-02-24T11:51:15Z")

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IIRC, [nrlint](https://www.npmjs.com/package/nrlint) can warn about overlapping nodes.

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**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [24 February 2026 12:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/3 "2026-02-24T12:03:48Z")

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I often use overlapping nodes deliberately, for example when I have a simulation or troubleshooting node which I want to hide when not in use.  
I concur with @Steve-Mcl

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**Author:** ![JeroenVH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jeroenvh/32/53766_2.png) [@JeroenVH](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/JeroenVH)\
**Post date:** [24 February 2026 12:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/4 "2026-02-24T12:40:24Z")

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Thanks @Steve-Mcl, this works great.  
This would be a neat core feature IMHO.

Sadly this can't be added to a flowfuse instance since it requires editing of the settings.js-file.  
This file is overwritten on restart of the agent.  
Or you could prove me wrong, that would be awesome as well.

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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:** [24 February 2026 13:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/5 "2026-02-24T13:23:43Z")

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> [@JeroenVH](#):
>
> Sadly this can't be added to a flowfuse instance

You can add `nrlint` to the instance settings -\> palette -\> installed modules

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/6/a6aaec179b3549870c4576ade8ac1e0431dfcec1.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/b/3b57bf360df4c34e52f26179185c4856c52694a6.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JeroenVH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jeroenvh/32/53766_2.png) [@JeroenVH](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/JeroenVH)\
**Post date:** [24 February 2026 14:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/6 "2026-02-24T14:42:05Z")

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@Steve-Mcl, I don't have the installed modules menu.  
Is this an authorisation issue? I have owner permission in the flowfuse team.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [24 February 2026 15:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/7 "2026-02-24T15:03:20Z")

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> [@JeroenVH](#):
>
> I don't have the installed modules menu.

Are you working with a remote instance or hosted instance?

Hosted instances have a **Palette** section under **Settings**

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/2/8/28e53de0f86cbf798e8f8070a77280fe67476d64.png)

Remote instances do not have this section (you can install additional palette nodes locally on your device using `npm install nrlint` in the user directory typically `/opt/flowfuse-device/project` )

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JeroenVH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jeroenvh/32/53766_2.png) [@JeroenVH](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/JeroenVH)\
**Post date:** [24 February 2026 21:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/8 "2026-02-24T21:42:07Z")

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> [@Steve-Mcl](#):
>
> Are you working with a remote instance or hosted instance?

We work mostly with remote instances. Will try this next week at a customer.

It also seems to work without adding the `nrlint: require("./.nrlintrc.js"),` to the settings file.  
What is the reason you would need to do this?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [24 February 2026 21:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/9 "2026-02-24T21:58:38Z")

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> [@JeroenVH](#):
>
> It also seems to work without adding the `nrlint: require("./.nrlintrc.js"),` to the settings file.

you dont need to edit settings at all - nrlint is a plugin (and installs just like any other contrib node package).

> [@JeroenVH](#):
>
> What is the reason you would need to do this?

The only time you need to do that is if you are importing a non plugin/non contrib package (like a generic node module that you want to use in a function node - but then, that is mostly not required since you can add modules on the settings tab of a function node).

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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:** [10 March 2026 21:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/prohibit-nodes-from-overlapping/100443/10 "2026-03-10T21:59:25Z")

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