# \#subflow

**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/tag/subflow/104.md

[Latest](https://discourse.nodered.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discourse.nodered.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://discourse.nodered.org/tags.md)

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## [(Async) multiple input for nodes\*](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/async-multiple-input-for-nodes/101476)

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**Author:** [@Robert0](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Robert0)\
**Replies:** 68\
**Last updated:** [22 July 2026 08:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/async-multiple-input-for-nodes/101476 "2026-07-22T08:33:52Z")

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Yes, this works. No, it is not what you think it is. I went on to make an asynchronous subflow, which in reality is a upgrade to the grouping system. Doing so I accidentally allowed myself to mimic existing nodes, b…

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## [Subflow Name from Varibable](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-name-from-varibable/101206)

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**Author:** [@AndyX](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/AndyX)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [5 June 2026 17:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-name-from-varibable/101206 "2026-06-05T17:20:29Z")

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Hello, Can I use a variable in my example "topic" for the Name when no Name is set so I don't have to set it twice? Thanks

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## [How can I add a property input to subflows?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-add-a-property-input-to-subflows/99563)

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**Author:** [@charcuterie](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/charcuterie)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [3 November 2025 04:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-add-a-property-input-to-subflows/99563 "2025-11-03T04:54:49Z")

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How can I add a property input to a subflow, like this? Thanks in advance.

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## [Subflows do not allow for msg values from previous nodes to be used when setting properties](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflows-do-not-allow-for-msg-values-from-previous-nodes-to-be-used-when-setting-properties/99027)

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**Author:** [@aguida79](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/aguida79)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [12 September 2025 14:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflows-do-not-allow-for-msg-values-from-previous-nodes-to-be-used-when-setting-properties/99027 "2025-09-12T14:48:32Z")

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As @Mecworks asked on Subflows do not allow for context variables to be used when setting properties. Why? about using context variables to fill the values of subflow properties, I want to know how can I use the value of…

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## [Subflow and subflow in a subflow and context](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-and-subflow-in-a-subflow-and-context/98993)

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**Author:** [@rewegit](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rewegit)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [9 September 2025 10:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-and-subflow-in-a-subflow-and-context/98993 "2025-09-09T10:23:24Z")

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While learning DB2, I have come to appreciate the use of subflows. The only thing that gives me headaches is dealing with the context. According to Working with context : Node-RED, I can use, for example, var color = f…

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## [Export/Edit/Import a flow containing a subflow, I am ending up with multiple copies of subflow with auto renamed](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-edit-import-a-flow-containing-a-subflow-i-am-ending-up-with-multiple-copies-of-subflow-with-auto-renamed/98913)

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**Author:** [@smanjunath211](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/smanjunath211)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [2 September 2025 14:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-edit-import-a-flow-containing-a-subflow-i-am-ending-up-with-multiple-copies-of-subflow-with-auto-renamed/98913 "2025-09-02T14:52:13Z")

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I had a small flow with subflow in it, I copied and pasted multiple bits and ended up having a huge duplicates of subflow, what is the correct way ? i followed this discussion which seems to be similar , but i could …

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## [Widget arrangement in a subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/widget-arrangement-in-a-subflow/98194)

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**Author:** [@rewegit](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rewegit)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [21 July 2025 10:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/widget-arrangement-in-a-subflow/98194 "2025-07-21T10:51:00Z")

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How can I change the widget arrangement within a group in node red if they are in a subflow?

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## [Dashboard 1 ui template within a subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboard-1-ui-template-within-a-subflow/98017)

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**Author:** [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [8 July 2025 00:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboard-1-ui-template-within-a-subflow/98017 "2025-07-08T00:47:26Z")

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Hi all, Dashboard widgets allow me to select a "dynamic" group I created in the subflow However I cannot seem to select this for a ui template group, as the drop down doesn't contain that entry. Some searching …

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## [Subflows do not allow for context variables to be used when setting properties. Why?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflows-do-not-allow-for-context-variables-to-be-used-when-setting-properties-why/97902)

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**Author:** [@Mecworks](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Mecworks)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [2 July 2025 07:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflows-do-not-allow-for-context-variables-to-be-used-when-setting-properties-why/97902 "2025-07-02T07:56:03Z")

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When creating a subflow and editing the properties, you can configure the type of input it can have. The choices are Input, credential, select, checkbox and spinner config node. So, I select Input as the type. Howe…

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## [Subflow property as list](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-property-as-list/97472)

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**Author:** [@Aridzki](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aridzki)\
**Replies:** 13\
**Last updated:** [30 June 2025 06:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-property-as-list/97472 "2025-06-30T06:24:46Z")

