# \[v1\] there is a way to add an item without mess the layout?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [29 October 2026 13:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016 "2026-10-29T13:10:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GiovanniG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@GiovanniG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GiovanniG)\
**Post date:** [29 October 2026 13:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/1 "2026-10-29T13:10:22Z")

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Hi, each time I would add a button all the layout is compromised, and I need to replace all buttons, switch, etc.  
Honesly I would expect NR place the new item at the botton, adding a line if necessary but let all the rest as it was. Maybe there is a way to obtain that?  
Maybe the problem is that I copy the existing items and past? Adding a new item solves the problem? (honestly I don't want to ris add for test and get everythig messy again ))

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**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:** [29 October 2026 13:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/2 "2026-10-29T13:42:43Z")

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What version of node-red and of node-red-dashboard are you using?

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**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [29 October 2026 13:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/3 "2026-10-29T13:58:39Z")

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I think this is dashboard v1?

Have you considered migrating to v2?

> [@GiovanniG](#):
>
> the layout is compromised, and I need to replace all buttons, switch, etc.

It is far from ideal but you can often fix the layout by dragging dashboard elements around in the dashboard sidebar. I seem to recall you often have to delete a bunch of unwanted spacer nodes too.

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**Author:** ![GiovanniG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@GiovanniG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GiovanniG)\
**Post date:** [29 October 2026 14:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/4 "2026-10-29T14:13:36Z")

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thank you for your support, i'ts v1 latest, NR is 5.08.  
honestly I prefer work with layout directly, and each time I have to move around 50 objects, I hope there is a way.

Moving to dashboard v2 takes in may case lot of time, so I expect on this prokect to leave it to v1

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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:** [29 October 2026 14:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/5 "2026-10-29T14:19:21Z")

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Use the layout editor in D1

You'll still have to add spacers to get your desired layout so its not the best. And if you add more controls you have to do it all again. Much better option is to move to the new dashboard, although there is a learning curve

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/5/e56b662903eaf574482df2d92d428785ccedfe1e.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/3/4/34fe09396c38138cd8acf7aa91d50b79cfd0804c.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GiovanniG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@GiovanniG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GiovanniG)\
**Post date:** [29 October 2026 15:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/6 "2026-10-29T15:12:48Z")

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yes, I'm using this layout.  
The problem is, when I add an object, all layout get messy. Unfortunately I can' add the item manually at the bottom.  
I'm asking for something to do before it mess, reather than correct later

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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:** [29 October 2026 15:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/7 "2026-10-29T15:24:53Z")

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Thats the best you're gonna get with D1. It's all spacers and it's horrible. Bite the bullet with D2. Although that's not perfect either, but much easier to control layout

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**Author:** ![GiovanniG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@GiovanniG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GiovanniG)\
**Post date:** [29 October 2026 17:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/v1-there-is-a-way-to-add-an-item-without-mess-the-layout/102016/8 "2026-10-29T17:32:04Z")

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I got, no solutions of that. I'll survive, trying to don't touch it more, on the next project I'll switch to v2, which I did but only for small things