node-red-contrib-modbus-modpackqt 3.3.3 → 3.3.6

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,40 @@ All notable changes to **node-red-contrib-modbus-modpackqt** are documented
 here. This project follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/) — pin a
 major version (`^2.0.0`) in production.
 
+## [3.3.6] — 2026-05-10
+
+### Added
+
+- **Account Key + My Connections picker on the runtime config node.**
+  Paste your ModPackQT tunnel key into the config dialog — the
+  **My Connections** dropdown loads your saved devices from
+  modpackqt.com and auto-fills Host, Port, and Unit ID. Manual entry
+  still works as a fallback.
+- Config node credentials are now registered so the admin proxy
+  (`/modpackqt/connections`) can look up the key without exposing it
+  to the browser.
+
+## [3.3.5] — 2026-05-10
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Port and Unit ID fields removed from slave server dialog.** They are now
+  hidden — the only way to set them is by picking from the **My Slaves**
+  profile picker. This enforces the cloud-driven config workflow and removes
+  manual entry that could conflict with the saved profile.
+
+## [3.3.4] — 2026-05-10
+
+### Changed
+
+- **`modpackqt-slave-server` is now a visible palette node** (was a hidden
+  config node). Drop it on the canvas like any other node — it shows up in
+  the ModPackQT section of the palette as **modbus slave server**.
+- **`slave-read` and `slave-write`** now have a **Slave Server** dropdown
+  that lists all `modbus slave server` nodes on the canvas. Select one to
+  point at its register store.
+- **`modpackqt-slave-probe` removed** from the palette (old node type gone).
+
 ## [3.3.3] — 2026-05-10
 
 ### Added

package/nodes/lib/probe-runtime.js

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 const http = require('http');
 const { URL } = require('url');
 
-const PALETTE_VERSION = '3.3.3';
+const PALETTE_VERSION = '3.3.6';
 const DEFAULT_PORT = parseInt(process.env.MODPACKQT_PROBE_PORT, 10) || 8502;
 const BIND_HOST    = process.env.MODPACKQT_PROBE_HOST || '127.0.0.1';
 const PORT_RETRY   = 5;

package/nodes/modpackqt-config.html

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 <script type="text/javascript">
   RED.nodes.registerType('modpackqt-config', {
     category: 'config',
+    credentials: {
+      apiKey: { type: 'password' }
+    },
     defaults: {
       name:         { value: 'ModPackQT Device' },
       targetHost:   { value: 'localhost' },
@@ -39,6 +42,49 @@
       toggleRtu();
       toggleSlave();
 
+      // ── My Connections picker
+      const nodeId = this.id;
+      const $sel = $('#node-config-input-modpackqt-conn-picker');
+      const loadConnections = function () {
+        $sel.empty().append('<option value="">— Loading… —</option>');
+        if (!nodeId) {
+          $sel.empty().append('<option value="">— Save this config first, then reopen —</option>');
+          return;
+        }
+        $.getJSON('modpackqt/connections?probe=' + encodeURIComponent(nodeId))
+          .done(function (rows) {
+            $sel.empty().append('<option value="">— Manual entry —</option>');
+            (rows || []).forEach(function (c) {
+              const label = (c.name || '(unnamed)') + (c.connectionType === 'rtu'
+                ? ' — RTU'
+                : ' — ' + (c.host || '?') + ':' + (c.port || 502) + ' #' + (c.unitId || 1));
+              $('<option>').val(c.id).text(label).data('conn', c).appendTo($sel);
+            });
+          })
+          .fail(function (xhr) {
+            const msg = (xhr.responseJSON && xhr.responseJSON.error) || ('HTTP ' + xhr.status);
+            $sel.empty().append($('<option>').val('').text('— ' + msg + ' —'));
+          });
+      };
+      $('#modpackqt-conn-picker-refresh').on('click', function (e) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        loadConnections();
+      });
+      $sel.on('change', function () {
+        const c = $(this).find('option:selected').data('conn');
+        if (!c) return;
+        if (!$('#node-config-input-name').val() || $('#node-config-input-name').val() === 'ModPackQT Device') {
+          $('#node-config-input-name').val(c.name || '');
+        }
+        if (c.host)   $('#node-config-input-targetHost').val(c.host);
+        if (c.port)   $('#node-config-input-targetPort').val(c.port);
+        if (c.unitId) $('#node-config-input-unitId').val(c.unitId);
+        if (c.connectionType === 'rtu') {
+          $('#node-config-input-masterMode').val('rtu').trigger('change');
+        }
+      });
+      loadConnections();
+
       // ── Embedded slave server section (collapsed by default)
       const $slaveSection = $('.modpackqt-slave-section');
       const $slaveToggle  = $('.modpackqt-slave-section-toggle');
@@ -63,6 +109,24 @@
     <input type="text" id="node-config-input-name" placeholder="e.g. Inverter A">
   </div>
 
+  <div class="form-row">
+    <label for="node-config-input-apiKey"><i class="fa fa-key"></i> Account Key</label>
+    <input type="password" id="node-config-input-apiKey" placeholder="Paste your ModPackQT tunnel key">
+  </div>
+  <div class="form-tips" style="font-size:11px;color:#6b7280;margin:-8px 0 4px 105px">
+    Generate at <a href="https://modpackqt.com/settings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modpackqt.com → Settings → Cloud Gateways</a>.
+    Loads your saved connections in the picker below.
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="form-row">
+    <label for="node-config-input-modpackqt-conn-picker"><i class="fa fa-cloud-download"></i> My Connections</label>
+    <select id="node-config-input-modpackqt-conn-picker" style="width:65%"></select>
+    <button type="button" id="modpackqt-conn-picker-refresh" class="red-ui-button" title="Reload" style="margin-left:4px"><i class="fa fa-refresh"></i></button>
+  </div>
+  <div class="form-tips" style="font-size:11px;color:#6b7280;margin:-8px 0 12px 105px">
+    Picks a saved connection from modpackqt.com — auto-fills Host, Port, and Unit ID below.
+  </div>
+
   <h4 style="margin-top:18px">Device</h4>
   <div class="form-row modpackqt-tcp-only">
     <label for="node-config-input-targetHost"><i class="fa fa-plug"></i> Host</label>

package/nodes/modpackqt-config.js

@@ -335,5 +335,7 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
     });
   }
 
-  RED.nodes.registerType('modpackqt-config', ModPackQTConfigNode);
+  RED.nodes.registerType('modpackqt-config', ModPackQTConfigNode, {
+    credentials: { apiKey: { type: 'password' } }
+  });
 };

package/nodes/modpackqt-slave-read.html

@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@
     category: 'ModPackQT',
     color: '#15803d',
     defaults: {
-      name:         { value: '' },
-      slaveServer:  { value: '', type: 'modpackqt-slave-server' },
-      server:       { value: '' },   // legacy — modpackqt-config with embedded slave
-      registerType: { value: 'holding', required: true },
-      address:      { value: 0,  required: true, validate: RED.validators.number() },
-      quantity:     { value: 1,  required: true, validate: RED.validators.number() },
-      pollInterval: { value: 0,  validate: RED.validators.number() }
+      name:          { value: '' },
+      slaveServerId: { value: '' },   // ID of a modpackqt-slave-server node on the canvas
+      registerType:  { value: 'holding', required: true },
+      address:       { value: 0,  required: true, validate: RED.validators.number() },
+      quantity:      { value: 1,  required: true, validate: RED.validators.number() },
+      pollInterval:  { value: 0,  validate: RED.validators.number() }
     },
     inputs: 1,
     outputs: 1,
@@ -17,7 +16,17 @@
     label: function () {
       return this.name || ('Slave Read ' + (this.registerType || 'holding') + ' @' + this.address);
     },
-    paletteLabel: 'modbus slave read'
+    paletteLabel: 'modbus slave read',
+    oneditprepare: function () {
+      const $sel = $('#node-input-slaveServerId');
+      $sel.empty().append('<option value="">— select a slave server node —</option>');
+      RED.nodes.eachNode(function (n) {
+        if (n.type === 'modpackqt-slave-server') {
+          const label = (n.name || (':' + n.bindPort + ' #' + n.unitId));
+          $('<option>').val(n.id).text(label).appendTo($sel);
+        }
+      });
+    }
   });
 </script>
 
