EVOLV/wiki/Archive/concepts-generalfunctions-api.md

---
title: generalFunctions API Reference
created: 2026-03-01
updated: 2026-04-07
status: evolving
tags: [api, generalFunctions, reference]
---

> **⚠️ ARCHIVED — pre-refactor (Tier 1–4, 2026-05)**
>
> This page describes the architecture before the platform refactor.
> The current page is the per-node wiki on **[gitea.wbd-rd.nl/RnD](https://gitea.wbd-rd.nl/RnD)** or **[Home](../Home)**.
>
> Kept for historical reference only. **Do not update.**


# generalFunctions API Reference

Shared library (`nodes/generalFunctions/`) used across all EVOLV Node-RED nodes.

```js
const { logger, outputUtils, MeasurementContainer, ... } = require('generalFunctions');
```

---

## Table of Contents

1. [Logger](#logger)
2. [OutputUtils](#outpututils)
3. [ValidationUtils](#validationutils)
4. [MeasurementContainer](#measurementcontainer)
5. [ConfigManager](#configmanager)
6. [ChildRegistrationUtils](#childregistrationutils)
7. [MenuUtils](#menuutils)
8. [EndpointUtils](#endpointutils)
9. [Positions](#positions)
10. [AssetLoader / loadCurve](#assetloader--loadcurve)

---

## Logger

Structured, level-filtered console logger.

**File:** `src/helper/logger.js`

### Constructor

```js
new Logger(logging = true, logLevel = 'debug', nameModule = 'N/A')
```

| Param | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `logging` | `boolean` | `true` | Enable/disable all output |
| `logLevel` | `string` | `'debug'` | Minimum severity: `'debug'` \| `'info'` \| `'warn'` \| `'error'` |
| `nameModule` | `string` | `'N/A'` | Label prefixed to every message |

### Methods

| Method | Signature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `debug` | `(message: string): void` | Log at DEBUG level |
| `info` | `(message: string): void` | Log at INFO level |
| `warn` | `(message: string): void` | Log at WARN level |
| `error` | `(message: string): void` | Log at ERROR level |
| `setLogLevel` | `(level: string): void` | Change minimum level at runtime |
| `toggleLogging` | `(): void` | Flip logging on/off |

### Example

```js
const Logger = require('generalFunctions').logger;
const log = new Logger(true, 'info', 'MyNode');
log.info('Node started');    // [INFO] -> MyNode: Node started
log.debug('ignored');        // silent (below 'info')
log.setLogLevel('debug');
log.debug('now visible');    // [DEBUG] -> MyNode: now visible
```

---

## OutputUtils

Tracks output state and formats messages for InfluxDB or process outputs. Only emits changed fields.

**File:** `src/helper/outputUtils.js`

### Constructor

```js
new OutputUtils()   // no parameters
```

### Methods

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `formatMsg` | `(output, config, format)` | `object \| undefined` | Diff against last output; returns formatted msg or `undefined` if nothing changed |
| `checkForChanges` | `(output, format)` | `object` | Returns only the key/value pairs that changed since last call |

**`format`** must be `'influxdb'` or `'process'`.

### Example

```js
const out = new OutputUtils();
const msg = out.formatMsg(
  { temperature: 22.5, pressure: 1013 },
  config,
  'influxdb'
);
// msg = { topic: 'nodeName', payload: { measurement, fields, tags, timestamp } }
```

---

## ValidationUtils

Schema-driven config validation with type coercion, range clamping, and nested object support.

**File:** `src/helper/validationUtils.js`

### Constructor

```js
new ValidationUtils(loggerEnabled = true, loggerLevel = 'warn')
```

### Methods

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `validateSchema` | `(config, schema, name)` | `object` | Walk the schema, validate every field, return a clean config. Unknown keys are stripped. Missing keys get their schema default. |
| `constrain` | `(value, min, max)` | `number` | Clamp a numeric value to `[min, max]` |
| `removeUnwantedKeys` | `(obj)` | `object` | Strip `rules`/`description` metadata, collapse `default` values |

**Supported `rules.type` values:** `number`, `integer`, `boolean`, `string`, `enum`, `array`, `set`, `object`, `curve`, `machineCurve`.

