Using nodes¶

Introduction to nodes¶

Definition¶

Nodes are configurable pieces of functionality that can process input data and produce output data. Examples range from data processing to complex functions and online services.

Categories¶

Visual Flow Creator palette contains set of node categories to create the flows in the working area.

It provides the following node categories:

• Basic nodes
  • Input
  • Output
• Industrial IoT nodes
• Function nodes
• Analytics nodes
• Storage nodes
• Array nodes
• Simple anomaly nodes
• IIoT Dashboard nodes
• Dashboard nodes
• Custom nodes

Node information¶

Within the program user interface, you receive detailed information for each node in the info window. The info window displays the node type and the node ID for each node and other properties. The info window provides information about the exact use of the node and shows the possible applications using examples.

To view the information for a node, click the node in the "Node palette" and open the "info" tab in the info window.

Edit nodes¶

You can edit or change the properties of the nodes as per the configuration to execute the flow in the Visual Flow Creator.

In order to use a node, you must move it from the node palette to the working area using drag-and-drop.

The following table shows the various node states:

Node states	Description
	- The blue circle identifies nodes that have not yet been saved. - The red triangle indicates missing inputs or errors in the node properties. - The text below the node shows status and error messages.

You can edit the node in the properties window, e.g. in order to change the name of the node. Each node has its specific properties window with different setting options. To open the properties window of a node, double-click a node placed on the working area.

The following graphic shows the properties window of the "inject" node:

Processing input and output data¶

"input" and "output" nodes exchange data through messages. The messages themselves are JSON objects. They generally contain the "payload" parameter, which can be used for storing user data. A "msg object" can contain different properties of the "node properties". Different nodes may support different properties of the JSON object. For example, the "write timeseries" node uses the "Topic" property in order to retrieve the asset/ aspect/ variable-combination which it uses to access time series data.

The most often referred property is the "payload" property. Data can be of different types such as String, Array of structure mapping JavaScript objects and others.

For processing time series data, Visual Flow Creator uses the default format for timeseries. E.g.: { "_time": "2017-12-27T07:35:45", "pos_X": 112.2 }.

You can inject the input node at different intervals by using the "Repeat" element. The following options are available:

• interval: You can trigger to repeat every time as per the specified time interval.
• interval between time: You can trigger to repeat in between the specified time interval.
• at a specific time: You can trigger to repeat at a specific time interval.

Dynamic message properties¶

In Visual Flow Creator function nodes, the user has full control over the message including its message properties like "Topic" etc.

Execution duration of the flow¶

With this information, you get the duration of the complete execution time of the flow displayed under every node which starts/triggers the flow. Maximum execution time limit for a flow is 30 seconds, except the flow with power mode execution time limit is up to 120 seconds. In the below example, the execution time for the first flow output will be generated and thereafter the second flow output will be generated as per the specified delayed time in the delay node.

Usage of basic nodes¶

The Visual Flow Creator component has the following basic nodes:

• Input nodes
• Output nodes

Input nodes¶

Input nodes trigger data to the flow. Each input node has one output. Use input nodes to supply data from other services. They generate messages for downstream nodes.

Input nodes	Description
	- Shows an input node. - The blue button on the left triggers the input node.

Output nodes¶

Output nodes send the data from the flow to other services or to the debug tab. Output nodes have one input. They consume the messages and trigger an action (for example sending an http response).

Output Nodes	Description
	- Shows an output node. - The green button on the right deactivates or activates the output node.

Usage of flow switch node¶

The Flow Switch node allows you to activate or deactivate a Visual Flow Creator flow tab.

Example¶

To activate or deactivate a Visual Flow Creator flow tab, follow these steps:

1. Create the flow as shown below:

   

2. Edit http request node properties:

   • Method: GET
   • Use Industrial IoT service: Check the option
   • Industrial IoT path: /api/vfc/v3/flows/projects/0/tabs/8888a447.745cc8?user=steve@email.com

   Note

   "8888a447.745cc8" is a flow tab unique ID for the selected tab. This unique ID of the selected tab is available in Visual Flow Creator URL.

3. Edit function node properties:
   • Code: msg.payload = !msg.payload.disabled; return msg;

4. Edit switch node properties:

   

5. Edit flow switch node properties:

   

6. Save and execute the flow.

Result¶

To view the output, activate and deactivate Visual Flow Creator flow tab by using toggle button in the dashboard. After activating or deactivating the toggle button in the dashboard, refresh Visual Flow Creator editor page to view the output.

Activated "Pump" tab¶

Deactivated "Pump" tab¶

After "Pump" flow tab is deactivated, the flows are disabled to execute under this tab.

Usage of image output node¶

The simple image output node allows you to preview the results of face detection, object recognition, etc.

Click button of the image output node can be used to enable or disable the image preview. It is recommended (for performance) to disable or remove any Image-Output nodes that are not being used.

You can edit the Image output node properties with the following parameters:

Example¶

To preview the image output using image output node, follow these steps:

1. Create the flow as shown below:

   

2. Edit the first inject node properties to enter the URL as a string value:

   • Payload(string) example URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Siemens-logo.svg/250px-Siemens-logo.svg.png

3. Edit the second inject node properties an set the payload value as timestamp

4. Edit http request node properties:

   • Enter the example URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Siemens-logo.svg/250px-Siemens-logo.svg.png
   • Return: Select "a binary buffer" from the drop-down

5. Edit image output node properties:

   

   • Property: msg.payload
   • Width (1px - 800px): 250
   • Resize images on server side - Uncheck for "first" flow and check for "second" flow to reduce the bandwidth

6. Save and execute the flow.

Result¶

"first" flow¶

When you execute the "first" flow for multiple times, it will preview the same image as the result if the URL consists of multiple images.

"second" flow¶

When you execute the "second" flow for multiple times, it will preview the different image as the result if the URL consists of multiple images.

For both the flows "first" and "second", when you click on the image preview then it will be disappeared.

Usage of junction-nodes¶

Junction node allows you to combine the multiple wires which are connected to multiple nodes. To insert the junction, "Right-click" on the work area and click "Insert junction".

Junction node is displayed as shown below:

Example¶

The following example displays the usage of the junction node: