Node-RED Tutorial - Part 1

Introduction

The following tutorial shows how to import nodes of Node-RED into expecco and how to use them.

Preconditions

• Make sure you did the steps from Preperations and Installing Node-RED from NodeRED/en

Specify necessary paths

• Open a new testsuite in expecco

• Now you should have the following view in front of you

• Click the undo-button to remove the existing demos

• Click on Extras → Settings

• Click on Execution → External Script Interpreters → Node

• Specify at Node.js Path the path to the Node.js interpreter

• Click on the question mark next to Node.js Path to verify the node path
  • If the path is correct you will see the version of Node.js in the lower field

• Specify at Node-RED → Module Path the path to the node_modules folder
  • Click on the three points next to the field

• A small window opens
  • Click on the little house icon
  • Click on the user directory of the current user
  • Navigate in the user directory to the .node-red folder
  • Navigate to the node_modules folder
  • Select this folder and click OK
  • Your path in the field of Filename should look like C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\.node-red\node_modules

• Specify at Node-RED → Execution Directory the path to the .node-red folder
  • Click on the three points next to the field

• A small window opens
  • Click on the little house icon
  • Click on the user directory of the current user
  • Navigate to the .node-red folder
  • Select this folder and click OK
  • Your path in the field of Filename should look like C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\.node-red

• Click on Apply and then on Close

• Click YES to save the entered paths

Importing a Node

• Click on Operations → Node-RED → Importing Nodes

• A small window opens
  • Click on the little house icon
  • Click on the user directory of the current user
  • Navigate to .node-red → node_modules → @node-red → nodes → core → network
  • In this folder is a file called 21-httprequest.html
  • Select this file and click on OK

• A new folder should have been created
  • Open this folder and click on the elementary block to get the view which is shown in the picture

Using a Node in expecco

• Click on the tab Test/Demo

• Click on the elementary block keep the left mouse button pressed and drag the block a little further to the middle of the editor

• Double click on input pin url

• Enter http://exept.de and click on OK

• Click on the green arrow to execute the block

• After you have executed the block, it takes a few seconds until you see a result
  • When you see a result click on Run

• Click on Pins → msgOut

• Scroll in the field Keys to statusCode
  • Click on statusCode
  • If the HTTP request were successful the number 200 should be in the field next to it

Hint: Keep this testsuite open if you want to continue with the second part of the tutorial Node-RED Tutorial - Part 2

---

Copyright © 2014-2024 eXept Software AG