diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e1d4f7f..368a4f7 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,36 +25,57 @@ add_subdirectory(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/external)
 # compile the program
 add_executable(Atlas_Install
         source/main.cpp
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h
 
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.h
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/register.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/register.cpp
 
-        include/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.cpp
 
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/common/data.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/common/data.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.h
-        include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.h
-        source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
-        source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
-        source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp
-        include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.h
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.cpp
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.h
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.cpp
+
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.cpp
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.cpp
+        include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.h
+        source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.cpp
+        include/utils/string.h
+        source/utils/string.cpp
 )
+
 target_link_libraries(Atlas_Install
         # Qt
         Qt::Core
diff --git a/external/wiimms-szs-tools b/external/wiimms-szs-tools
index 336da83..a051a6c 160000
--- a/external/wiimms-szs-tools
+++ b/external/wiimms-szs-tools
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 336da838ce43edae40dd708dd465f1f43a2c312d
+Subproject commit a051a6cc397d47a4dee0bac4c67ac31b6e4ab34c
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/README.md b/include/Atlas/nodes/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1cee76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Node System Module
+
+The node system module is an interface allowing you to manipulate nodes on a canvas 
+to assemble a logic that can allow you to describe how to patch a file, a text,
+an image, etc.
+
+## Node sub-module
+
+The directory `node` contains a directory for every type of nodes, plus a `base` 
+directory for special functions and class used by the other type of nodes.
+
+These type of nodes are:
+- `decimal`: a node that can be used to manipulate decimal values (`double` in C++).
+- `variant`: a node that can be used to contains any type of value. Useful to
+  use a function that can use any type of value (example : a print-like function).
+
+All the directories contains some special files : 
+- `register` file to register all the nodes in the registry.
+- `data` file containing the implementation of the type itself.
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 541f2e1..0000000
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-
-#include <Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h>
-#include <Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.h>
-
-
-using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
-
-
-namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
-
-
-    class ToVariant : public Variant::Model::ToVariant<Decimal::Data> {
-        Q_OBJECT
-
-        public:
-            [[nodiscard]] QString name() const override;
-
-            [[nodiscard]] QString caption() const override;
-    };
-
-
-}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/common/data.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h
similarity index 64%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/common/data.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h
index 6a0f1b8..babe5e5 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/common/data.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include <QtNodes/NodeData>
+#include "QtNodes/NodeData"
 
 
-namespace Atlas::Nodes::Common {
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Base {
 
     /**
-     * @brief the decimal data type
-     * @details this class is used to store decimal data (double internally)
+     * @brief an abstract data type
+     * @details this class is used to store data
      */
     class Data : public QtNodes::NodeData {
         public:
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h
similarity index 99%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h
index 1121692..941bea5 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
 
 
-namespace Atlas::Nodes::Common::Model {
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Base::Model {
 
 
     template<typename DataType>
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h
similarity index 93%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h
index e47684a..fd2ad42 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "QtNodes/NodeData"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/common/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal {
      * @brief the decimal data type
      * @details this class is used to store decimal data (double internally)
      */
-    class Data : public Common::Data {
+    class Data : public Base::Data {
         protected:
             double _value;  //< the value of the data
 
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02f7efa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
+
+
+    class Absolute : public QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel {
+        Q_OBJECT
+
+    private:
+        std::shared_ptr<Decimal::Data> _output;  ///< the output
+
+    public:
+        [[nodiscard]] QString name() const override;
+
+        [[nodiscard]] QString caption() const override;
+
+        [[nodiscard]] unsigned int nPorts(QtNodes::PortType portType) const override;
+
+        [[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const override;
+
+        void setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> nodeData, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) override;
+
+        std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> outData(QtNodes::PortIndex port) override;
+
+        QWidget *embeddedWidget() override;
+    };
+
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.h
similarity index 75%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.h
index 1505d72..f9419ad 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
 namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
 