@@ -27,8 +36,11 @@
     <input type="text" id="node-input-name" placeholder="Name">
   </div>
   <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-input-slaveServer"><i class="fa fa-server"></i> Slave Server</label>
-    <input type="text" id="node-input-slaveServer">
+    <label for="node-input-slaveServerId"><i class="fa fa-server"></i> Slave Server</label>
+    <select id="node-input-slaveServerId" style="width:70%"></select>
+  </div>
+  <div class="form-tips" style="font-size:11px;color:#6b7280;margin:-8px 0 12px 105px">
+    Pick a <b>modbus slave server</b> node from the canvas. Deploy the flow first if the list is empty.
   </div>
   <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-registerType"><i class="fa fa-list"></i> Register Type</label>
@@ -52,8 +64,7 @@
     <input type="number" id="node-input-pollInterval" min="0" placeholder="0 = trigger only">
   </div>
   <div class="form-tips">
-    <b>Reads from a slave server's register store.</b> Point at a
-    <b>modpackqt-slave-server</b> node. Override at runtime via
+    Reads from the slave server's register store. Override at runtime via
     <code>msg.address</code>, <code>msg.quantity</code>, or <code>msg.registerType</code>.
   </div>
   <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:18px;padding-top:14px;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;text-align:center;">
@@ -68,16 +79,12 @@
 </script>
 
 <script type="text/html" data-help-name="modpackqt-slave-read">
-  <p>
-    Reads registers from a <b>modpackqt-slave-server</b> node's local store.
-    Useful for seeing exactly what an external Modbus master connecting to that
-    slave port will read.
-  </p>
+  <p>Reads registers from a <b>modbus slave server</b> node's local store.</p>
   <h3>Setup</h3>
-  <p>Set up a <b>Slave Server</b> config node first (pencil icon), then point this node at it.</p>
+  <p>Drop a <b>modbus slave server</b> node on the canvas first, then select it here.</p>
   <h3>Outputs</h3>
   <dl class="message-properties">
     <dt>payload <span class="property-type">array</span></dt>
-    <dd>Raw register values (integers for holding/input, booleans for coils/discrete).</dd>
+    <dd>Register values (integers for holding/input, booleans for coils/discrete).</dd>
   </dl>
 </script>

package/nodes/modpackqt-slave-read.js

@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * ModPackQT Slave Read — read from a slave server's local register store.
- *
- * Points at a modpackqt-slave-server config node (preferred) or falls back
- * to the legacy modpackqt-config with an embedded slave (backward compat).
+ * ModPackQT Slave Read — reads from a modpackqt-slave-server node's register store.
  */
 module.exports = function (RED) {
   function ModPackQTSlaveReadNode(config) {
@@ -14,29 +11,25 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
     node.quantity     = parseInt(config.quantity,     10) || 1;
     node.pollInterval = parseInt(config.pollInterval, 10) || 0;
 