### Example

```js
const ValidationUtils = require('generalFunctions').validation;
const v = new ValidationUtils(true, 'warn');

const schema = {
  temperature: { default: 20, rules: { type: 'number', min: -40, max: 100 } },
  unit:        { default: 'C', rules: { type: 'enum', values: [{ value: 'C' }, { value: 'F' }] } }
};

const validated = v.validateSchema({ temperature: 999 }, schema, 'myNode');
// validated.temperature === 100  (clamped)
// validated.unit === 'C'         (default applied)
```

---

## MeasurementContainer

Chainable measurement storage organised by **type / variant / position**. Supports auto unit conversion, windowed statistics, events, and positional difference calculations.

**File:** `src/measurements/MeasurementContainer.js`

### Constructor

```js
new MeasurementContainer(options = {}, logger)
```

| Option | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `windowSize` | `number` | `10` | Rolling window for statistics |
| `defaultUnits` | `object` | `{ pressure:'mbar', flow:'m3/h', ... }` | Default unit per measurement type |
| `autoConvert` | `boolean` | `true` | Auto-convert values to target unit |
| `preferredUnits` | `object` | `{}` | Per-type unit overrides |

### Chainable Setters

All return `this` for chaining.

```js
container
  .type('pressure')
  .variant('static')
  .position('upstream')
  .distance(5)
  .unit('bar')
  .value(3.2, Date.now(), 'bar');
```

| Method | Signature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `type` | `(typeName): this` | Set measurement type (e.g. `'pressure'`) |
| `variant` | `(variantName): this` | Set variant (e.g. `'static'`, `'differential'`) |
| `position` | `(positionValue): this` | Set position (e.g. `'upstream'`, `'downstream'`) |
| `distance` | `(distance): this` | Set physical distance from parent |
| `unit` | `(unitName): this` | Set unit on the underlying measurement |
| `value` | `(val, timestamp?, sourceUnit?): this` | Store a value; auto-converts if `sourceUnit` differs from target |

### Terminal / Query Methods

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `get` | `()` | `Measurement \| null` | Get the raw measurement object |
| `getCurrentValue` | `(requestedUnit?)` | `number \| null` | Latest value, optionally converted |
| `getAverage` | `(requestedUnit?)` | `number \| null` | Windowed average |
| `getMin` | `()` | `number \| null` | Window minimum |
| `getMax` | `()` | `number \| null` | Window maximum |
| `getAllValues` | `()` | `array \| null` | All stored samples |
| `getLaggedValue` | `(lag?, requestedUnit?)` | `number \| null` | Value from `lag` samples ago |
| `getLaggedSample` | `(lag?, requestedUnit?)` | `object \| null` | Full sample `{ value, timestamp, unit }` from `lag` samples ago |
| `exists` | `({ type?, variant?, position?, requireValues? })` | `boolean` | Check if a measurement series exists |
| `difference` | `({ from?, to?, unit? })` | `object \| null` | Compute `{ value, avgDiff, unit }` between two positions |

### Introspection / Lifecycle

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `getTypes` | `()` | `string[]` | All registered measurement types |
| `getVariants` | `()` | `string[]` | Variants under current type |
| `getPositions` | `()` | `string[]` | Positions under current type+variant |
| `getAvailableUnits` | `(measurementType?)` | `string[]` | Units available for a type |
| `getBestUnit` | `(excludeUnits?)` | `object \| null` | Best human-readable unit for current value |
| `setPreferredUnit` | `(type, unit)` | `this` | Override default unit for a type |
| `setChildId` | `(id)` | `this` | Tag container with a child node ID |
| `setChildName` | `(name)` | `this` | Tag container with a child node name |
| `setParentRef` | `(parent)` | `this` | Store reference to parent node |
| `clear` | `()` | `void` | Reset all measurements and chain state |