 
-    class Addition : public Common::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
+    class Addition : public Base::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
         Q_OBJECT
 
         private:
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.h
similarity index 98%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.h
index 2df8a59..3392f9c 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
 #include <QLineEdit>
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.h
similarity index 75%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.h
index fc3eb55..06bbff1 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
 namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
 
 
-    class Division : public Common::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
+    class Division : public Base::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
         Q_OBJECT
 
         private:
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.h
similarity index 75%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.h
index f27a624..db62e62 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
 namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
 
 
-    class Multiplication : public Common::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
+    class Multiplication : public Base::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
         Q_OBJECT
 
         private:
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.h
similarity index 75%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.h
index 28f0549..544f798 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
 namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
 
 
-    class Subtraction : public Common::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
+    class Subtraction : public Base::Model::Reduce<Decimal::Data> {
         Q_OBJECT
 
         private:
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1e08ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model {
+
+
+    class ToVariant : public Variant::Model::ToVariant<Decimal::Data> {
+        public:
+            ToVariant() = default;
+            ~ToVariant() override = default;
+    };
+
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa75a2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include <memory>
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModelRegistry"
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal {
+    /// @brief registers all the decimal models
+    /// @param registry the registry to register the models to
+    void register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry);
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/register.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/register.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52c67f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/register.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include <memory>
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModelRegistry"
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes {
+    /// @brief registers all the models
+    /// @param registry the registry to register the models to
+    void register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry);
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f249632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "QtNodes/NodeData"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::String {
+
+    /**
+     * @brief the string data type
+     * @details this class is used to store string data (std::string internally)
+     */
+    class Data : public Base::Data {
+        protected:
+            std::string _value;  //< the value of the data
+
+        public:
+            /**
+             * @brief Default constructor
+             * @details Use the default value
+             */
+            Data();
+            /**
+             * @brief Constructor
+             * @param value The value to use
+             */
+            explicit Data(std::string value);
+
+            /**
+             * @brief Returns the value of the data
+             * @return the value of the data
+             */
+            [[nodiscard]] std::string value() const;
+
+            /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeData::type
+            [[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType type() const override;
+
+            /**
+             * @brief Returns the representation of the data
+             * @return The representation of the data
+             */
+            [[nodiscard]] QString text() const override;
+    };
+
+
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32eb740
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.h
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
+#include <QLineEdit>
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::String::Model {
+
+
+    class Constant : public QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel {
+        Q_OBJECT
+
+        public:
+            Constant();
+            ~Constant() override;
+
+        /**
+        * @brief the name of the node
+        * @return the name of the node
+        */
+        [[nodiscard]] QString name() const override;
+        /**
+         * @brief the caption of the node
+         * @return the caption of the node
+         */
+        [[nodiscard]] QString caption() const override;
+
+        /**
+         * @brief the number of ports the node has
+         * @param portType the type of the port (input or output)
+         * @return the number of ports the node has
+         */
+        [[nodiscard]] unsigned int nPorts(QtNodes::PortType portType) const override;
+        /**
+         * @brief the data type of the port
+         * @param portType the type of the port (input or output)
+         * @param portType the index of the port
+         * @return the data type of the port
+         */
+        [[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const override;
+        /**
+         * @brief the output data of a port
+         * @param port the index of the port
+         * @return the output data of a port
+         */
+        std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> outData(QtNodes::PortIndex port) override;
+
+        /**
+         * @brief set the input data of a port
+         * @param data the input data
+         * @param portIndex the index of the port
+         */
+        void setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> data, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) override;
+
+        /**
+         * @brief refresh the node
+         * @note this is called when the text in the line edit is changed
+         */
+        void refresh();
+
+        /**
+         * @brief get the embedded widget
+         * @return the embedded widget
+         */
+        QWidget *embeddedWidget() override;
+
+        protected:
+            QLineEdit *_lineEdit;
+            std::string _value = "";
+    };
+
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b03055e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::String::Model {
+
+
+    class ToVariant : public Variant::Model::ToVariant<String::Data> {
+        public:
+            ToVariant() = default;
+            ~ToVariant() override = default;
+    };
+
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58c1d03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include <memory>
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModelRegistry"
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::String {
+    /// @brief registers all the decimal models
+    /// @param registry the registry to register the models to
+    void register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry);
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h
similarity index 65%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h
index cf26444..e375769 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include <QtNodes/NodeData>
-#include "Atlas/nodes/common/data.h"
+#include "QtNodes/NodeData"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -15,19 +15,19 @@ namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant {
      * @brief the decimal data type
      * @details this class is used to store decimal data (double internally)
      */
-    class Data : public Common::Data {
+    class Data : public Base::Data {
     protected:
-        std::shared_ptr<Common::Data> _data;  //< a reference to a data object
+        std::shared_ptr<Base::Data> _data;  //< a reference to a data object
 
