# Reusing the part of the code (or even the node) in many places - or is there any easier way to repeat similar tasks?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [14 February 2023 07:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160 "2023-02-14T07:57:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Vilnis\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a183cd/32.png) [@Vilnis\_R](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vilnis_R)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 11:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/21 "2023-02-14T11:37:26Z")

</div>

> [@homonto](#):
>
> - all commands possible in the array
> - all macs possible (but that can be automatically gathered from MACs available on HA) in array
> - then, the command and the mac to be chose either from the drop list or by providing proper message payload i.e. {"mac":xxx, "1"} for command 1 to be send to mac xxx  
> yet, although commands are fixed meaning: "1 - ota, 2 - something else" the macs have to be specified in full each time, right?

I think you should think about strategy whether the macs are automatically obtained or set once manually. Manual once setting provides safety against dead devices if they are not appearing for some reason. Then you can trigger alarm that is not present.  
Macs nor commands are not needed to specify in full if they are stored in the array. That is the beauty of arrays. Full macs and command numbers are passed by code.  
You can use buttons, dropdowns, checkboxes etc. to select desired action plan. Using it in a such manner you can also use human readable meanings for all those ESPXXXX and MacXXXX an commands XX.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 11:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/22 "2023-02-14T11:40:02Z")

</div>

@E1cid we are getting there!!! 😉

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 11.34.53](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/9/19c481887ab44afa9c55e55dcf32263fa28ba8c3.png)  
 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 11.34.40](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/3/e32abec64d98752723a4a303464b8b2280d6ff1e.png)

commands list has to be preprogrammed here - no issue as neither HA nor NR know which command means what  
but now, if MAC addresses can be filled automatically, based on... exactly I am not sure based on what  
because I have kind of 200+ devices in my network and all have "xxx\_mac" sensor  
but, devices we are talking about, have always in their device name, the word "ESPNow" i.e. here:  
see below: 1st device is not espnow, others are:

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 11.46.26](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/9/9/9986d66c82bb672c45d61e46628fd9f45d4dec24.png)

I could also redo the xxx\_mac sensor to i.e. include xxx\_espnow\_mac

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 11:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/23 "2023-02-14T11:42:39Z")

</div>

You can feed msg.options into the dropdowns, read help text. You should be able create msg.options automatically from your HA devices, I do not use HA so can not help there. If you can query HA for mac's and names then you can create msg.options and feed that to the dropdown.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 11:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/24 "2023-02-14T11:45:24Z")

</div>

let me read your message 10 times, I shall then ... digest it 😉  
but honestly speaking @E1cid , you helped me already like crazy - thank you!

@Vilnis_R with regards to dead devices: I already have a measure: if rssi is not visible for 3 sleeping periods, then pushover message is sent, for gateways it is being generated if gateway is not visible for 30s already - and this works ok

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 11:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/25 "2023-02-14T11:54:28Z")

</div>

@E1cid with multiple devices to be chosen I am "close to done"

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 11.52.40](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/6/16f8c404d5c4dc26fed4432e935c51e5580fd51a.png)

is there such option like: "all marked by default"?  
because now it is "all UN-marked" by default

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 11:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/26 "2023-02-14T11:58:21Z")

</div>

@Vilnis_R setting macs automatically makes sense as well because now I can see it will be done ONLY in 1 place

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 12:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/27 "2023-02-14T12:05:40Z")

