Why is the flow file in AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data on my Windows PC?

General
1

I found that the ".node-red" folder on one of my Windows PC is in: "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data" instead of the normal "C:\Users\xxxx".

I don't understand why this has happened.
Can I change this location to "C:\Users\xxxx"?

This is what I see when starting node-red:

  • [info] Node-RED version: v1.0.2
  • [info] Node.js version: v13.1.0
  • [info] Windows_NT 10.0.18362 x64 LE
  • [info] Loading palette nodes
  • [info] Settings file : C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data.node-red\settings.js
  • [info] Context store : 'default' [module=memory]
  • [info] User directory : C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data.node-red
  • [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false
  • [info] Flows file : C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data.node-red\flows_PC-xxxx.json
2

Maybe some environment variables have been changed on your system.

I would check the values of HOME, HOMEPATH and USERPROFILE.

3

Thanks for your suggestion!
Indeed, the HOME variable is: C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data.
I have read that this variable is not set by default.
I have no idea which tool has set this variable.

4

By default it should be set by the OS.
I think you can just delete the entry in your environment dialog, logout/login and it should be working again.

As another solution, you can explicitly pass the location of the workspace when starting Node-RED. Just pass the path with the parameter -u path/to/workspace.

5

I deleted the HOME enviroment variable and restarted Node-RED.
Now indeed it uses the default path.

Thank you very much for your explanation and help!

6

You're welcome.

But you should investigate which program had changed that variable so it won't happen again.

7

Yes indeed.

The oldest created folder in "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data" is "cdssetup".
This folder is created by Orcad in 2017. So Orcad is a good candidate.
I just checked that Orcad is still working after removing the HOME variable.
I will keep an eye on the HOME variable.

8

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead. I have just run into this same problem where my home environment variable was set to C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\SPB_Data. I am fairly certain that setting up windows subsystem linux (WSL) caused my home variable to be set to this location. I also have some data in this folder related to Orcad, but I believe that this is simply because Orcad copied these files over to the new home variable location on startup, not that Orcad changed the home variable. I know it was a few years ago but can you remember if you also had recently set up WSL?

Edit: it may actually be a combination of factors. The answer to this post on stack-exchange claims that Cadence Allegro may edit the HOME variable, though not exactly to the location we are seeing: Can't change Cygwin Home Directory from /SPB_Data - Stack Overflow

Anyway, just putting this here to try to help resolve the mystery. I was able to just set my HOME variable back to the default and have had no problems.