     public:
         Data();
-        explicit Data(const std::shared_ptr<Common::Data>& data);
+        explicit Data(const std::shared_ptr<Base::Data>& data);
 
         /**
          * @brief Returns the value of the data
          * @return the value of the data
          */
-        [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Common::Data> value() const;
+        [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Base::Data> value() const;
 
         /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeData::type
         [[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType type() const override;
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.h
similarity index 97%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.h
index 5b8a909..c0d481c 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h"
 #include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
 #include <QLabel>
 
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2cd54a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant::Model {
+
+
+    class FromVariant : public QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel {
+    private:
+        std::shared_ptr<Variant::Data> _input;  ///< the input
+
+    public:
+        FromVariant() = default;
+        ~FromVariant() override = default;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::caption
+        [[nodiscard]] QString caption() const override;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::name
+        [[nodiscard]] QString name() const override;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::nPorts
+        [[nodiscard]] unsigned int nPorts(QtNodes::PortType portType) const override;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::dataType
+        [[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const override;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::setInData
+        void setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> data, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) override;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::outData
+        std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> outData(QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) override;
+
+        /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::embeddedWidget
+        QWidget* embeddedWidget() override;
+    };
+
+
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h
similarity index 54%
rename from include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.h
rename to include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h
index d9d48c2..f04b3b0 100644
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.h
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 
 #include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModel"
-#include <Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h>
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
@@ -11,33 +11,47 @@ using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
 namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant::Model {
 
 
-    template<typename DataInputType>
+    template<typename NodeInputType>
     class ToVariant : public QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel {
         private:
-            std::shared_ptr<DataInputType> _input;  ///< the input
             std::shared_ptr<Variant::Data> _output;  ///< the output
 
         public:
             ToVariant() = default;
             ~ToVariant() override = default;
 
+            /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::name
+            QString name() const override {
+                return NodeInputType().type().name + QStringLiteral("::To Variant");
+            }
+
+            /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::caption
+            QString caption() const override {
+                return NodeInputType().type().name + QStringLiteral(" to Variant");
+            }
+
             /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::nPorts
             [[nodiscard]] unsigned int nPorts(QtNodes::PortType portType) const override {
-                // a "to_variant" function only has one input and one output
-                return 1;
+                // a "to_variant" function only has one input if the output is set and one output
+                return portType == QtNodes::PortType::In ? 1 : 1;
             }
 
             /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::dataType
             [[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const override {
-                return portType == QtNodes::PortType::In ? DataInputType().type() : Variant::Data().type();
+                return portType == QtNodes::PortType::In ? NodeInputType().type() : Variant::Data().type();
             }
 