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Hi All, Is there any way for us to make a list in the subflow property? I want to create a subflow property that allows the user to add rows consisting of two variables. I use this picture from the s7-endpoint node as a…

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## [How to get the property(env value) of subflow with it's node](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-get-the-property-env-value-of-subflow-with-its-node/97788)

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**Author:** [@peeyee](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/peeyee)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [25 June 2025 11:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-get-the-property-env-value-of-subflow-with-its-node/97788 "2025-06-25T11:28:03Z")

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I have designed a custom Node-RED node with a filename parameter, which is currently parsed as a plain string. I would like to allow this parameter to accept dynamic values—for example, by referencing a property defined…

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## [Use config property of subflow in mqtt-nodes](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/use-config-property-of-subflow-in-mqtt-nodes/97431)

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**Author:** [@L4RS](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/L4RS)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [10 June 2025 04:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/use-config-property-of-subflow-in-mqtt-nodes/97431 "2025-06-10T04:33:39Z")

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Hello, I have to connect my software to four (or more - in the future) MQTT-Servers a once. All MQTT-Servers are of the same kind. My idea is to create a subflow which contains the \[mqtt-in\]- and \[mqtt-out\]-nodes. The s…

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## [Behavior of a Subflow - seperated instance for every msg or shared environment?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/behavior-of-a-subflow-seperated-instance-for-every-msg-or-shared-environment/96542)

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**Author:** [@dierochade](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dierochade)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [14 April 2025 21:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/behavior-of-a-subflow-seperated-instance-for-every-msg-or-shared-environment/96542 "2025-04-14T21:40:54Z")

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I have a sequence that is meant to be called in parallel from different devices. There is a wait-until node that should evaluate the current state of a dynamically injected entity, derived from a msg.object property — w…

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## [Subflow: Environment variable affecting all instances instead of one](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-environment-variable-affecting-all-instances-instead-of-one/96210)

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**Author:** [@yanivf](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/yanivf)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [24 March 2025 16:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-environment-variable-affecting-all-instances-instead-of-one/96210 "2025-03-24T16:40:25Z")

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I have a Node-RED flow that includes multiple instances of a subflow. Within the subflow, I define a boolean environment variable, DEBUG\_VERBOSE, which defaults to false. Inside the subflow, I use the following code: c…

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## [Quick Question Around Subflow EV's](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/quick-question-around-subflow-evs/96159)

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**Author:** [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [21 March 2025 21:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/quick-question-around-subflow-evs/96159 "2025-03-21T21:52:12Z")

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I tend to add a UI defined Variable for a subflow - :white\_check\_mark: But inside the subflow, it needs to get updated later (periodically) So lets call this EV, the "Initial Value" (the label at least, but behind the …

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## [Environment variable in subflow name?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/environment-variable-in-subflow-name/95902)

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**Author:** [@ktw](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ktw)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [12 March 2025 10:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/environment-variable-in-subflow-name/95902 "2025-03-12T10:47:22Z")

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Hi. Is it possible to use an environment variable in a subflow name, to display the current selection? Or is there a better way of doing this?

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## [WatchDog Subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/watchdog-subflow/90974)

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**Author:** [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [26 October 2024 15:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/watchdog-subflow/90974 "2024-10-26T15:50:19Z")

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Over the last week, I have seen a few posts where a need to monitor the incoming data and to react when it stops. I have seen a few examples of how this is addressed, and I have taken them and wrapped them up in a cute …

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## [Created subflownode not in in wanted category and color](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/created-subflownode-not-in-in-wanted-category-and-color/90638)

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**Author:** [@sander16091992](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/sander16091992)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [2 September 2024 10:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/created-subflownode-not-in-in-wanted-category-and-color/90638 "2024-09-02T10:53:21Z")

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I have packed a subflow into a package after installing the package the node does not go to the correct category below the packed json \[ { "id": "bde86d20a9dcf656", "type": "subflow", "name"…

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## [Separate instances for each subflow node](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/separate-instances-for-each-subflow-node/90520)

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**Author:** [@mr-jaffery](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mr-jaffery)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [30 August 2024 10:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/separate-instances-for-each-subflow-node/90520 "2024-08-30T10:37:32Z")

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I have created a subflow which receives some value as input. I store those values using a function in a flow variable which is then used in other nodes within the same subflow to cater my functionality. Now the problem a…

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## [Organizing Subflow Env Properties](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/organizing-subflow-env-properties/90448)

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**Author:** [@sstratoti](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/sstratoti)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [26 August 2024 15:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/organizing-subflow-env-properties/90448 "2024-08-26T15:58:05Z")

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I have a subflow that has a LOT of Env properties (100+). It's a subflow that I created for sending notifications using the HomeAssistant platform to an iOS device. There are a lot of different options when creating such…

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## [Dashboard 2.0 - Order of widgets from subflow?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboard-2-0-order-of-widgets-from-subflow/89217)

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**Author:** [@wangenkuesse](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/wangenkuesse)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [13 August 2024 17:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboard-2-0-order-of-widgets-from-subflow/89217 "2024-08-13T17:57:42Z")

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How do I change the sequence/order of widgets from a subflow in the Dasboard 2.0? The group of the widgets in the subflow is set by env(group)... Thank you for hints...