### Events

The internal `emitter` fires `"type.variant.position"` on every `value()` call with:

```js
{ value, originalValue, unit, sourceUnit, timestamp, position, distance, variant, type, childId, childName, parentRef }
```

### Example

```js
const { MeasurementContainer } = require('generalFunctions');
const mc = new MeasurementContainer({ windowSize: 5 });

mc.type('pressure').variant('static').position('upstream').value(3.2);
mc.type('pressure').variant('static').position('downstream').value(2.8);

const diff = mc.type('pressure').variant('static').difference();
// diff = { value: -0.4, avgDiff: -0.4, unit: 'mbar', from: 'downstream', to: 'upstream' }
```

---

## ConfigManager

Loads JSON config files from disk and builds merged runtime configs.

**File:** `src/configs/index.js`

### Constructor

```js
new ConfigManager(relPath = '.')
```

`relPath` is resolved relative to the configs directory.

### Methods

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `getConfig` | `(configName)` | `object` | Load and parse `<configName>.json` |
| `getAvailableConfigs` | `()` | `string[]` | List config names (without `.json`) |
| `hasConfig` | `(configName)` | `boolean` | Check existence |
| `getBaseConfig` | `()` | `object` | Shortcut for `getConfig('baseConfig')` |
| `buildConfig` | `(nodeName, uiConfig, nodeId, domainConfig?)` | `object` | Merge base schema + UI overrides into a runtime config |
| `createEndpoint` | `(nodeName)` | `string` | Generate browser JS that injects config into `window.EVOLV.nodes` |

### Example

```js
const { configManager } = require('generalFunctions');
const cfg = configManager.buildConfig('measurement', uiConfig, node.id, {
  scaling: { enabled: true, inputMin: 0, inputMax: 100 }
});
```

---

## ChildRegistrationUtils

Manages parent-child node relationships: registration, lookup, and structure storage.

**File:** `src/helper/childRegistrationUtils.js`

### Constructor

```js
new ChildRegistrationUtils(mainClass)
```

`mainClass` is the parent node instance (must expose `.logger` and optionally `.registerChild()`).

### Methods

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `registerChild` | `(child, positionVsParent, distance?)` | `Promise<any>` | Register a child node under the parent. Sets up parent refs, measurement context, and stores by softwareType/category. |
| `getChildrenOfType` | `(softwareType, category?)` | `array` | Get children filtered by software type and optional category |
| `getChildById` | `(childId)` | `object \| null` | Lookup a single child by its ID |
| `getAllChildren` | `()` | `array` | All registered children |
| `logChildStructure` | `()` | `void` | Debug-print the full child tree |

### Example

```js
const { childRegistrationUtils: CRU } = require('generalFunctions');
const cru = new CRU(parentNode);
await cru.registerChild(sensorNode, 'upstream');
cru.getChildrenOfType('measurement');  // [sensorNode]
```

---

## MenuUtils

Browser-side UI helper for Node-RED editor. Methods are mixed in from separate modules: toggles, data fetching, URL utils, dropdown population, and HTML generation.

**File:** `src/helper/menuUtils.js`

### Constructor

```js
new MenuUtils()   // no parameters; sets isCloud=false, configData=null
```

### Key Methods

**Toggles** -- control UI element visibility:

| Method | Signature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `initBasicToggles` | `(elements)` | Bind log-level row visibility to log checkbox |
| `initMeasurementToggles` | `(elements)` | Bind scaling input rows to scaling checkbox |
| `initTensionToggles` | `(elements, node)` | Show/hide tension row based on interpolation method |

**Data Fetching:**

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `fetchData` | `(url, fallbackUrl)` | `Promise<array>` | Fetch JSON from primary URL; fall back on failure |
| `fetchProjectData` | `(url)` | `Promise<object>` | Fetch project-level data |
| `apiCall` | `(node)` | `Promise<object>` | POST to asset-register API |