             /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::setInData
             void setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> data, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) override {
-                // convert the data to the correct type
-                std::shared_ptr<DataInputType> casted_data = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<DataInputType>(data);
-                // update the input
-                this->_output = std::make_shared<Variant::Data>(casted_data);
+                if (data == nullptr) {
+                    // clear the output
+                    this->_output = nullptr;
+                } else {
+                    // convert the data to the common type
+                    std::shared_ptr<Base::Data> casted_data = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<Base::Data>(data);
+                    // update the output
+                    this->_output = std::make_shared<Variant::Data>(casted_data);
+                }
                 // update the next nodes
                 Q_EMIT dataUpdated(0);
             }
@@ -45,7 +59,7 @@ namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant::Model {
             /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::outData
             std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> outData(QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) override {
                 // return the last computed output
-                return this->_output;
+                return static_cast<const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> &>(this->_output);
             }
 
             /// @copydoc QtNodes::NodeDelegateModel::embeddedWidget
@@ -56,4 +70,4 @@ namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant::Model {
     };
 
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f6bbdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include <memory>
+#include "QtNodes/NodeDelegateModelRegistry"
+
+
+namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant {
+    /// @brief registers all the variant models
+    /// @param registry the registry to register the models to
+    void register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry);
+}
diff --git a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.h b/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f70f09..0000000
--- a/include/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
diff --git a/include/utils/string.h b/include/utils/string.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c3e627
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/utils/string.h
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+#include <string>
+
+
+namespace Utils::String {
+    /// @brief escapes a string
+    /// @details this function escapes a string so that it look like its c++ representation
+    /// @param str the string to escape
+    /// @return the escaped string
+    std::string escape(const std::string& string);
+}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/common/data.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/common/data.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 4666f72..0000000
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/common/data.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#include <Atlas/nodes/common/data.h>
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 8d8050c..0000000
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#include <Atlas/nodes/common/model/reduce.h>
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index b0fe2ef..0000000
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#include <Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.h>
-
-
-using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
-
-
-[[nodiscard]] QString ToVariant::name() const {
-    return QStringLiteral("Decimal to Variant");
-}
-[[nodiscard]] QString ToVariant::caption() const {
-    return QStringLiteral("Decimal to Variant");
-}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ea5024
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/data.h"
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1067db3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/base/model/reduce.h"
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.cpp
similarity index 89%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.cpp
index ce2ebc9..4f89b4e 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c16bb08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#include <Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.h>
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
+
+
+QString Absolute::name() const {
+    return QStringLiteral("Absolute");
+}
+
+QString Absolute::caption() const {
+    return QStringLiteral("Absolute");
+}
+
+unsigned int Absolute::nPorts(QtNodes::PortType portType) const {
+    return 1;
+}
+
+QtNodes::NodeDataType Absolute::dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const {
+    return Decimal::Data().type();
+}
+
+void Absolute::setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> nodeData, const QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) {
+    if (nodeData == nullptr) {
+        this->_output = nullptr;
+    } else {
+        std::shared_ptr<Decimal::Data> casted_data = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<Decimal::Data>(nodeData);
+        double value = std::abs(casted_data->value());
+        this->_output = std::make_shared<Decimal::Data>(value);
+    }
+
+    Q_EMIT dataUpdated(0);
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> Absolute::outData(const QtNodes::PortIndex port) {
+    return this->_output;
+}
+
+QWidget *Absolute::embeddedWidget() {
+    return nullptr;
+}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.cpp
similarity index 90%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.cpp
index 9ee7b86..bdd644b 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.cpp
similarity index 96%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.cpp
index 5082e0c..2c99283 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include <QtGui>
 #include <iostream>
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.cpp