</div>

You can use ui-control to monitor load and tab or group change or you can add a select all button. You can then feed a payload array containing all values you want to be selected by default.  
e.g.

```auto
[{"id":"8033d897c74cc0f3","type":"ui_ui_control","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","events":"all","x":240,"y":4560,"wires":[["a7e7d8cc96f44c34"]]},{"id":"a7e7d8cc96f44c34","type":"change","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"[\"xx:01:01:01:zz:yy\",\"xx:01:01:01:zz:xx\",\"xx:01:01:01:zz:zz\"]","tot":"json"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":320,"y":4620,"wires":[["40af0b19a53969e3"]]},{"id":"c1d68a7dd7be5b9f","type":"ui_button","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","group":"2d4fe667.28f8ba","order":22,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"select all","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"topic","topicType":"msg","x":220,"y":4660,"wires":[["a7e7d8cc96f44c34"]]},{"id":"40af0b19a53969e3","type":"ui_dropdown","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","label":"Mac's","tooltip":"","place":"Select option","group":"2d4fe667.28f8ba","order":19,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"multiple":true,"options":[{"label":"xx:01:01:01:zz:yy","value":"xx:01:01:01:zz:yy","type":"str"},{"label":"xx:01:01:01:zz:xx","value":"xx:01:01:01:zz:xx","type":"str"},{"label":"xx:01:01:01:zz:zz","value":"xx:01:01:01:zz:zz","type":"str"}],"payload":"","topic":"mac","topicType":"str","className":"","x":310,"y":4720,"wires":[["b5abf9ac49ebd729"]]},{"id":"b5abf9ac49ebd729","type":"join","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","mode":"custom","build":"object","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","key":"topic","joiner":"\\n","joinerType":"str","accumulate":true,"timeout":"","count":"3","reduceRight":false,"reduceExp":"","reduceInit":"","reduceInitType":"","reduceFixup":"","x":490,"y":4720,"wires":[["75a8cdcb7a2943f5"]]},{"id":"f993227bc94e2cd7","type":"ui_dropdown","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","label":"commands","tooltip":"","place":"Select option","group":"2d4fe667.28f8ba","order":20,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":true,"multiple":false,"options":[{"label":"ota","value":"1","type":"str"},{"label":"restart","value":"2","type":"str"},{"label":"captive","value":"3","type":"str"}],"payload":"","topic":"command","topicType":"str","className":"","x":350,"y":4780,"wires":[["b5abf9ac49ebd729"]]},{"id":"3d5993380e3ca2a9","type":"ui_button","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","group":"2d4fe667.28f8ba","order":21,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"send","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"send","topicType":"str","x":350,"y":4820,"wires":[["b5abf9ac49ebd729"]]},{"id":"75a8cdcb7a2943f5","type":"switch","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"","property":"topic","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"send","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":530,"y":4660,"wires":[["bf5fbbafd94a885f"]]},{"id":"bf5fbbafd94a885f","type":"function","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"function 20","func":"const topics =[\n \"esp32027/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n \"esp32029/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n \"esp32030/cmd/cmd_for_sender\"\n];\nmsg.payload = {\n command: msg.payload.command, \n mac: msg.payload.mac\n};\n \ntopics.forEach(str => {\n msg.topic = str;\n node.send(msg);\n})\nreturn null;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","libs":[],"x":650,"y":4720,"wires":[["eb74b20280fde506"]]},{"id":"eb74b20280fde506","type":"debug","z":"da8a6ef0b3c9a5c8","name":"debug 231","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":810,"y":4720,"wires":[]},{"id":"2d4fe667.28f8ba","type":"ui_group","name":"demo","tab":"1caa8458.b17814","order":2,"disp":true,"width":"12","collapse":false},{"id":"1caa8458.b17814","type":"ui_tab","name":"Demo","icon":"dashboard","order":1,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

I have not updated function to handle array of mac's so ignore function

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 14:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/28 "2023-02-14T14:27:56Z")

</div>

there is a small problem: in the message the mac parts comes with the square brackets so it is not recognized by the ESP because I did not anticipate brackets - where do I need to change to remove them?

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 14.26.52](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/3/13aed5f0317420aa8c7f8c4b38bed386694a61a7.png)

when only 1 mac chosen (not allowing multiple), all is ok:

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 14.29.32](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/b/3b94e4c77d87e9bd5ac6ea462cd432991364407f.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 14:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/29 "2023-02-14T14:31:24Z")

</div>

How have you edited the function node to handle multi selection from dropdown. When allowing multi selection the payload will be an array. You will need to export your flow so we are on same page.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 14:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/30 "2023-02-14T14:39:37Z")

</div>

