# Why is the flow file in AppData\\Roaming\\SPB\_Data on my Windows PC?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [12 November 2019 08:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825 "2019-11-12T08:50:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PaulM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/paulm/32/14213_2.png) [@PaulM](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PaulM)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 08:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/1 "2019-11-12T08:50:10Z")

</div>

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

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kuema](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kuema/32/6542_2.png) [@kuema](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kuema)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 10:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/2 "2019-11-12T10:54:49Z")

</div>

Maybe some environment variables have been changed on your system.

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

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PaulM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/paulm/32/14213_2.png) [@PaulM](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PaulM)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 11:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/3 "2019-11-12T11:18:36Z")

</div>

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.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kuema](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kuema/32/6542_2.png) [@kuema](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kuema)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 11:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/4 "2019-11-12T11:53:09Z")

</div>

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`.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PaulM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/paulm/32/14213_2.png) [@PaulM](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PaulM)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 12:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/5 "2019-11-12T12:50:04Z")

</div>

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!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kuema](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kuema/32/6542_2.png) [@kuema](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kuema)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 14:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/6 "2019-11-12T14:10:20Z")

</div>

You're welcome.

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

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PaulM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/paulm/32/14213_2.png) [@PaulM](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PaulM)\
**Post date:** [12 November 2019 15:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/7 "2019-11-12T15:52:32Z")

</div>

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.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bobbyflay82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Bobbyflay82](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Bobbyflay82)\
**Post date:** [1 March 2023 21:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/why-is-the-flow-file-in-appdata-roaming-spb-data-on-my-windows-pc/17825/8 "2023-03-01T21:40:04Z")

</div>

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](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46004639/cant-change-cygwin-home-directory-from-spb-data#:~:text=Its%20default%20home%20directory%20is%20%2Fcygdrive%2Fc%2FUsers%2F%3Cusername%3E%2FAppData%2FRoaming%2FSPB_Data%20%5BEditor%27s%20note%3A,this%20also%20applies%20when%20the%20directory%20is%20%2Fcygdrive%2Fc%2FSPB_Data.%5D)

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.