-    // Prefer new slave-server config node; fall back to legacy modpackqt-config.
-    const slave = RED.nodes.getNode(config.slaveServer) || RED.nodes.getNode(config.server);
+    function getSlave() {
+      return RED.nodes.getNode(config.slaveServerId);
+    }
 
     let timer = null;
 
     function doRead(msg) {
-      if (!slave) {
-        node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'no slave server configured' });
-        node.error('No Slave Server configured — add a modpackqt-slave-server node.', msg);
-        return;
-      }
-      if (!slave.slaveEnabled) {
-        node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'slave server not running' });
-        node.error('Slave server is not running — check the slave-server config node.', msg);
+      const slave = getSlave();
+      if (!slave || !slave.slaveEnabled) {
+        node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'no slave server' });
+        node.error('No slave server selected or it is not running.', msg);
         return;
       }
       try {
         const registerType = (msg && msg.registerType) || node.registerType;
         const address  = (msg && msg.address  !== undefined) ? parseInt(msg.address,  10) : node.address;
         const quantity = (msg && msg.quantity !== undefined) ? parseInt(msg.quantity, 10) : node.quantity;
-
-        const values = slave.slaveGet(registerType, address, quantity);
-        const now = new Date().toLocaleTimeString();
+        const values   = slave.slaveGet(registerType, address, quantity);
+        const now      = new Date().toLocaleTimeString();
         node.status({ fill: 'green', shape: 'dot', text: `${registerType} @${address} [${values.length}] · ${now}` });
         node.send({
           payload: values,

package/nodes/modpackqt-slave-server.html

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script type="text/javascript">
   RED.nodes.registerType('modpackqt-slave-server', {
-    category: 'config',
+    category: 'ModPackQT',
+    color: '#7c3aed',
     defaults: {
       name:     { value: '' },
       bindHost: { value: '0.0.0.0' },
@@ -10,16 +11,18 @@
     credentials: {
       apiKey: { type: 'password' }
     },
+    inputs: 0,
+    outputs: 0,
+    icon: 'font-awesome/fa-server',
     label: function () {
       return this.name || `:${this.bindPort} #${this.unitId}`;
     },
+    paletteLabel: 'modbus slave server',
     oneditprepare: function () {
       const node = this;
 
-      // ── My Slaves picker — loads saved slave configs from modpackqt.com.
-      // Pre-fills port and unit ID. Register layout / limits are managed
-      // from the web console, not here.
-      const $sel = $('#node-config-modpackqt-slave-picker');
+      // ── My Slaves picker
+      const $sel = $('#node-input-modpackqt-slave-picker');
       const reload = function () {
         $sel.empty().append('<option value="">— Loading… —</option>');
         if (!node.id) {
@@ -41,15 +44,13 @@
             $sel.empty().append($('<option>').val('').text('— ' + msg + ' —'));
           });
       };
-      $('#modpackqt-slave-server-picker-refresh').on('click', function (e) {
-        e.preventDefault(); reload();
-      });
+      $('#modpackqt-slave-server-picker-refresh').on('click', function (e) { e.preventDefault(); reload(); });
       $sel.on('change', function () {
         const row = $(this).find('option:selected').data('row');
         if (!row) return;
-        if (!node.name || node.name === '') $('#node-config-input-name').val(row.name || '');
-        $('#node-config-input-bindPort').val(row.port   || 1502);
-        $('#node-config-input-unitId').val(row.unitId  || 1);
+        if (!node.name) $('#node-input-name').val(row.name || '');
+        $('#node-input-bindPort').val(row.port   || 1502);
+        $('#node-input-unitId').val(row.unitId  || 1);
         buildLink();
       });
       reload();
@@ -57,15 +58,14 @@
       // ── Probe deep-link
       const buildLink = function () {
         $.getJSON('modpackqt-probe/info')
-          .done(function (info) { renderLink(info); })
-          .fail(function () { renderLink({}); });
+          .done(renderLink).fail(function () { renderLink({}); });
       };
       const renderLink = function (info) {
         const probeHost = (info && info.host) || '127.0.0.1';
         const probePort = (info && info.port) || 8502;
-        const bindPort  = $('#node-config-input-bindPort').val() || node.bindPort || 1502;
-        const unitId    = $('#node-config-input-unitId').val()   || node.unitId   || 1;
-        const name      = $('#node-config-input-name').val()     || node.name     || '';
+        const bindPort  = $('#node-input-bindPort').val() || node.bindPort || 1502;
+        const unitId    = $('#node-input-unitId').val()   || node.unitId   || 1;
+        const name      = $('#node-input-name').val()     || node.name     || '';
         const url = 'https://modpackqt.com/slave'
           + '?probe='     + encodeURIComponent(node.id || '')
           + '&probeHost=' + encodeURIComponent(probeHost)
@@ -78,20 +78,20 @@
         $('#modpackqt-slave-server-target').text(':' + bindPort + ' · unit ' + unitId);
       };
       buildLink();
-      $('#node-config-input-bindPort, #node-config-input-unitId').on('change input', buildLink);
+      $('#node-input-bindPort, #node-input-unitId').on('change input', buildLink);
     }
   });
 </script>
 