**URL Construction:**

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `getSpecificConfigUrl` | `(nodeName, cloudAPI)` | `{ cloudConfigURL, localConfigURL }` | Build cloud + local config URLs |
| `constructUrl` | `(base, ...paths)` | `string` | Join URL segments safely |
| `constructCloudURL` | `(base, ...paths)` | `string` | Same as `constructUrl`, for cloud endpoints |

**Dropdown Population:**

| Method | Signature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `fetchAndPopulateDropdowns` | `(configUrls, elements, node)` | Cascading supplier > subType > model > unit dropdowns |
| `populateDropdown` | `(htmlElement, options, node, property, callback?)` | Fill a `<select>` with options and wire change events |
| `populateLogLevelOptions` | `(logLevelSelect, configData, node)` | Populate log-level dropdown from config |
| `populateSmoothingMethods` | `(configUrls, elements, node)` | Populate smoothing method dropdown |
| `populateInterpolationMethods` | `(configUrls, elements, node)` | Populate interpolation method dropdown |
| `generateHtml` | `(htmlElement, options, savedValue)` | Write `<option>` HTML into an element |

---

## EndpointUtils

Server-side helper that serves `MenuUtils` as browser JavaScript via Node-RED HTTP endpoints.

**File:** `src/helper/endpointUtils.js`

### Constructor

```js
new EndpointUtils({ MenuUtilsClass? })
```

| Param | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `MenuUtilsClass` | `class` | `MenuUtils` | The MenuUtils constructor to introspect |

### Methods

| Method | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `createMenuUtilsEndpoint` | `(RED, nodeName, customHelpers?)` | `void` | Register `GET /<nodeName>/resources/menuUtils.js` |
| `generateMenuUtilsCode` | `(nodeName, customHelpers?)` | `string` | Produce the browser JS string (introspects `MenuUtils.prototype`) |

### Example

```js
const EndpointUtils = require('generalFunctions/src/helper/endpointUtils');
const ep = new EndpointUtils();
ep.createMenuUtilsEndpoint(RED, 'valve');
// Browser can now load: GET /valve/resources/menuUtils.js
```

---

## Positions

Canonical constants for parent-child spatial relationships.

**File:** `src/constants/positions.js`

### Exports

```js
const { POSITIONS, POSITION_VALUES, isValidPosition } = require('generalFunctions');
```

| Export | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| `POSITIONS` | `object` | `{ UPSTREAM: 'upstream', DOWNSTREAM: 'downstream', AT_EQUIPMENT: 'atEquipment', DELTA: 'delta' }` |
| `POSITION_VALUES` | `string[]` | `['upstream', 'downstream', 'atEquipment', 'delta']` |
| `isValidPosition` | `(pos: string): boolean` | Returns `true` if `pos` is one of the four values |

---

## AssetLoader / loadCurve

Loads JSON asset files (machine curves, etc.) from the datasets directory with LRU caching.

**File:** `datasets/assetData/curves/index.js`

### Singleton convenience functions

```js
const { loadCurve } = require('generalFunctions');
```

| Function | Signature | Returns | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `loadCurve` | `(curveType: string)` | `object \| null` | Load `<curveType>.json` from the curves directory |
| `loadAsset` | `(datasetType, assetId)` | `object \| null` | Load any JSON asset by dataset folder and ID |
| `getAvailableAssets` | `(datasetType)` | `string[]` | List asset IDs in a dataset folder |

### AssetLoader class

```js
new AssetLoader(maxCacheSize = 100)
```

Same methods as above (`loadCurve`, `loadAsset`, `getAvailableAssets`), plus `clearCache()`.

### Example

```js
const { loadCurve } = require('generalFunctions');
const curve = loadCurve('hidrostal-H05K-S03R');
// curve = { flow: [...], head: [...], ... } or null
```