# Special indication on nodes with description
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646
**Category:** Feature Requests
**Tags:** feature-request
**Created:** [23 May 2023 16:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646 "2023-05-23T16:03:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 17:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/63 "2024-01-26T17:14:34Z")
> [@knolleary](#):
>
> Are there other options in that area?
I'm thinking about the [status topic](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/custom-node-status-popup/83534) - the `text` property remains the current status under the node and a new property `description` allows to show more in the Sidebar.
> [@knolleary](#):
>
> We already have a number of buttons
There are already three and I don't see what you want to do with the new one? Highlighted the description?
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 17:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/64 "2024-01-26T17:49:40Z")
> [@gregorius](#):
>
> I would go as far as taking the [core nodes](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/tree/master/packages/node_modules/%40node-red/nodes/core) out of the Node-RED codebase and putting them in a package that gets included in the distribution. But that's just an idea that _I_ have.
Totally agree with this.
There are other (contributed) nodes that would potentially benefit from such a split and I'm hoping that when Node.js v20 (or might be 21, can't remember) becomes the baseline with full support for submodules, this will be more straightforward because you will be able to use a monorepo "properly". Well that's my understanding anyway.
But, we are off topic - again! π
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### Author:  [@rko](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rko)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 20:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/65 "2024-01-26T20:02:24Z")
In my defense, I would like to say that I posted this feature request out of a certain frustration, after spending at least an hour trying to reinvent the wheel, only to realize shortly thereafter that I had neatly documented everything in the (hidden) node's description some time ago.
Nobody likes overcluttered GUIs. So maybe, it is indeed a bad idea to implement this.
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 20:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/66 "2024-01-26T20:09:46Z")
Hah - I'll drink to that π»
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### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 20:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/67 "2024-01-26T20:14:39Z")
If only you had remembered to change the icon when you added the documentation! π
Sadly all icons are invisible on the comment node. This is fa-envelope-open-o
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 20:30 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/68 "2024-01-26T20:30:00Z")
> [@rko](#):
>
> Nobody likes overcluttered GUIs. So maybe, it is indeed a bad idea to implement this.
I don't think it is a bad idea, but maybe not something that everyone wants on all the time.
> [@knolleary](#):
>
> It will depend on the specifics of what it looks like.
Just trying to play with some ideas myself as, even if this isn't adopted in core, I think I'd like _something_ I could implement myself (and share with others of course).
But at the moment, I'm slightly struggling to adapt @gregorius's code above:
_His current code only updates after you open and close a node. Is there an event that I could use that will trigger when the page is loaded and after all the nodes are rendered?_
* * *
Positioning not yet allowing for different node sizes but starting to get there:
Still a bit distracting though. Need to tone it down further.
* * *
Or this - which has the advantage that the indicator is within the icon box which means it would still be inside it if the icon is on the other side.
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 20:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/69 "2024-01-26T20:47:57Z")
> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> Still a bit distracting though
That's why I was looking for a sober icon to put inside the node
> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> Is there an event that I could use that will trigger when the page is loaded and after all the nodes are rendered?
Try with `RED.events.on("runtime-state")` but not sure
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 20:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/70 "2024-01-26T20:56:57Z")
> [@GogoVega](#):
>
> Try with `RED.events.on("runtime-state")` but not sure
Thanks, I'll try it.
* * *
This is even more subtle & I might try this for a while:
It just makes the separator thicker.
Drat - but no, doesn't work when the node is collapsed to just its icon as that border is dynamically hidden constantly.
* * *
Hmm, making the whole border 2 thick instead of 1?
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/71 "2024-01-26T21:04:36Z")
I had thought of put an "i" in a corner? (the bottom right)
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/72 "2024-01-26T21:08:49Z")
> [@GogoVega](#):
>
> I thought I'd put an "i" in a corner? (the right bottom)
Personally, I think that some kind of icon, even an `i` would be distracting, especially if you have a lot of descriptions.
As others have commented I think, it is really very easy to ruin a visual UX with clutter.
But just my opinion.
More importantly though, getting to a consistent bottom-right is actually quite hard unless you amend core I think. Since nodes can change size. Though haven't tried that hard so I may be missing something obvious.
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/73 "2024-01-26T21:13:47Z")
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/74 "2024-01-26T21:15:27Z")
OK, I could be persuaded.
Of course, none of this is accessible. But accessible visual programming is a very hard problem. And since the description can still be accessed other ways, there probably isn't an easy answer.
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/75 "2024-01-26T21:19:47Z")
I understand Remo's frustration, what he is asking is to just know that a node has a description - like the "inject" node does when enabling the repeat.
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/76 "2024-01-26T21:21:11Z")
I can now definitely do something for myself which is good. The code is relatively easy once you know the trick.
Did you manage to find a robust way to get that `i` into the bottom-right corner?
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### Author:  [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/77 "2024-01-26T21:21:26Z")
Is this topic still referring to how to identify nodes with a description?
Haven't been nosey on this topic too much
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/78 "2024-01-26T21:24:55Z")
Use the following to calculate its position:
`RED.view.node_width` and `RED.view.node_height`
> [@marcus-j-davies](#):
>
> Is this topic still referring to how to identify nodes with a description?
Yep π
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### Author:  [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/79 "2024-01-26T21:25:58Z")
Just to interferer with my own thoughts ..
(I am currently listening to Kate Bush - so ... you know...)
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/80 "2024-01-26T21:29:01Z")
This is precisely the kind of idea that Nick and Dave try to avoid because it pollutes the rendering of the node. It shouldn't be too visible and the idea of a new badge is disturbing (and too showy)
> [@marcus-j-davies](#):
>
> (I am currently listening to Kate Bush
You are forgiven π π
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### Author:  [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/81 "2024-01-26T21:34:13Z")
I feel this topic is hard to get right.
anyway - to not draw to much attention - but still have a purpose
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### Author:  [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)
#### Post date: [26 January 2024 21:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/special-indication-on-nodes-with-description/78646/82 "2024-01-26T21:38:12Z")
I had this kind of idea, initially I wanted something that looked like the "file-text" icon but I couldn't get the right size (because svg). To see if the upper corner is better π€·ββοΈ
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