```auto
[{"id":"2874231a956d91c4","type":"ui_ui_control","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","events":"all","x":640,"y":160,"wires":[["d857f6b32b1fec80"]]},{"id":"d857f6b32b1fec80","type":"change","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"[\"xx:01:01:01:zz:yy\",\"xx:01:01:01:zz:xx\",\"xx:01:01:01:zz:zz\"]","tot":"json"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":860,"y":180,"wires":[["857675e6f60221ce"]]},{"id":"4566ca6d2a718384","type":"ui_button","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":22,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"select all","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"topic","topicType":"msg","x":640,"y":260,"wires":[["d857f6b32b1fec80"]]},{"id":"d68b847bfb62bb25","type":"join","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","mode":"custom","build":"object","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","key":"topic","joiner":"\\n","joinerType":"str","accumulate":true,"timeout":"","count":"3","reduceRight":false,"reduceExp":"","reduceInit":"","reduceInitType":"","reduceFixup":"","x":1250,"y":240,"wires":[["b4aed460e239a72a","a5225dbbc3952547"]]},{"id":"fc46d00ad86fbfd4","type":"ui_dropdown","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","label":"commands","tooltip":"","place":"Select option","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":20,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":true,"multiple":false,"options":[{"label":"nothing","value":"0","type":"str"},{"label":"restart","value":"2","type":"str"},{"label":"captive","value":"3","type":"str"}],"payload":"","topic":"command","topicType":"str","className":"","x":1070,"y":260,"wires":[["d68b847bfb62bb25"]]},{"id":"ffcb33cb636e87e9","type":"ui_button","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":21,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"send","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"send","topicType":"str","x":1050,"y":320,"wires":[["d68b847bfb62bb25"]]},{"id":"b4aed460e239a72a","type":"switch","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","property":"topic","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"send","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":1370,"y":140,"wires":[["3ebc8a59788d9b10"]]},{"id":"b7d9728a67ec626a","type":"debug","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"debug 231","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1730,"y":140,"wires":[]},{"id":"3ebc8a59788d9b10","type":"function","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"function 21","func":"const topics =[\n \"esp32027/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n \"esp32029/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n \"esp32030/cmd/cmd_for_sender\"\n];\nmsg.payload = {\n command: msg.payload.command, \n mac: msg.payload.mac\n};\n \ntopics.forEach(str => {\n msg.topic = str;\n node.send(msg);\n})\nreturn null;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","libs":[],"x":1530,"y":140,"wires":[["b7d9728a67ec626a","f7addc5933be25de"]]},{"id":"857675e6f60221ce","type":"ui_dropdown","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","label":"Choose device","tooltip":"","place":"Select option","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":19,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"multiple":true,"options":[{"label":"garage","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:28","type":"str"},{"label":"kitchen","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:49","type":"str"}],"payload":"","topic":"mac","topicType":"str","className":"","x":1060,"y":180,"wires":[["d68b847bfb62bb25"]]},{"id":"f7addc5933be25de","type":"mqtt out","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","topic":"","qos":"2","retain":"false","respTopic":"","contentType":"","userProps":"","correl":"","expiry":"","broker":"dab2e4d677f055f8","x":1670,"y":80,"wires":[]},{"id":"a5225dbbc3952547","type":"debug","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"debug 232","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1470,"y":260,"wires":[]},{"id":"49e360b91903ebf4","type":"ui_group","name":"demo 2","tab":"26280e3e928de854","order":2,"disp":true,"width":"12","collapse":false,"className":""},{"id":"dab2e4d677f055f8","type":"mqtt-broker","name":"HA MQTT","broker":"192.168.1.43","port":"1883","tls":"","clientid":"","autoConnect":true,"usetls":false,"protocolVersion":"4","keepalive":"60","cleansession":true,"birthTopic":"","birthQos":"0","birthRetain":"false","birthPayload":"","birthMsg":{},"closeTopic":"","closeQos":"0","closeRetain":"false","closePayload":"","closeMsg":{},"willTopic":"","willQos":"0","willRetain":"false","willPayload":"","willMsg":{},"userProps":"","sessionExpiry":""},{"id":"26280e3e928de854","type":"ui_tab","name":"Demo 14","icon":"dashboard","order":1,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

this will not work, because commands come to MQTT as array on mac side:

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 14.38.42](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/d/8/d807879dda55259cb74a53c63cebb9c119abb6e1.png)

I anticipated in my code: 1 mqtt message = 1 mac with 1 command  
here we have: 1 mqtt message, multiple macs with 1 command

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 14:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/31 "2023-02-14T14:54:06Z")

</div>

You will need to loop throught the msg.payload.mac strings.  
e.g.

```auto
const topics =[
    "esp32027/cmd/cmd_for_sender",
    "esp32029/cmd/cmd_for_sender",
    "esp32030/cmd/cmd_for_sender"
];

 msg.payload.mac.forEach(mac => {  
    topics.forEach(str => {
        msg.topic = str;
        msg.payload = {command: msg.payload.command, mac: mac};
        node.send(msg);
    })
 })
return null;

```

Depending how many messages are going to be sent to the mqtt node, you may want to add a delay node set to rate limit, as not to overwhelm.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2023 16:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/32 "2023-02-14T16:02:33Z")

