Beginners Guide to the Node-Red Settings.js File

Node red uses a settings file called settings.js located in in the user .node-red (dot node-red) folder in their home directory.

You can create your own settings file and customise it either by copying the existing file or using the file available from Github here.

On Linux the settings.js file is copied from the /usr/lib/node-modules/node-red/ folder to your .node-red folder in your home directory when you start node-red, and there is no settings.js file present.

On windows if no settings.js file is present in the home folder then the node-red start process stops with an error.

The default settings.js file is mostly commented out.

To use your own settings file use the -s switch when starting node-red e.g.

node-red -s mysettingsfile.js

The documentation here takes your through the settings file in detail.

Creating a New Settings File

In node-red version 2 a new command was introduced that helped you create a basic settings file by following simple on screen dialogue.

The command is

node-red admin init

and is described in more detail here

Common Changes

• Alternative flow file
• Alternative port
• Alternative UI url
• Static Content
• Authentication
• Adding additional node modules

Important Note: The settings.js file is a JavaScript object so pay attention to the commas at the end of the lines

Alternative flow file – By default node-red will use the flow file called machine_name.json e.g. steve-laptop.json.

You can change this in the settings file by un commenting and editing the line:

//flowFile: ‘flows.json’,

e.g.

flowFile: ‘myflows.json,

Alternative port – Edit this line and change 1880 to the required port number.

uiPort: process.env.PORT || 1880,

e.g.

uiPort: process.env.PORT || 1888,

Alternative UI url -This the the path to the dashboard which you normally access using

http://localhost:1880/ui

uncomment and edit the line:

//ui: { path: “ui” },

e.g.

ui: { path: “mydashboard” },

Static Content

This is important when using images in your flows or using node-red to serve web pages

uncomment and edit the line httpStatic as shown below:

httpStatic: ‘/home/pi/.node-red/staticContent/’,

Authentication -There are three places were you can configure authentication.

• The Admin console- Node red editor
• Nodes
• Static Pages

This is covered in detail in this tutorial
Securing Node-Red with SSL and Username Authentication

Adding additional node modules – This is a very useful setting and lets you use node modules in the function node

For example, If you need to use an node module e.g the os or fs module then you need to enable them under the functionGlobalContext: object as shown in the screen shot below:

To use them in the function node they are part of the global object so use:
var os=global.get(‘os’);
var fs=global.get(‘fs’);

Use Command Line Switches Alternatives

Although you can change the node-red port and flow file using the settings file you may prefer to use a command line switch instead.

Examples:

node-red - p 1888

Will start node-red using the settings.js file but on port 1888

node-red myflowfile.json

Will start node-red using the settings.js file but use the myflowfile.json file to store the flows.

Common Questions and Answers

Q – I see the pathname like this –

//userDir: '/home/nol/.node-red/',

Where is the nol folder?
A- The nol folder is the home folder for Nick O’Leary and is there as an example you need to use your own home folder name there.
Resources:

• Node-Re Docs –Settings File

Related Tutorials

• How to Export and Import Flows-Node-Red
• Using The Node-Red Library
• Deploying Node-Red Flows
• Local Installs and Managing Node-Red Projects
• Securing Node-Red with SSL and User name Authentication