# Support multiline strings having environment variables in change node
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/support-multiline-strings-having-environment-variables-in-change-node/54518
**Category:** Feature Requests
**Created:** [30 November 2021 13:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/support-multiline-strings-having-environment-variables-in-change-node/54518 "2021-11-30T13:03:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@janvda](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/janvda)
#### Post date: [30 November 2021 13:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/support-multiline-strings-having-environment-variables-in-change-node/54518/1 "2021-11-30T13:03:12Z")
I am using a `change` node to produce a long string where several parts need to be replaced by the value of environment variables. See example here below:
This functionally works perfect but the problem is that
- it is not very convenient to edit / review such long strings as only a small part is visible in the editor.
- moreover the string is actually a multiline string while it is shown as a single line string in the editor which also makes it harder to edit / review.
FYI in my case the multiline string =
```auto
from(bucket: "${INFLUXDB_BUCKET}")
|> range(start: -30d, stop: now())
|> filter(fn: (r) => r._measurement == "${INFLUXDB_MEASUREMENT}" and
r._field == "steps" and
r.wearer == "${INFLUXDB_MIBAND_OWNER}")
|> keep(columns: ["_time"])
|> sort(columns: ["_time"], desc: false)
|> last(column: "_time")
```
Maybe the template node can be used instead but I don't know how I then should specify environment variables in the template.
---
### Author:  [@janvda](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/janvda)
#### Post date: [30 November 2021 13:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/support-multiline-strings-having-environment-variables-in-change-node/54518/2 "2021-11-30T13:11:43Z")
I see that the idea of extending the `template` node so that it also supports environment variables has been raised in the past:
- [Subflow - template node - subflow properties - #5 by knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-template-node-subflow-properties/23658/5)
That would also be a good solution for this issue.
---
### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [30 November 2021 15:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/support-multiline-strings-having-environment-variables-in-change-node/54518/3 "2021-11-30T15:11:57Z")
> [@janvda](#):
>
> Maybe the template node can be used instead but I don't know how I then should specify environment variables in the template.
Template currently only supports the msg along with flow and global vars as you've discovered. The workaround is to use a change node before the template to add the env vars to the msg as new properties.
Alternatively, if the environment vars are actaully set prior to the launch of Node-RED, you can pass them into global vars in settings.js of course. Though that doesn't help with the handy env vars you can set in groups and sub-flows.
Another alternative would be not to use env vars but rather global or flow vars. That would work in some but probably not all situations.
* * *
However, I agree that since the use of env vars in Node-RED is steadily expanding, making them available to the template node and possibly JSON as well would be a nice addition.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [29 January 2022 15:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/support-multiline-strings-having-environment-variables-in-change-node/54518/4 "2022-01-29T15:12:40Z")
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