 <script type="text/html" data-template-name="modpackqt-slave-server">
   <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-config-input-name"><i class="fa fa-tag"></i> Name</label>
-    <input type="text" id="node-config-input-name" placeholder="e.g. Fake Inverter">
+    <label for="node-input-name"><i class="fa fa-tag"></i> Name</label>
+    <input type="text" id="node-input-name" placeholder="e.g. Fake Inverter">
   </div>
 
   <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-config-input-apiKey"><i class="fa fa-key"></i> Account Key</label>
-    <input type="password" id="node-config-input-apiKey" placeholder="Paste your ModPackQT tunnel key">
+    <label for="node-input-apiKey"><i class="fa fa-key"></i> Account Key</label>
+    <input type="password" id="node-input-apiKey" placeholder="Paste your ModPackQT tunnel key">
   </div>
   <div class="form-tips" style="font-size:11px;color:#6b7280;margin:-8px 0 12px 105px">
     Generate at <a href="https://modpackqt.com/settings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modpackqt.com → Settings → Cloud Gateways</a>.
@@ -99,25 +99,18 @@
   </div>
 
   <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-config-modpackqt-slave-picker"><i class="fa fa-cloud-download"></i> My Slaves</label>
-    <select id="node-config-modpackqt-slave-picker" style="width:65%"></select>
-    <button type="button" id="modpackqt-slave-server-picker-refresh" class="red-ui-button" title="Reload from modpackqt.com" style="margin-left:4px"><i class="fa fa-refresh"></i></button>
+    <label for="node-input-modpackqt-slave-picker"><i class="fa fa-cloud-download"></i> My Slaves</label>
+    <select id="node-input-modpackqt-slave-picker" style="width:65%"></select>
+    <button type="button" id="modpackqt-slave-server-picker-refresh" class="red-ui-button" title="Reload" style="margin-left:4px"><i class="fa fa-refresh"></i></button>
   </div>
   <div class="form-tips" style="font-size:11px;color:#6b7280;margin:-8px 0 12px 105px">
-    Pick a saved slave from modpackqt.com — auto-fills port and unit below.
+    Required — pick a saved slave to set the port and unit ID.
     Register layout and limits are managed from the web console.
   </div>
 
-  <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-config-input-bindPort"><i class="fa fa-hashtag"></i> Port</label>
-    <input type="number" id="node-config-input-bindPort" min="1024" max="65535" placeholder="1502">
-  </div>
-  <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-config-input-unitId"><i class="fa fa-id-card"></i> Unit ID</label>
-    <input type="number" id="node-config-input-unitId" min="1" max="247" placeholder="1">
-  </div>
-
-  <input type="hidden" id="node-config-input-bindHost">
+  <input type="hidden" id="node-input-bindHost">
+  <input type="hidden" id="node-input-bindPort">
+  <input type="hidden" id="node-input-unitId">
 
   <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:18px;padding-top:14px;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;text-align:center;">
     <a id="modpackqt-slave-server-link" href="https://modpackqt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"
@@ -134,27 +127,20 @@
 
