Output information to a text box display

Help
1

I have a need to output information coming from a HTTP api request to a read only text box type in dashboard. Not sure is there a way to do this. Appreciate a sample workflow that can be shared

2

I’m unclear on if the HTTP request is triggering the workflow (via a webhook or an experience endpoint) or if you are making the request within the workflow using an HTTP node. Either way, here’s what I would do to solve your use case …

  1. Create a new device (or use an existing device) and add an attribute of type “string”; we’ll call it “httpResponse” for our purposes.
  2. Use a Device State node to store the value you want to display on the dashboard on the device’s “httpResponse” attribute.
  3. In your dashboard, you can use an indicator block or a textarea within an input controls block to display the most recent value of that attribute on that device.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

3

Thanks Dylan, this will work. However, if I use a String node to manipulate the data, assign to device state and then want to output to Indicator block, how do I add a new line char in string node?

4

I cannot put \n char in the String node for cancatenation

5

I see what you mean; we’ll make a change to allow new line characters in the String Node. It should go out with our next release.

In the meantime, you can use a Function Node to accomplish what you’re looking to do. Assuming your current string is stored at the payload path of data.myString, you can concatenate a new line with this code in the Function Node:

payload.data.myString += '\nThe String to Concatenate';
6

The problem is in the function node. I get an error in the following code - unexpected number - 0

var httpResponse = ‘Nearby Gas Stations:\n\n’;
httpResponse += 'Gas Station: ’ + data.body.results.0.name;
httpResponse += '\n\nAddress: ’ + data.body.results.0.vicinity;
httpResponse += '\n\nOpen ’ + data.body.results.0.opening_hours.open_now;

payload.data.httpResponse = httpResponse;

My Http response that came from an API is as follows

data
body
result
0: {} // some keys like name, vicinity etc
1: {} // some keys like name, vicinity etc

7

The Function Node is pure JavaScript, so it doesn’t follow the payload path / Handlebars syntax you’re using here. Also, you’ll need to put payload at the front of your variables. So, taking the code above, it should actually read as follows:

var httpResponse = 'Nearby Gas Stations:\n\n';
httpResponse += 'Gas Station: ' + payload.data.body.results[0].name;
httpResponse += '\n\nAddress: ' + payload.data.body.results[0].vicinity;
httpResponse += '\n\nOpen ' + payload.data.body.results[0].opening_hours.open_now;
payload.data.httpResponse = httpResponse;