# "Refresh on selection change" - context stuff. Help

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [10 December 2019 04:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970 "2019-12-10T04:53:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**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:** [10 December 2019 04:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970/1 "2019-12-10T04:53:11Z")

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NR 1.0.3.

In the _context_ menu I can see node, flow and global context variables.

There is this nice box (un-ticked by default) for all three. Though the node one is of interest to me at this point.

I tick it and it says "Refresh on selection change".

To me that means if something changes, it will automatically update.

It doesn't.

What am I missing with the meaning of that tick box?

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**Author:** ![hotNipi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/hotnipi/32/383_2.png) [@hotNipi](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/hotNipi)\
**Post date:** [10 December 2019 05:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970/2 "2019-12-10T05:42:49Z")

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It was question for me also some time ago ...

> [@tada Node-RED 1.0.0-beta.2 released](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-1-0-0-beta-2-released/11504/7):
>
> When autorefresh is enabled, global is loaded when the editor loads, and flows refresh whenever you switch tabs. Nodes have to be manually refreshed. With autorefresh off, everything has to be manually refreshed. I can't remember what I implemented for the moment when you turn on auto refresh .. whether it does a one time refresh of flow and global. Open to feedback on what it should do.

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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:** [10 December 2019 05:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970/3 "2019-12-10T05:45:11Z")

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So it is still _up in the air_ to what it means.

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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:** [10 December 2019 06:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970/4 "2019-12-10T06:58:34Z")

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> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> it is still _up in the air_ to what it means.

No it isn't. It means it will refresh the sidebar when you change what you have selected in the editor.

The is no option available to have the sidebar refresh when the value changes in the runtime.

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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:** [10 December 2019 10:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/refresh-on-selection-change-context-stuff-help/18970/5 "2019-12-10T10:38:20Z")

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Thanks.

It was just I was wanting to dynamically see context data.