# Split a value into two values

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [8 April 2021 13:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864 "2021-04-08T13:31:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 13:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/1 "2021-04-08T13:31:17Z")

</div>

Hi guys,  
today I have a very simple question for you:  
I´ve a value that varies between +2600 and -2500.  
I would like to distinguish this into two new values: if \<0 than var "Unloading", if\> 0 than var "Loading".

but unfortunately I can't do it 🥴

thanks for help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 13:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/2 "2021-04-08T13:37:04Z")

</div>

I think I got it with "split":

```auto
[{"id":"b6efc276.3b37","type":"switch","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"","property":"payload.PAC3","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"gte","v":"0","vt":"num"},{"t":"lt","v":"0","vt":"num"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":2,"x":1430,"y":1940,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24"],["fbb45a39.7ca4d8"]]},{"id":"4d18ea91.fe6d24","type":"function","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"","func":"msg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3;\nmsg.topic = \"Entladen\";\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":1580,"y":1900,"wires":[["6d1bb8c1.0a8278"]]},{"id":"fbb45a39.7ca4d8","type":"function","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"","func":"msg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3;\nmsg.topic = \"Beladen\";\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":1580,"y":1960,"wires":[[]]}]

```

If you have better ideas, please tell me 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![multixz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/multixz/32/39420_2.png) [@multixz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/multixz)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 13:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/3 "2021-04-08T13:52:51Z")

</div>

Hi Becker  
Here is my solution. I would do it in one function like this:  
Function with one output:

```auto
[{"id":"f44b690d.4c33b8","type":"function","z":"f6f2187d.f17ca8","name":"","func":"if (msg.payload.PAC3 >= 0){\n msg = {\"payload\":msg.payload.PAC3,\"topic\":\"Entladen\"};\n return msg;\n} else if (msg.payload.PAC3 < 0){\n msg = {\"payload\":msg.payload.PAC3,\"topic\":\"Beladen\"};\n return msg;\n} else {\n return;\n}\n","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":640,"y":100,"wires":[["1320800b.1a02e"]]}]

```

Function with two outputs:

````auto
[{"id":"f44b690d.4c33b8","type":"function","z":"f6f2187d.f17ca8","name":"","func":"if (msg.payload.PAC3 >= 0){\n msg = {\"payload\":msg.payload.PAC3,\"topic\":\"Entladen\"};\n return [msg, null];\n} else if (msg.payload.PAC3 < 0){\n msg = {\"payload\":msg.payload.PAC3,\"topic\":\"Beladen\"};\n return [null, msg];\n} else {\n return;\n}\n","outputs":2,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":640,"y":100,"wires":[["1320800b.1a02e"],["7fbc281d.69c638"]]}]```
````

---

<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:** [8 April 2021 14:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/5 "2021-04-08T14:51:02Z")

</div>

A simple ternary conditional to set topic should be fine.

```auto
msg.topic = msg.payload.PAC3 < 0 ? "Beladen" : "Entladen";
msg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3;
return msg;

```

```auto
[{"id":"f2cd37f3.77f548","type":"inject","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"2300","props":[{"p":"payload.PAC3","v":"2300","vt":"num"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":180,"y":3980,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24"]]},{"id":"f093cb4f.77554","type":"inject","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"-2300","props":[{"p":"payload.PAC3","v":"-2300","vt":"num"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":190,"y":4040,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24"]]},{"id":"4d18ea91.fe6d24","type":"function","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"","func":"msg.topic = msg.payload.PAC3 < 0 ? \"Beladen\" : \"Entladen\";\nmsg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3;\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":330,"y":4000,"wires":[["3b67977c.a53c08"]]},{"id":"3b67977c.a53c08","type":"debug","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":610,"y":3800,"wires":[]}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 16:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/6 "2021-04-08T16:32:52Z")

</div>

Hi, both solutions doesn´t work 🙄

my solution works:

