# Remove & replace "counter"

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [1 May 2019 03:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701 "2019-05-01T03:36:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ronsimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@ronsimpson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ronsimpson)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 03:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/1 "2019-05-01T03:36:26Z")

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I want to use " contrib-counter" not "counter". Can not remove counter. Cannot rename a node.  
Using a laptop with Unbuto. Will move to a Pi later. v0.20.5

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**Author:** ![ukmoose](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ukmoose/32/13_2.png) [@ukmoose](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ukmoose)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 06:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/2 "2019-05-01T06:06:52Z")

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When you say remove a node, can you explain what you are doing and what happens?

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**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 09:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/3 "2019-05-01T09:59:54Z")

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node-red-contrib-counter will show in the sidebar with the name 'counter'  
 ![18%20AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/c/cc38d2079fc3fa98168f79c03c01f3d2e2efc0d7.png)

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**Author:** ![ronsimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@ronsimpson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ronsimpson)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 15:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/4 "2019-05-01T15:18:06Z")

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Top right corner there are three bars that brings down a menu.  
"Manage palette"  
"Palette":::::::"Nodes" & " "Install"  
Nodes: list all the nodes installed.  
Install: allows installing new (about 2000) and removing old.

I can install 'timed-counter' then remove it. I can **not** remove any of the default nodes. I understand they must not be in use before I can remove them.  
I get a message (on remove) that I may need to restart node-red for the action to happen. But the node disappears with out restarting. (if it was made by a user)  
I can not install a new "counter" because "you already have...."

I do not have the education to make a "counter-2" with the guts copied out of the counter.  
I do not know this operating system well and am scared to go delete files.

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**Author:** ![bakman2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bakman2/32/6207_2.png) [@bakman2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bakman2)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 15:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/5 "2019-05-01T15:25:16Z")

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There is no 'default node' called 'counter'.

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**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 15:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/6 "2019-05-01T15:27:21Z")

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You can have more than ne 'counter' node installed so if you want to install `node-red-contrib-counter` and us it, install it an use it.

If you want to use it more than once, just drag it onto the page as many times as you want.

p.s. when saying "I want to remove the counter node" help us all out by giving the full name like "I want to remove node-red-contrib-counter and install node-red-contrib-timed-counter" - however, you could keep them both installed...

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**Author:** ![ronsimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@ronsimpson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ronsimpson)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 19:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/7 "2019-05-01T19:22:54Z")

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Sorry I do not know the vocabulary yet.  
My Node-Red came with "ttb-node-red-counter".  
I want to use "node-red-contrib-counter".  
When I go to install (add) "node-red-contrib-counter" it gives me an error _"This module cannot be installed as it includes a node type that has already been installed. Conflicts with ttb-node-red-counter"_  
I would like to keep then both.

I noticed, from internet searches that I should be using:  
"npm install node-red-contrib-counter"  
I tried that and had problems mostly because I don't understand the operating system and where folders are. The method I use (see above) works well as long as there is not a name conflict.

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**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 19:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/8 "2019-05-01T19:45:46Z")

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> [@ronsimpson](#):
>
> My Node-Red came with "ttb-node-red-counter".

where did you get your node-red from?  
what platform are you using? (raspberry pi? windows?)  
What operating system? (raspibian, windows, macOS etc)  
what version of node-red and node.js? (look at the node-red startup log)

if you are on a pi, open terminal window and enter:

```auto
node-red-stop
cd .node-red 
npm remove ttb-node-red-counter
npm install node-red-contrib-counter
node-red-start

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ukmoose](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ukmoose/32/13_2.png) [@ukmoose](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ukmoose)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 19:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/9 "2019-05-01T19:53:18Z")

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Looks as if they are using [thethingbox.io](http://thethingbox.io)  
any issues with the nodes that they supply really should be directed back to thethingbox support

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**Author:** ![ronsimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@ronsimpson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ronsimpson)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 20:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/10 "2019-05-01T20:25:16Z")

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Old Laptop/ Ubuntu Linux/ Mozilla FireFox/ Node-red V0.20.5  
I think I got Node-Red from [nodered.org](http://nodered.org).  
Can't find the startup log.

Maybe I should move this to the Pi.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ukmoose](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ukmoose/32/13_2.png) [@ukmoose](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ukmoose)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2019 21:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/11 "2019-05-01T21:27:53Z")

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If it’s not on a thingbox install then the ttb node is something that you installed, it isn’t something that Node-RED has ever come with.

If it says there is a conflict between the two nodes, then you won’t be able to install them both.

If you choose to go with the contrib one you need to delete any counter nodes you have deployed, delete any configuration nodes associated with them and the delete the ttb counter node. After that you can the install the contrib node.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ronsimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@ronsimpson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ronsimpson)\
**Post date:** [2 May 2019 04:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/12 "2019-05-02T04:07:35Z")

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Thanks for the help. I have things working on a Pi now. (mostly working)

> [@bakman2](#):
>
> There is no 'default node' called 'counter'.

You are right. I installed again and "counter" was not one of the 48 nodes that came up. So I had to have installed it.

Now I have Node-Red running on my laptop and running on a Raspberry Pi. They look the same. They **both** have Raspberry Pi nodes. I did not install them!

On the laptop I installed "node-red-counter" first and can not remove it.  
On the Pi I installed "contrib-counter" first.

> [@zenofmud](#):
>
> you could keep them both installed...

On both machines I can **not** have two counters! There is a "conflict".

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bakman2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bakman2/32/6207_2.png) [@bakman2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bakman2)\
**Post date:** [2 May 2019 04:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/13 "2019-05-02T04:21:36Z")

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> They **both** have Raspberry Pi nodes. I did not install them!

The installer actually asked you if you wanted the Pi nodes and you said yes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [2 May 2019 04:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/14 "2019-05-02T04:52:18Z")

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Yes the Pi nodes are still part of the default. Obviously they don’t work on a pc but do let you view and edit a flow locally that you could then move to a pi. ( and they show status so you can turn the pins on and off to test)

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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:** [2 May 2019 08:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/15 "2019-05-02T08:03:26Z")

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> [@ronsimpson](#):
>
> On the laptop I installed "node-red-counter" first and can not remove it.

As far as I can see there is no node called "node-red-counter" so that is probably why you cannot delete it.  
Have a look in the file package.json in your .node-red folder and you may find what you actually installed there.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [2 May 2019 09:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/16 "2019-05-02T09:03:20Z")

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> [@ronsimpson](#):
>
> On both machines I can **not** have two counters! There is a "conflict".

Sorry, I should have been more specific. You are right, you can't have two nodes named the same thing and because iof this, most node have individual names. If you go to the `flows` tab on this site, you will find 5 nodes with 'counter' in their name. You should be able to install all five with no problem (If their function is what you need)

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**Author:** ![ronsimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@ronsimpson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ronsimpson)\
**Post date:** [3 May 2019 15:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/remove-replace-counter/10701/17 "2019-05-03T15:55:09Z")

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> [@bakman2](#):
>
> The installer actually asked you if you wanted the Pi nodes and you said yes.

No it did not. I just installed on another computer just to check.

> [@zenofmud](#):
>
> 5 nodes with 'counter' in their name. You should be able to install all five with no problem

Some how I did remove ttb-node-red-counter. (not certain how) I can install/un-install 4 out of 5 counters. I get a "conflict" between **ttb-node-red-counter** and **node-red-contrib-counter**. This is fine with me. I will use contrip-counter in both places. That solves the problem. Thanks for the help.