# Ui\_dropdown, looking for better/faster inputting solution

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Tags:** function-node, dropdown\
**Created:** [6 August 2025 14:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541 "2025-08-06T14:45:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![markost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@markost](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/markost)\
**Post date:** [6 August 2025 14:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/1 "2025-08-06T14:45:36Z")

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Hi,

I need a few UI dropdowns with a large number of Options (1-900 in steps of 1, 80-150 in steps of 1, etc.).  
I created this in two different ways, both by inputting an array with the desired Options.

The first is: creating the options inside a function using a for loop, then inputting them into the dropdown. This results in very slow loading of the dashboard after deployment/restart flows.

[ver-1.json](https://discourse.nodered.org/uploads/short-url/1jQXdHdsDenji7jLwN0bOTJBAjF.json) (9.1 KB)

The second is: creating the Options and saving them in flow.context. Then through a function, inputting them into the dropdown. This way is a bit faster.

[ver-2.json](https://discourse.nodered.org/uploads/short-url/s7oRm9tA2yR2fqSGp8i8AfhP49.json) (13.9 KB)

I'm looking for an idea/suggestion for an even better (faster) way to inject the dropdowns and load the dashboard.  
Thanks.

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**Author:** ![omrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@omrid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/omrid)\
**Post date:** [6 August 2025 15:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/2 "2025-08-06T15:41:39Z")

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I understand you are still using dashboard-1, which is no longer supported.  
Anyway, What I would do is define the dropdown as an HTML object in a `ui-template` node, and populate it programmatically in the JS script.

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**Author:** ![gerrybartley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/gerrybartley/32/67495_2.png) [@gerrybartley](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/gerrybartley)\
**Post date:** [6 August 2025 17:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/3 "2025-08-06T17:33:24Z")

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With that number of options wouldn’t a slider be better

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**Author:** ![markost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@markost](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/markost)\
**Post date:** [9 August 2025 12:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/4 "2025-08-09T12:15:58Z")

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Yes, I did this on DB-1. After trying it on DB-2, I see that loading is much faster, almost instantaneous! No need for further improvement. Thx!

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**Author:** ![markost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@markost](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/markost)\
**Post date:** [9 August 2025 12:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/5 "2025-08-09T12:19:14Z")

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Yes, that was the last option. The user interface is clearer with dropdown. In DB-2 everything is much faster.

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**Author:** ![markost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@markost](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/markost)\
**Post date:** [9 August 2025 12:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/6 "2025-08-09T12:20:25Z")

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In DB-2 everything works much faster!

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [23 August 2025 12:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ui-dropdown-looking-for-better-faster-inputting-solution/98541/7 "2025-08-23T12:20:48Z")

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