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## [Use config node parameter on function node in subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/use-config-node-parameter-on-function-node-in-subflow/89333)

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**Author:** [@Alloc](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Alloc)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [9 July 2024 15:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/use-config-node-parameter-on-function-node-in-subflow/89333 "2024-07-09T15:16:14Z")

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Hi, I just noticed that Node-RED 4 allows specifying config nodes as parameters to subflows. It works fine in combination with nodes that expect such a config node, like a dashboard node in the subflow getting the group…

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## [Use dynamic context based variable in change node for setting a variable](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/use-dynamic-context-based-variable-in-change-node-for-setting-a-variable/87519)

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**Author:** [@psmtvdw](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/psmtvdw)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [29 April 2024 06:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/use-dynamic-context-based-variable-in-change-node-for-setting-a-variable/87519 "2024-04-29T06:02:44Z")

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I have a subflow, inside this subflow I want to use the value of an env variable of this subflow in a change node to write a global variable This is how it looks like (and works succesfully) in a function node: global.…

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## [Dashboard 2 ui-template in a subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboard-2-ui-template-in-a-subflow/87129)

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**Author:** [@stgj](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/stgj)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [10 April 2024 18:30 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/dashboard-2-ui-template-in-a-subflow/87129 "2024-04-10T18:30:18Z")

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Hi. I would like to use a ui-template in a subflow with group-scope. (Dashboard 2.0) Is it a way for the ui-template to show up in /dashboard as separate group for every subflow I use? If not, is there another way to …

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## [Subflow 2 Module helper flow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-2-module-helper-flow/82763)

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**Author:** [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [10 April 2024 11:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/subflow-2-module-helper-flow/82763 "2024-04-10T11:14:11Z")

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Hey y'all In the last month, I have seen a slight increase in the need to package subflows as modules, and the guide to do that is here : Packaging a Subflow as a module : Node-RED. This is currently a manual affair. …

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## [Error in function instead of subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-in-function-instead-of-subflow/87058)

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**Author:** [@KarolisL](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/KarolisL)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [7 April 2024 15:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-in-function-instead-of-subflow/87058 "2024-04-07T15:35:15Z")

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Class constructor is in a subflow. Function node instantiate a class that is passed from subflow by message If there is an error in my class that exists in subflow (UUID), function "generator" will be reported as er…

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## [How to deploy a subflow to several systems](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-deploy-a-subflow-to-several-systems/87045)

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**Author:** [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Replies:** 12\
**Last updated:** [7 April 2024 14:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-deploy-a-subflow-to-several-systems/87045 "2024-04-07T14:21:55Z")

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I suspect this has been asked before but can't find anything searching the forum. I have some subflows that are used on several systems. Does anyone have a clever technique to deploy a new version out to the other syst…

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## [Iterate subflow properties](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/iterate-subflow-properties/86779)

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**Author:** [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [28 March 2024 13:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/iterate-subflow-properties/86779 "2024-03-28T13:25:45Z")

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Is the set of subflow properties available inside the subflow? It would be helpful if I could access the property env var names as an array of keys or similar in a function node. I need to load all the env var keys and …

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## [A tutorial on how to add a dropdown to the node edit properties of a subflow](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-tutorial-on-how-to-add-a-dropdown-to-the-node-edit-properties-of-a-subflow/86247)

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**Author:** [@mitch-shiver](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mitch-shiver)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [7 March 2024 19:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-tutorial-on-how-to-add-a-dropdown-to-the-node-edit-properties-of-a-subflow/86247 "2024-03-07T19:09:31Z")

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Hi, I have created a custom node using a subflow. One of the fields that I want in the edit properties for the new node is a dropdown containing "up", "down", "left", "right" rather than requiring the user of the node to…

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## [Create a subflow with in- or output that can be disabled](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/create-a-subflow-with-in-or-output-that-can-be-disabled/84154)

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**Author:** [@LukeSkywalker](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/LukeSkywalker)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [31 December 2023 14:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/create-a-subflow-with-in-or-output-that-can-be-disabled/84154 "2023-12-31T14:37:41Z")

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Hello, I'm new to this forum. I want to create a subflow and have the question if it is possible to disable the input or output? If you take a look at the email-node, there it's possible to change the mailreceiving fro…

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