similarity index 90%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.cpp
index 6343eac..d4b7146 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
similarity index 90%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
index 9f0ed97..98d5184 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
similarity index 90%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
index c3cd8b8..647a8b6 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::Model;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22412d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h"
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f535d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#include <Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.h>
+
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/constant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/to_variant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/addition.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/subtraction.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/multiplication.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/division.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/model/absolute.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Decimal;
+
+
+void Atlas::Nodes::Decimal::register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry) {
+    QString category = Data().type().name;
+
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Constant>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::ToVariant>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Addition>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Subtraction>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Multiplication>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Division>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Absolute>(category);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/register.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/register.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6715635
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/register.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/register.h"
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/register.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas;
+
+
+void Atlas::Nodes::register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry) {
+    Nodes::Decimal::register_all(registry);
+    Nodes::String::register_all(registry);
+    Nodes::Variant::register_all(registry);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3a3951
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h"
+#include "utils/string.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::String;
+
+
+
+Data::Data() : _value("") {}
+Data::Data(std::string value) : _value(value) {}
+
+[[nodiscard]] std::string Data::value() const {
+    return this->_value;
+}
+
+[[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType Data::type() const {
+    return QtNodes::NodeDataType("string", "String");
+}
+
+QString Data::text() const {
+    return QString::fromStdString(Utils::String::escape(this->_value));
+}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d01a116
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#include <QtGui>
+#include <iostream>
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::String;
+
+
+Model::Constant::Constant() {
+    // initialise the line edit
+    this->_lineEdit = new QLineEdit();
+    QObject::connect(this->_lineEdit, &QLineEdit::textChanged, this, &Constant::refresh);
+}
+
+
+Model::Constant::~Constant() {
+    // delete the line edit
+    delete this->_lineEdit;
+}
+
+
+QString Model::Constant::name() const {
+    return Data().type().name + QStringLiteral("::Constant");
+}
+
+QString Model::Constant::caption() const {
+    return QStringLiteral("Constant");
+}
+
+unsigned int Model::Constant::nPorts(QtNodes::PortType port_type) const {
+    return port_type == QtNodes::PortType::In ? 0 : 1;
+}
+
+[[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType Model::Constant::dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const {
+    return String::Data().type();
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> Model::Constant::outData(QtNodes::PortIndex port) {
+    return std::make_shared<String::Data>(this->_value);
+}
+
+void Model::Constant::setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> data, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) {
+    Q_ASSERT(false && "No input, shouldn't be called");
+}
+
+void Model::Constant::refresh() {
+    this->_value = this->_lineEdit->text().toStdString();  // TODO: use the NodeData type for string directory on this->_output
+    Q_EMIT dataUpdated(0);
+}
+
+QWidget* Model::Constant::embeddedWidget() {
+    return this->_lineEdit;
+}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22412d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h"
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca21829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#include <Atlas/nodes/node/string/register.h>
+
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/constant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/string/model/to_variant.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::String;
+
+
+void Atlas::Nodes::String::register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry) {
+    QString category = Data().type().name;
+
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Constant>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::ToVariant>(category);
+}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.cpp
similarity index 50%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.cpp
index 82742b3..643c947 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/data.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.cpp
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
-#include <Atlas/nodes/variant/data.h>
-#include <Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h>
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/decimal/data.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant;
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
 
