Node-RED data processing II

Overview

• This lesson will demonstrate how Node-Red can be used to process data from a sensor.
• In this lesson we will learn how to process the output from a python file using the function node in Node-RED.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how to run a Python program using the Terminal.
• Learn how to run a Python program using the Execute node in Node-RED.
• Learn how to extract data using the Function node in Node-RED.

learning to process data using Node-RED

• Node-RED makes it very easy to display data using a Dashboard, but first we need to get the data we need.
• Luckily, we have experience retrieving data from sensors using Python.
• Reading and processing data using Node-RED is not very different.

Open the file peter_hopper_get_data5.py

• From the main Raspberry Pi menu navigate to Programming and open Python3 IDLE.
• Navigate to the /home/pi/peter-hopper-t3 directory. (t3 is short for term 3).
• Open up the file peter_hopper_get_data5.py and review to make sure it is the same as the code below.

• Run the file and check that it can retrieve sensor data and send the standard output to the Python Shell.

Running python program from the Terminal

• Python programs can also be run from the Terminal.
• Open a new Terminal window.
• Navigate to the peter-hopper-t3 directory with either of these commands.
  • cd /home/pi/peter-hopper-t3 – Absolute path reference includes the full pathname
  • cd ~/peter-hopper-t3 – Absolute path reference but uses the ~ (tilde) symbol in place of /home/pi
  • cd peter-hopper-t3 - Relative path reference – assumes you are in /home/pi

• To run the peter_hopper_get_data5.py file enter the command python3 peter_hopper_get_data5.py
• The output will be like the output from the Python Shell.
• The output is a String.

3. Executing a Python program in Node-RED

• Start Node-RED in the Terminal with the command Node-RED
• Open a web Browser and enter the URL localhost:1880
• In Node-RED arrange the following nodes in the arrangement shown below.
  • inject node – displayed as a timestamp
  • exec node – execute node can run commands such as python3 peter_hopper_get_data5.py
  • debug node – displaying as msg.payload
  • json node – to convert String outputs to a JSON object

• Double click on the exec (execute) node and enter the following parameters:
• Command: Two commands on the one line will be executed:
  • cd /home/pi/peter-hopper-t3 – navigate to the directory peter-hopper-t3 using Absolute path notation
  • && - the AND Operator. The AND Operator will execute the second command only if the preceding command succeeds.
  • python3 peter_hopper_get_data5.py – second command
• Note – Do not Append the msg.payload. Append should be de-selected (as shown).

• Click on the Deploy button.
• Ensure that the Debug Window (on the right) is selected and click on the Rubbish bin icon to clear Debug messages.
• Run the program by clicking on the button to the right of the inject (timestamp) node.

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