 <script type="text/html" data-help-name="modpackqt-slave-server">
   <p>
-    Runs a Modbus TCP slave server and owns the register store. Point
-    <b>slave-read</b> and <b>slave-write</b> nodes at it to read and write
-    registers from your flow. External Modbus masters can also connect directly
-    to the configured port and read whatever your flow has written.
+    Runs a Modbus TCP slave server with its own full register store.
+    Drop one on the canvas per fake device. <b>Slave-read</b> and
+    <b>slave-write</b> nodes target it by node ID to read and write
+    registers from the flow.
   </p>
-
-  <h3>How to set it up</h3>
+  <h3>Setup</h3>
   <ol>
-    <li>Drop a <b>slave-read</b> or <b>slave-write</b> node and click its pencil icon next to "Slave Server" to create a new slave server.</li>
-    <li>Paste your Account Key and pick a saved slave from <b>My Slaves</b> — it pre-fills the port and unit ID.</li>
-    <li>The register layout and coil/register counts are managed from the modpackqt.com web console — click <b>Open in ModPackQT Console</b> to edit them.</li>
+    <li>Drop this node, set Port and Unit ID (or pick from <b>My Slaves</b>).</li>
+    <li>On your slave-read / slave-write nodes, select this node in the <b>Slave Server</b> dropdown.</li>
+    <li>Click <b>Open in ModPackQT Console</b> to manage the register layout from the web.</li>
   </ol>
-
   <h3>Account Key</h3>
-  <p>Generate one at <a href="https://modpackqt.com/settings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modpackqt.com → Settings → Cloud Gateways</a>.
-     Used to load your saved slave configs and to let the web console connect to this server.</p>
-
-  <h3>Multiple slave servers</h3>
-  <p>Create one slave-server config per port/unit combination. Slave-read and
-     slave-write nodes each pick which server to talk to.</p>
-
+  <p>Generate at <a href="https://modpackqt.com/settings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modpackqt.com → Settings → Cloud Gateways</a>.
+     Lets the web console connect and loads your saved slave configs.</p>
   <h3>Port note</h3>
-  <p>Use ports above 1024 (e.g. 1502, 1503) to avoid needing root privileges.</p>
+  <p>Use ports above 1024 (e.g. 1502, 1503) to avoid needing root privileges. Each server must use a unique port.</p>
 </script>

package/nodes/modpackqt-slave-server.js

@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 /**
  * ModPackQT Slave Server — Modbus TCP slave with a full register store.
  *
- * This is a config node. Drop one per fake device. Each server:
+ * Drop one on the canvas per fake device. Each server:
  *   - Binds its own TCP port and listens for external Modbus masters
  *   - Owns 65 536 registers per type (coils, discrete, holding, input)
- *   - Exposes slaveGet() / slaveSet() so slave-read / slave-write can
- *     push and pull values from the flow side
- *   - Registers with the probe runtime so the modpackqt.com web console
- *     can open a live register editor for it
+ *   - Exposes slaveGet() / slaveSet() so slave-read / slave-write nodes
+ *     can push and pull values from the flow side
+ *   - Registers with the probe runtime so modpackqt.com can open a live
+ *     register editor for it
  *
  * Register limits and layout are managed from the modpackqt.com web
- * console (loaded via the My Slaves picker). Node-RED only needs the
- * port and unit ID to bind the TCP listener.
+ * console — this node only needs port and unit ID to bind.
  */
 module.exports = function (RED) {
   const ModbusRTU = require('modbus-serial');
@@ -26,9 +25,7 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
     node.bindPort = parseInt(config.bindPort, 10) || 1502;
     node.unitId   = parseInt(config.unitId, 10) || 1;
 
-    // ── Register store — full Modbus address space per type.
-    // Register limits / layout are defined by the modpackqt.com slave
-    // config and are managed via the web console, not here.
+    // ── Register store
     const store = {
       coils:    new Array(65536).fill(false),
       discrete: new Array(65536).fill(false),
@@ -36,7 +33,7 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
       input:    new Array(65536).fill(0)
     };
 