</div>

Guys, you are really awesome!  
I ended up with this:

```auto
[{"id":"d68b847bfb62bb25","type":"join","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","mode":"custom","build":"object","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","key":"topic","joiner":"\\n","joinerType":"str","accumulate":true,"timeout":"","count":"3","reduceRight":false,"reduceExp":"","reduceInit":"","reduceInitType":"","reduceFixup":"","x":870,"y":200,"wires":[["b4aed460e239a72a","a5225dbbc3952547"]]},{"id":"ffcb33cb636e87e9","type":"ui_button","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":21,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"label":"send","tooltip":"","color":"","bgcolor":"","className":"","icon":"","payload":"","payloadType":"str","topic":"send","topicType":"str","x":650,"y":280,"wires":[["d68b847bfb62bb25"]]},{"id":"b4aed460e239a72a","type":"switch","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","property":"topic","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"send","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":1010,"y":200,"wires":[["3ebc8a59788d9b10"]]},{"id":"b7d9728a67ec626a","type":"debug","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"debug 231","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1570,"y":120,"wires":[]},{"id":"3ebc8a59788d9b10","type":"function","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"make mqtt message from mac and command","func":"const topics = [\n \"esp32027/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n \"esp32029/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n \"esp32030/cmd/cmd_for_sender\"\n];\n\nmsg.payload.mac.forEach(mac => {\n topics.forEach(str => {\n msg.topic = str;\n msg.payload = { command: msg.payload.command, mac: mac };\n node.send(msg);\n })\n})\nreturn null;\n\n\n// const topics = [\n// \"esp32027/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n// \"esp32029/cmd/cmd_for_sender\",\n// \"esp32030/cmd/cmd_for_sender\"\n//];\n// msg.payload = {\n// command: msg.payload.command,\n// mac: msg.payload.mac\n// };\n\n// topics.forEach(str => {\n// msg.topic = str;\n// node.send(msg);\n// })\n// return null;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","libs":[],"x":1280,"y":200,"wires":[["b7d9728a67ec626a","557e35959a16f4ab"]]},{"id":"857675e6f60221ce","type":"ui_dropdown","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","label":"Choose device","tooltip":"","place":"Select option","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":19,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":false,"multiple":true,"options":[{"label":"TRV5 Lidia","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:21","type":"str"},{"label":"TRV6 Kids","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:22","type":"str"},{"label":"TRV2 toilet b.","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:23","type":"str"},{"label":"TRV4 Printers","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:26","type":"str"},{"label":"Garage","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:28","type":"str"},{"label":"Printers","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:31","type":"str"},{"label":"Living room","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:33","type":"str"},{"label":"Tailor","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:35","type":"str"},{"label":"Lidia","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:36","type":"str"},{"label":"TRV1 Bedroom","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:37","type":"str"},{"label":"Toilet b.","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:38","type":"str"},{"label":"Kitchen","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:49","type":"str"},{"label":"TRV3 Toilet up","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:55","type":"str"},{"label":"TRV7 Tailor","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:56","type":"str"},{"label":"Office","value":"2a:01:01:01:01:00","type":"str"},{"label":"Dining","value":"2a:01:01:01:01:01","type":"str"},{"label":"Toilet up","value":"2a:01:01:01:01:02","type":"str"},{"label":"Kids","value":"2a:01:01:01:01:04","type":"str"},{"label":"Garden","value":"2a:01:01:01:01:05","type":"str"},{"label":"Bedroom m.","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:32","type":"str"},{"label":"Garage front m.","value":"2a:01:01:01:00:39","type":"str"}],"payload":"","topic":"mac","topicType":"str","className":"","x":680,"y":120,"wires":[["d68b847bfb62bb25"]]},{"id":"f7addc5933be25de","type":"mqtt out","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","topic":"","qos":"2","retain":"false","respTopic":"","contentType":"","userProps":"","correl":"","expiry":"","broker":"dab2e4d677f055f8","x":1570,"y":300,"wires":[]},{"id":"a5225dbbc3952547","type":"debug","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"debug 232","active":false,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1110,"y":320,"wires":[]},{"id":"557e35959a16f4ab","type":"delay","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","pauseType":"rate","timeout":"10","timeoutUnits":"milliseconds","rate":"10","nbRateUnits":"1","rateUnits":"second","randomFirst":"1","randomLast":"5","randomUnits":"seconds","drop":false,"allowrate":false,"outputs":1,"x":1580,"y":200,"wires":[["f7addc5933be25de"]]},{"id":"89cbad3574e585e9","type":"ui_dropdown","z":"6a7765e6961ddd1b","name":"","label":"Choose