# Save dashboard chart data in an external file (.txt)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** node-red-dashboard, database\
**Created:** [18 February 2023 02:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382 "2023-02-18T02:43:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jagades](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jagades/32/75744_2.png) [@jagades](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jagades)\
**Post date:** [18 February 2023 02:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/1 "2023-02-18T02:43:36Z")

</div>

![Recording #8](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/0/50737e562f33c1e830c49b279a04ff73f31b114f.gif)

Hi. I am working on how to save these temperature vs time data in an external file like a text file. Looking out for advice and assistance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MecatronicaMADE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@MecatronicaMADE](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/MecatronicaMADE)\
**Post date:** [18 February 2023 03:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/2 "2023-02-18T03:43:53Z")

</div>

Hi @jagades you can use the write file node to write msg.payload to a file, also you can format it with CSV or JSON node to save temperature vs time.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [18 February 2023 06:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/3 "2023-02-18T06:43:30Z")

</div>

The best way to do this depends on what you want to do with the data later.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jagades](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jagades/32/75744_2.png) [@jagades](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jagades)\
**Post date:** [8 March 2023 08:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/4 "2023-03-08T08:39:36Z")

</div>

Thanks for the input, how do I do the formatting? Right now I have been receiving data in bulk. I'll share an example below :--

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/6/a660e44579f380d00a2f0df2d7e1be7d762ebd51.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jagades](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jagades/32/75744_2.png) [@jagades](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jagades)\
**Post date:** [8 March 2023 08:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/5 "2023-03-08T08:50:27Z")

</div>

The data being output to the text file will be kept for monthly reporting. My goal is to format the data, and then organize the text files by day, month and year so that it is convenient for other user to access the data.

This organization of text files is what I mean...

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/c/d/cd09eb9785e2deae23c19f080e95246ebfceaf3a.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![smanjunath211](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/smanjunath211/32/95742_2.png) [@smanjunath211](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/smanjunath211)\
**Post date:** [8 March 2023 11:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/6 "2023-03-08T11:20:31Z")

</div>

You should consider using a database if you want to further use the data. Dashboard can also be used effectively to 'look' at the historical data.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MecatronicaMADE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@MecatronicaMADE](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/MecatronicaMADE)\
**Post date:** [8 March 2023 19:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/7 "2023-03-08T19:53:48Z")

</div>

Great! @jagades You could use a CSV or JSON node to format, before to send to write file node. But I think your main problem was solved (Save dashboard chart in an external file).

regards.

---

<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:** [7 May 2023 19:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/save-dashboard-chart-data-in-an-external-file-txt/75382/8 "2023-05-07T19:54:24Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.