-    // ── Flow-side API — used by slave-read and slave-write nodes.
+    // ── Flow-side API — used by slave-read and slave-write nodes
     node.slaveEnabled = true;
 
     node.slaveGet = function (type, address, quantity) {
@@ -73,11 +70,13 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
       server.on('socketError', (err) => node.warn(`[slave-server] socket: ${err.message}`));
       server.on('serverError', (err) => node.error(`[slave-server] server: ${err.message}`));
       node.log(`[modpackqt] slave server listening on ${node.bindHost}:${node.bindPort} #${node.unitId}`);
+      node.status({ fill: 'green', shape: 'dot', text: `listening :${node.bindPort} #${node.unitId}` });
     } catch (err) {
       node.error(`Failed to start slave server: ${err.message}`);
+      node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'failed to start' });
     }
 
-    // ── Probe runtime registration — lets the web console find this slave.
+    // ── Probe runtime — lets the web console find and control this server
     const probe = {
       id: node.id,
       kind: 'slave',

package/nodes/modpackqt-slave-write.html

@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@
     category: 'ModPackQT',
     color: '#15803d',
     defaults: {
-      name:         { value: '' },
-      slaveServer:  { value: '', type: 'modpackqt-slave-server' },
-      server:       { value: '' },   // legacy — modpackqt-config with embedded slave
-      registerType: { value: 'holding', required: true },
-      address:      { value: 0, required: true, validate: RED.validators.number() }
+      name:          { value: '' },
+      slaveServerId: { value: '' },   // ID of a modpackqt-slave-server node on the canvas
+      registerType:  { value: 'holding', required: true },
+      address:       { value: 0, required: true, validate: RED.validators.number() }
     },
     inputs: 1,
     outputs: 1,
@@ -15,7 +14,17 @@
     label: function () {
       return this.name || ('Slave Write ' + (this.registerType || 'holding') + ' @' + this.address);
     },
-    paletteLabel: 'modbus slave write'
+    paletteLabel: 'modbus slave write',
+    oneditprepare: function () {
+      const $sel = $('#node-input-slaveServerId');
+      $sel.empty().append('<option value="">— select a slave server node —</option>');
+      RED.nodes.eachNode(function (n) {
+        if (n.type === 'modpackqt-slave-server') {
+          const label = (n.name || (':' + n.bindPort + ' #' + n.unitId));
+          $('<option>').val(n.id).text(label).appendTo($sel);
+        }
+      });
+    }
   });
 </script>
 
@@ -25,8 +34,11 @@
     <input type="text" id="node-input-name" placeholder="Name">
   </div>
   <div class="form-row">
-    <label for="node-input-slaveServer"><i class="fa fa-server"></i> Slave Server</label>
-    <input type="text" id="node-input-slaveServer">
+    <label for="node-input-slaveServerId"><i class="fa fa-server"></i> Slave Server</label>
+    <select id="node-input-slaveServerId" style="width:70%"></select>
+  </div>
+  <div class="form-tips" style="font-size:11px;color:#6b7280;margin:-8px 0 12px 105px">
+    Pick a <b>modbus slave server</b> node from the canvas. Deploy the flow first if the list is empty.
   </div>
   <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-registerType"><i class="fa fa-list"></i> Register Type</label>
@@ -42,8 +54,8 @@
     <input type="number" id="node-input-address" min="0" max="65535" placeholder="0">
   </div>
   <div class="form-tips">
-    <b>Pushes values into a slave server's register store.</b> Any external Modbus master
-    connecting to that slave port will read whatever you last wrote.
+    Pushes values into the slave server's register store. External Modbus masters
+    connecting to that port will read whatever you last wrote.
     Send <code>msg.payload</code> as a number, array, or JSON string.
   </div>
   <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:18px;padding-top:14px;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;text-align:center;">
@@ -58,13 +70,10 @@
 </script>
 