Action","tooltip":"","place":"Select option","group":"49e360b91903ebf4","order":20,"width":0,"height":0,"passthru":true,"multiple":false,"options":[{"label":"OTA","value":"1","type":"str"},{"label":"Restart","value":"2","type":"str"},{"label":"Captive Portal","value":"3","type":"str"},{"label":"Factory Reset","value":"4","type":"str"},{"label":"Motion DISABLED","value":"10","type":"str"},{"label":"Motion ENABLED","value":"11","type":"str"},{"label":"LED OFF","value":"200","type":"str"},{"label":"LED ON","value":"201","type":"str"},{"label":"TEST","value":"0","type":"str"}],"payload":"","topic":"command","topicType":"str","className":"","x":680,"y":200,"wires":[["d68b847bfb62bb25"]]},{"id":"49e360b91903ebf4","type":"ui_group","name":"Send MQTT to GW","tab":"26280e3e928de854","order":2,"disp":true,"width":"12","collapse":true,"className":""},{"id":"dab2e4d677f055f8","type":"mqtt-broker","name":"HA MQTT","broker":"192.168.1.43","port":"1883","tls":"","clientid":"","autoConnect":true,"usetls":false,"protocolVersion":"4","keepalive":"60","cleansession":true,"birthTopic":"","birthQos":"0","birthRetain":"false","birthPayload":"","birthMsg":{},"closeTopic":"","closeQos":"0","closeRetain":"false","closePayload":"","closeMsg":{},"willTopic":"","willQos":"0","willRetain":"false","willPayload":"","willMsg":{},"userProps":"","sessionExpiry":""},{"id":"26280e3e928de854","type":"ui_tab","name":"Send MQTT to GW tab","icon":"dashboard","order":1,"disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

It looks nice, and works flawlessly. I implemented delay but also gateway has implemented queueing so all commands ended up on HA and will be sent to sensor devices.  
Thank you for your help.

![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 15.59.58](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/e/be9db25b169d565933d88bec4e2a15d86b19dc1a.png)

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 15.57.15](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/c/aca4d3e64f52ed596b7a98077ff822dde6781c3d.png)  
 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 15.55.55](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/d/a/da128febfb0b994807f4c0dcd46f75678e8b9c2e.png)  
 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 15.55.47](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/9/49979bfe02e25931b3e58559fe35c80ed24af14d.png)  
 ![Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 15.52.35](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/8/48ff20e348bfb3b1dda1e3c194f79e9f5dfc8a36.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mrdvt92](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/mrdvt92/32/33122_2.png) [@mrdvt92](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mrdvt92)\
**Post date:** [15 February 2023 17:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/33 "2023-02-15T17:41:48Z")

</div>

Also instead of your NxN connections. It's much easier to run them through a change node with no rules.

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/2/5/257b8ff07819dfd75373d023b8dc35389d82a390.png)

---

<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:** [15 February 2023 17:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/34 "2023-02-15T17:46:51Z")

</div>

Or since v3 a junction -  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/0/2/021d3f95e3ebdb5a119e5d5f7206fa2b6e261543.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [16 February 2023 08:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/35 "2023-02-16T08:01:21Z")

</div>

thank you @dceejay  
I have implemented such block node in case I want to i.e. turn ON/OFF motion sensor (or anything else).  
There will be always a need to specify:

1. mac address of the target
2. command

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-16 at 07.58.49](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/a/6aedacbce8abbf4bba228bd6bb434fb1dd4399cd.png)

but for the bulk changes I used the proposed by @E1cid gui approach

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mrdvt92](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/mrdvt92/32/33122_2.png) [@mrdvt92](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mrdvt92)\
**Post date:** [16 February 2023 12:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/36 "2023-02-16T12:12:56Z")

</div>

> [@homonto](#):
>
> mac address of the target

You could always map the mac to a friendly name. I do that with ring events.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/8/383b768b3bf251bc2c70c9e3296bd6d16d1e5406.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![homonto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/homonto/32/68035_2.png) [@homonto](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/homonto)\
**Post date:** [16 February 2023 12:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/37 "2023-02-16T12:15:51Z")

</div>

that is what I did:

 ![Screenshot 2023-02-16 at 12.15.23](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/6/76184809341ff4a2d347420e8f062c167ca0c03a.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [2 March 2023 12:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/reusing-the-part-of-the-code-or-even-the-node-in-many-places-or-is-there-any-easier-way-to-repeat-similar-tasks/75160/38 "2023-03-02T12:15:57Z")

</div>

Closed on 2 March 2023 12:15 UTC

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