```auto
[{"id":"b6efc276.3b37","type":"switch","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"","property":"payload.PAC3","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"gte","v":"0","vt":"num"},{"t":"lt","v":"0","vt":"num"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":2,"x":1350,"y":1940,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24"],["fbb45a39.7ca4d8"]]},{"id":"6d1bb8c1.0a8278","type":"debug","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":1870,"y":1820,"wires":[]},{"id":"4d18ea91.fe6d24","type":"function","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"Entladen","func":"msg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3;\nmsg.topic = \"Entladen\";\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":1480,"y":1920,"wires":[["b028ac79.76d8a"]]},{"id":"fbb45a39.7ca4d8","type":"function","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"Beladen","func":"msg.payload = (msg.payload.PAC3 * -1);\nmsg.topic = \"Beladen\";\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":1480,"y":1960,"wires":[["b028ac79.76d8a"]]},{"id":"e2b13662.528b18","type":"join","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"","mode":"custom","build":"object","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","key":"topic","joiner":"\\n","joinerType":"str","accumulate":true,"timeout":"","count":"1","reduceRight":false,"reduceExp":"","reduceInit":"","reduceInitType":"","reduceFixup":"","x":1870,"y":1880,"wires":[["6d1bb8c1.0a8278"]]},{"id":"b028ac79.76d8a","type":"calculate","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"Durchschnitt pro Minute","pauseType":"timed","calculation":"average","timeout":"10","timeoutUnits":"seconds","rate":"10","x":1690,"y":1940,"wires":[["f01d2ea8.e59cb"]]},{"id":"f01d2ea8.e59cb","type":"function","z":"9f6752b0.b55988","name":"runden","func":"var temp = msg.payload\nmsg.payload = parseFloat(temp.toFixed(0));\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":1880,"y":1940,"wires":[["e2b13662.528b18"]]}]

```

but there is one problem, the last value is always being stored in the object.

PAC3 is the Inverter output.  
positive = unloading  
negative = loading

never be both !

I need an object output with the correct value.  
thats what is happening:

 ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/8/68c735b5c47462e527a68b6d6580e9e88f98150a.png)

502 is the last value, and its being stored.  
It must be set to "0" or delete.

---

<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:** [8 April 2021 16:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/7 "2021-04-08T16:47:50Z")

</div>

Both solutions work  
here is proof using your supplied fow and my example , they both give exactly the same output.

 ![Screenshot_20210408-174035](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/1/817eba4b698c74898bfe71733532ba9d4c635891.png)  
as seen in image both flows give same output.

Your new flow example is different and includes a non standard contrib node, so I can not add it, as you failed to name it

 ![Screenshot_20210408-174404](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/4/34413cbea03049c4960229d93effee7dfad8ecd9.png)  
So without knowing the mystery node and what it is calculating, I don't think anyones example will work for you.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 16:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/8 "2021-04-08T16:52:01Z")

</div>

sry, it is only "node-red-contrib-calculate" - but you can delete it and "runden", it doesn´t matter for the result.

---

<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:** [8 April 2021 16:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/9 "2021-04-08T16:59:04Z")

</div>

with out the calc node

```auto
[{"id":"f093cb4f.77554","type":"inject","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"-2300","props":[{"p":"payload.PAC3","v":"-2300","vt":"num"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":190,"y":4040,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24"]]},{"id":"4d18ea91.fe6d24","type":"function","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"","func":"msg.topic = msg.payload.PAC3 < 0 ? \"Beladen\" : \"Entladen\";\nmsg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3;\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":330,"y":4000,"wires":[["dc737e2d.6fbe4","60a9ce87.71931"]]},{"id":"f2cd37f3.77f548","type":"inject","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"2300","props":[{"p":"payload.PAC3","v":"2300","vt":"num"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":180,"y":3980,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24"]]},{"id":"dc737e2d.6fbe4","type":"debug","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"ternary","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":760,"y":4080,"wires":[]},{"id":"60a9ce87.71931","type":"function","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"runden","func":"var temp = msg.payload\nmsg.payload = {[msg.topic]: parseFloat(temp.toFixed(0))};\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":620,"y":4000,"wires":[["dc737e2d.6fbe4"]]}]

```

 ![Screenshot_20210408-175843](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/9/696820d878c4df2f69776b527d9a74301b4de787.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 17:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/10 "2021-04-08T17:06:03Z")

</div>

![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/4/34765c4fb60ad100d4bc025d09ba7ab069f66a13.png)  
only error comes out

---

<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:** [8 April 2021 17:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/11 "2021-04-08T17:09:54Z")

</div>

Whats the flow and which function is causing the error, as you can see from my last post it works, so you must have change something or the input data

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 18:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/12 "2021-04-08T18:59:47Z")

</div>

can we please focus on the problem: if the value PAC3 is switching between + and -, than the last output is beeing stored. I don't know how to get around that !

One of the new outputs ( "Entladen" or "Beladen" ) has to be zero.

PAC3 is from a buffer parser, the buffer parser is from Modbus:

 ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/e/8ebee796fda091a1b0bda515926054e73ff021f6.png)

