Node-RED: Lecture 6 – Example 6.8 Letting a function node send multiple messages on a single output

Example 5.2 in Lecture 5 demonstrated how to set up and send messages on multiple output nodes. This example shows how to send multiple message, but on the same output, from a single function node. One common scenario is a function node batch processing some data, with the following nodes wanting to have processed data as soon as it becomes available. Another common scenario is the creation of nodes that in turn create counters or pulses to actuate relays.

The following example is based on a flow by Node-RED contributor dceejay. Tthe original flow can be found at http://flows.nodered.org/flow/5c4c0f5a08d4e91ea14d

First, wire together an inject, function, delay and debug nodes:

Figure 6.28 A basic flow to explore multiple output messages

Edit the function node and add the following code (See Fig. 6.29). This code is quite simple; it contains a loop that calls “node.send” 5 times. node.send was introduced in Lecture 5 at the end of example 5.2. It allows a function node to output messages to its output independently of its return value. Note how the function itself returns null. The expected output of this function will be a series of messages with the payloads: 0,1,2,3 and 4.

Figure 6.29 Code to send multiple messages using the node.send() command

To make the example ressemble a counter more closely, you can edit the delay node and configure it to limit the rate of messages to 1 per second, as shown in Fig 6.30.

Figure 6.30 Configure the delay node to limit its output rate to 1 message per second

The flow can now be deployed. Press the button left of the inject node and inspect the debug tab (See Fig 6.31) and you will see the messages arriving every second:

Figure 6.31 Output from Example 6.8

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Author: Rodger Lea

Currently CEO of Internet of Things startup, Sense Tecnic, Dr. Lea has over 25 years experience spanning academic, large corporations and startups. For the last 10 years, he has started or helped start 4 new companies while managing an active research program (University of British Columbia, Canada and Lancaster University, UK) into distributed and ubiquitous computing, the IoT and Smart Cities.