 
-Data::Data() : _data(std::make_shared<Decimal::Data>(0.0)) {}  // TODO: make this a null data type
-Data::Data(const std::shared_ptr<Common::Data>& data) : _data(data) {}
+Data::Data() : _data(std::make_shared<Decimal::Data>(0.0)) {}
+Data::Data(const std::shared_ptr<Base::Data>& data) : _data(data) {}
 
-[[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Common::Data> Data::value() const {
+[[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Base::Data> Data::value() const {
     return this->_data;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.cpp
similarity index 95%
rename from source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.cpp
rename to source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.cpp
index 6941ae2..a66e437 100644
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.cpp
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas::Nodes;
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f547de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant::Model;
+
+
+[[nodiscard]] QString FromVariant::name() const {
+    QString output_name = this->_input == nullptr ? QStringLiteral("...") : this->_input->value()->type().name;
+    return QStringLiteral("Variant to ") + output_name;
+}
+[[nodiscard]] QString FromVariant::caption() const {
+    QString output_name = this->_input == nullptr ? QStringLiteral("???") : this->_input->value()->type().name;
+    return QStringLiteral("Variant to ") + output_name;
+}
+
+[[nodiscard]] unsigned int FromVariant::nPorts(QtNodes::PortType portType) const {
+    // a "from_variant" function only has one input and one output only if the input is set
+    return portType == QtNodes::PortType::In ? 1 : (this->_input == nullptr ? 0 : 1);
+}
+
+[[nodiscard]] QtNodes::NodeDataType FromVariant::dataType(QtNodes::PortType portType, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) const {
+return portType == QtNodes::PortType::In ? Variant::Data().type() : this->_input->value()->type();
+}
+
+void FromVariant::setInData(std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> data, QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) {
+    // update the input
+    this->_input = data == nullptr ? nullptr : std::dynamic_pointer_cast<Variant::Data>(data);
+    // update the next nodes
+    if (this->_input != nullptr) Q_EMIT dataUpdated(0);
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeData> FromVariant::outData(QtNodes::PortIndex portIndex) {
+    // return the last computed output
+    return this->_input->value();
+}
+
+QWidget* FromVariant::embeddedWidget() {
+    // reduced node doesn't have any embedded widget
+    return nullptr;
+}
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22412d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/to_variant.h"
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f134b7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#include <Atlas/nodes/node/variant/register.h>
+
+
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/from_variant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/model/display.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/variant/data.h"
+
+
+using namespace Atlas::Nodes::Variant;
+
+
+void Atlas::Nodes::Variant::register_all(const std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>& registry) {
+    QString category = Data().type().name;
+
+    registry->registerModel<Model::FromVariant>(category);
+    registry->registerModel<Model::Display>(category);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/from_variant.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.cpp b/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 842e148..0000000
--- a/source/Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#include <Atlas/nodes/variant/model/to_variant.h>
diff --git a/source/main.cpp b/source/main.cpp
index 277a21e..5fefb9f 100644
--- a/source/main.cpp
+++ b/source/main.cpp
@@ -8,14 +8,7 @@
 #include "QtNodes/DataFlowGraphicsScene"
 #include "QtNodes/DataFlowGraphModel"
 
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/data.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/constant.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/addition.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/subtraction.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/multiplication.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/division.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/variant/model/display.h"
-#include "Atlas/nodes/decimal/model/to_variant.h"
+#include "Atlas/nodes/node/register.h"
 
 
 using namespace Atlas;
@@ -24,15 +17,13 @@ using namespace Atlas;
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     QApplication a(argc, argv);
 
-    // initialise the registry
+    // set up the registry
     std::shared_ptr<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry> registry = std::make_shared<QtNodes::NodeDelegateModelRegistry>();
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Decimal::Model::Constant>(QStringLiteral("Decimal"));
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Decimal::Model::Addition>(QStringLiteral("Decimal"));
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Decimal::Model::Subtraction>(QStringLiteral("Decimal"));
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Decimal::Model::Multiplication>(QStringLiteral("Decimal"));
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Decimal::Model::Division>(QStringLiteral("Decimal"));
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Decimal::Model::ToVariant>(QStringLiteral("Decimal"));
-    registry->registerModel<Nodes::Variant::Model::Display>(QStringLiteral("Variant"));
+    // register all the models
+    Nodes::register_all(registry);
+
+    // set up the graph
+    QtNodes::DataFlowGraphModel dataFlowGraphModel(registry);
 
     // TEST
     QWidget mainWidget;
@@ -44,8 +35,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
     auto *layout = new QVBoxLayout(&mainWidget);
 
-    QtNodes::DataFlowGraphModel dataFlowGraphModel(registry);
-
     layout->addWidget(menuBar);
     auto scene = new QtNodes::DataFlowGraphicsScene(dataFlowGraphModel, &mainWidget);
 
diff --git a/source/utils/string.cpp b/source/utils/string.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd39916
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/utils/string.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#include <utils/string.h>
+
+#include <regex>
+
+
+std::string Utils::String::escape(const std::string& string) {
+    return "\"" + std::regex_replace(string, std::regex("\""), "\\\"") + "\"";
+}