```auto
{"topic":"PAC3","messageId":"606f5271f53dcc48e91efbd7","payload":507,"queueLengthByUnitId":{"unitId":3,"queueLength":0},"queueUnitId":3,"unitId":3,"modbusRequest":{"value":1617908337460,"unitid":"3","fc":4,"address":"30775","quantity":"2","messageId":"606f5271f53dcc48e91efbd7"},"responseBuffer":{"data":[0,507],"buffer":[0,0,1,251]},"_msgid":"bd027958.c0bdf8","originalPayload":[0,507],"specification":{"options":{"byteSwap":[],"resultType":"keyvalue","singleResult":true,"msgProperty":"payload","setTopic":true},"items":[{"type":"int32be","name":"PAC3","offset":0,"length":1,"offsetbit":0,"scale":"1","mask":"","id":0,"value":507}]},"values":[507],"objectResults":{"PAC3":{"type":"int32be","name":"PAC3","offset":0,"length":1,"offsetbit":0,"scale":"1","mask":"","id":0,"value":507}},"keyvalues":{"PAC3":507},"arrayResults":[{"type":"int32be","name":"PAC3","offset":0,"length":1,"offsetbit":0,"scale":"1","mask":"","id":0,"value":507}],"buffer":[0,0,1,251]}

```

---

<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:** [8 April 2021 20:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/13 "2021-04-08T20:16:04Z")

</div>

There is no `msg.payload.PAC3` in that object `msg.payload` is a integer.

P.s. when did we not focus on the problem?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [8 April 2021 20:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/14 "2021-04-08T20:37:01Z")

</div>

So what should I do ?

---

<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:** [8 April 2021 20:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/15 "2021-04-08T20:41:08Z")

</div>

If msg.payload in the object you posted is the value you require then change the function to use msg.payload.  
in this example i have recreated the object you posted and fedd it into the altered function that targets msg.payload

```auto
[{"id":"79374974.a4c608","type":"inject","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","x":120,"y":4140,"wires":[["cd76cbac.cb34"]]},{"id":"cd76cbac.cb34","type":"function","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"create object for testing","func":"msg = {\"topic\":\"PAC3\",\"messageId\":\"606f5271f53dcc48e91efbd7\",\"payload\":507,\"queueLengthByUnitId\":{\"unitId\":3,\"queueLength\":0},\"queueUnitId\":3,\"unitId\":3,\"modbusRequest\":{\"value\":1617908337460,\"unitid\":\"3\",\"fc\":4,\"address\":\"30775\",\"quantity\":\"2\",\"messageId\":\"606f5271f53dcc48e91efbd7\"},\"responseBuffer\":{\"data\":[0,507],\"buffer\":[0,0,1,251]},\"_msgid\":\"bd027958.c0bdf8\",\"originalPayload\":[0,507],\"specification\":{\"options\":{\"byteSwap\":[],\"resultType\":\"keyvalue\",\"singleResult\":true,\"msgProperty\":\"payload\",\"setTopic\":true},\"items\":[{\"type\":\"int32be\",\"name\":\"PAC3\",\"offset\":0,\"length\":1,\"offsetbit\":0,\"scale\":\"1\",\"mask\":\"\",\"id\":0,\"value\":507}]},\"values\":[507],\"objectResults\":{\"PAC3\":{\"type\":\"int32be\",\"name\":\"PAC3\",\"offset\":0,\"length\":1,\"offsetbit\":0,\"scale\":\"1\",\"mask\":\"\",\"id\":0,\"value\":507}},\"keyvalues\":{\"PAC3\":507},\"arrayResults\":[{\"type\":\"int32be\",\"name\":\"PAC3\",\"offset\":0,\"length\":1,\"offsetbit\":0,\"scale\":\"1\",\"mask\":\"\",\"id\":0,\"value\":507}],\"buffer\":[0,0,1,251]}\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":360,"y":4140,"wires":[["4d18ea91.fe6d24","dc737e2d.6fbe4"]]},{"id":"4d18ea91.fe6d24","type":"function","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"","func":"msg.topic = msg.payload < 0 ? \"Beladen\" : \"Entladen\";\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":330,"y":4000,"wires":[["dc737e2d.6fbe4","60a9ce87.71931"]]},{"id":"dc737e2d.6fbe4","type":"debug","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"ternary","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":700,"y":4080,"wires":[]},{"id":"60a9ce87.71931","type":"function","z":"5a245aa1.510164","name":"runden","func":"var temp = msg.payload\nmsg.payload = {[msg.topic]: parseFloat(temp.toFixed(0))};\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","x":620,"y":4000,"wires":[["dc737e2d.6fbe4"]]}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [18 April 2021 15:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/16 "2021-04-18T15:05:53Z")

</div>

Hi,  
Please excuse me for not having tried it in so long.

your function works, it differentiates between loading and unloading.  
but I need always (every 5s when modbus come in) two outputs:

value 0 or above = unloading with actual value & load = 0  
value negative = loading with actual value \*-1 & unloading = 0

I tried some, buth I don´t get it:

```auto
msg.topic = msg.payload.PAC3 < 0 ? "Entladen" : "Beladen";
var Be
var En
if (msg.topic == "Beladen") {
    Be = msg.payload.PAC3 * -1;
    En = null;
} else {
    Be = null;
    En = msg.payload.PAC3;
}
return msg;

```

or

```auto
var PAC3 = msg.payload;
var Be;
var En;
if(PAC3 < 0 ) {
    Be = (PAC3 * -1);
    En = null;
} else {
    En = PAC3;
    Be = null
}
return [Be,En];

```

I need every 5s (when modbus comes in) and object for example with:

Entladen = 0  
Beladen = 1234

or

Entladen = 1111  
Beladen = 0

or both 0

maybe @Steve-Mcl has an idea ?