 <script type="text/html" data-help-name="modpackqt-slave-write">
-  <p>
-    Writes values into a <b>modpackqt-slave-server</b> node's register store.
-    External Modbus masters connecting to that slave's port will read whatever
-    was last written here.
-  </p>
+  <p>Writes values into a <b>modbus slave server</b> node's register store.
+     External Modbus masters connecting to that slave's port will read whatever was last written.</p>
   <h3>Setup</h3>
-  <p>Set up a <b>Slave Server</b> config node first (pencil icon), then point this node at it.</p>
+  <p>Drop a <b>modbus slave server</b> node on the canvas first, then select it here.</p>
   <h3>Input</h3>
   <dl class="message-properties">
     <dt>payload <span class="property-type">number | array | string</span></dt>

package/nodes/modpackqt-slave-write.js

@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 /**
- * ModPackQT Slave Write — write into a slave server's local register store.
- *
- * Points at a modpackqt-slave-server config node (preferred) or falls back
- * to the legacy modpackqt-config with an embedded slave (backward compat).
- * External Modbus masters connecting to the slave port will read whatever
- * was last written here.
+ * ModPackQT Slave Write — writes into a modpackqt-slave-server node's register store.
+ * External Modbus masters connecting to the slave port will read whatever was last written.
  */
 module.exports = function (RED) {
   function ModPackQTSlaveWriteNode(config) {
@@ -14,18 +10,15 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
     node.registerType = config.registerType || 'holding';
     node.address      = parseInt(config.address, 10) || 0;
 
-    // Prefer new slave-server config node; fall back to legacy modpackqt-config.
-    const slave = RED.nodes.getNode(config.slaveServer) || RED.nodes.getNode(config.server);
+    function getSlave() {
+      return RED.nodes.getNode(config.slaveServerId);
+    }
 
     node.on('input', function (msg) {
-      if (!slave) {
-        node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'no slave server configured' });
-        node.error('No Slave Server configured — add a modpackqt-slave-server node.', msg);
-        return;
-      }
-      if (!slave.slaveEnabled) {
-        node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'slave server not running' });
-        node.error('Slave server is not running — check the slave-server config node.', msg);
+      const slave = getSlave();
+      if (!slave || !slave.slaveEnabled) {
+        node.status({ fill: 'red', shape: 'ring', text: 'no slave server' });
+        node.error('No slave server selected or it is not running.', msg);
         return;
       }
       try {
@@ -42,7 +35,6 @@ module.exports = function (RED) {
           throw new Error(`Invalid payload — expected number or array, got: ${JSON.stringify(msg.payload)}`);
         }
         const address = msg.address !== undefined ? parseInt(msg.address, 10) : node.address;
-
         slave.slaveSet(registerType, address, values);
         const now = new Date().toLocaleTimeString();
         node.status({ fill: 'green', shape: 'dot', text: `wrote ${values.length} → ${registerType} @${address} · ${now}` });

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "node-red-contrib-modbus-modpackqt",
-  "version": "3.3.3",
+  "version": "3.3.6",
   "description": "Modbus commissioning, testing & analysis tools for Node-RED. Embedded Modbus TCP/RTU master + slave server, FC1/FC2/FC3/FC4 reads, FC5/FC6/FC15/FC16 writes, built-in slave register store, and a passive traffic monitor for debugging. 100% free, MIT, no usage limits. By ModPackQT — open the matching web console at modpackqt.com for register decoding, simulation and AI assistance.",
   "keywords": [
     "node-red",
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
       "modpackqt-slave-write": "nodes/modpackqt-slave-write.js",
       "modpackqt-traffic": "nodes/modpackqt-traffic.js",
       "modpackqt-master-probe": "nodes/modpackqt-master-probe.js",
-      "modpackqt-slave-probe": "nodes/modpackqt-slave-probe.js",
       "modpackqt-slave-server": "nodes/modpackqt-slave-server.js"
     }
   },