---

<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 April 2021 15:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/17 "2021-04-18T15:50:17Z")

</div>

> [@Becker](#):
>
> I need always (every 5s when modbus come in) two outputs

Where do you need the outputs?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [18 April 2021 18:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/18 "2021-04-18T18:23:42Z")

</div>

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/6/b6657b4c463504b6baffc2b3e825761bd0281b20.png)

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/1/5196f5a914431d155f0efce2530cbee3ec62a43c.png)

A better solution might be...

```auto
msg.topic = msg.payload.PAC3 < 0 ? "Entladen" : "Beladen";
msg.payload = msg.payload.PAC3; //store value in payload

//if payload is < 0 then * by -1
if(msg.payload < 0 ) {
    msg.payload = (msg.payload * -1);
}

return msg;

```

As Colin said, it all depends on what you want to come out of the function.

_ASSUMPTION: the value you want to check is in `msg.payload.PAC3` and you want the result to come out in msg.payload;_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [18 April 2021 19:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/19 "2021-04-18T19:35:13Z")

</div>

😤 I don´t get the basics of JS.  
_Every time I think I have understood, Node-Red shows me that I have not understood anything._

```auto
var msg1; 
var msg2;
var PAC3 = msg.payload;
var Bel;
var Ent;
if(PAC3 < 0 ) {
    Bel = (PAC3 * -1);
    Ent = null;
    msg1.payload = Bel;
    msg2.payload = Ent;
    msg1.topic = "Beladen";
    msg2.topic = "Entladen";
} else {
    Ent = PAC3;
    Bel = null;
    msg1.payload = Bel;
    msg2.payload = Ent;
    msg1.topic = "Beladen";
    msg2.topic = "Entladen";
}
return [msg1,msg2];

```

or

```auto
var msg1; 
var msg2;
var PAC3 = msg.payload.PAC3;
var Bel;
var Ent;
if(PAC3 < 0 ) {
    Bel = (PAC3 * -1);
    Ent = null;
    msg1.payload = Bel;
    msg2.payload = Ent;
    msg1.topic = "Beladen";
    msg2.topic = "Entladen";
} else {
    Ent = PAC3;
    Bel = null;
    msg1.payload = Bel;
    msg2.payload = Ent;
    msg1.topic = "Beladen";
    msg2.topic = "Entladen";
}
return [msg1,msg2];

```

both doesn´t work,  
always get "TypeError: Cannot set property 'payload' of undefined" or just "undefined"

I just want to show these two values in my dashboard as:  
Beladen = (+) ... W  
Entladen = (+) ... W

one of both always has to be 0.

and furthermore I would like to write it as an object in Influx.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Becker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@Becker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Becker)\
**Post date:** [18 April 2021 19:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/20 "2021-04-18T19:44:02Z")

</div>

Now I connected the function directly to the buffer parser:

```auto
var PAC3 = msg.payload.PAC3;
var msg1 = {}; 
var msg2 = {};
var Bel;
var Ent;
if(PAC3 < 0 ) {
    Bel = (PAC3 * -1);
    Ent = 0;
    msg1.payload = Bel;
    msg2.payload = Ent;
    msg1.topic = "Beladen";
    msg2.topic = "Entladen";
} else {
    Ent = PAC3;
    Bel = 0;
    msg1.payload = Bel;
    msg2.payload = Ent;
    msg1.topic = "Beladen";
    msg2.topic = "Entladen";
}
return [msg1,msg2];

```

Now I get:  
 ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/8/38a8b011a0d9c6ec7d9213ce58f66ba812e761df.png)

better, but one is left

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [18 April 2021 19:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864/21 "2021-04-18T19:45:01Z")

</div>

> [@Becker](#):
>
> both doesn´t work,  
> always get "TypeError: Cannot set property 'payload' of undefined" or just "undefined

To set a property of an object you must first make the variable an object

E.g...

```auto
var msg1 = {};
msg1.payload = "now it works";

```

You can return 2 messages as you are or 1 message with multiple properties (usually in the payload)

E.g...

```auto
msg.payload ={};
msg.payload.beladen = 123;
msg.payload.entladen = 456;
return msg;

```

[Next page](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/split-a-value-into-two-values/43864.md?page=2)