The Message Console

The Message Console can be used to gather information about program activity and to view all messages for a selected destination, source, or document.

To view program activity
Click Tools > Message Console on the Output Manager Console menu bar. The console will display activity that occurs during normal program operation. The console effectively traces program code by recording a priority level and filtering modules and messages.
To view all messages for a destination, source, or document
In the appropriate grid, right-click a destination, source, or document and click View messages. The console will display all messages related to the selected item.

Click the portion of the window you want to learn more about.

Message ConsoleToolbarMessage GridStatus barMessage Panel

Toolbar

The toolbar displays below the title bar and provides quick access to commands.

Button Description
File Commands on this menu Open and Save message logs, Load all messages, and Close the Message Console.
Configure Specifies the message priority for each program modules and sets the module-specific priority levels of the records that will appear on the console. Records will be displayed for selected modules which have a priority level less than or equal to the value selected. Displays the Adjust Message Priority dialog box.
Resume Resumes scrolling in the Message Console window. Use this after the Pause option.
Pause Pauses the console scroll in the Message Console window. Allows you to pause the console to view messages.
Clear Messages Clears the message currently displaying in the Message Console window.
Message Panel Displays a message preview panel. Details of the selected message will display in the panel.

Message Grid

You can customize the message grid view by sorting, filtering, and grouping by columns. These actions are useful when trying to quickly find messages in the Message Console. You can also add and remove columns and change the order in which the columns display. The messages are sorted by the date and time they are received. The most recent messages appear at the top of the window.

From the Message Console, you can copy and export messages. To copy messages, select the rows you want to copy and then right-click and click Copy. You can then paste the contents into Microsoft Excel. This will paste the contents of the entire row. To export specific messages, select the rows you want to export and then right-click and click Export. Export the file as necessary from the Preview window that displays.
Column Description
Message Id A unique identification number for each message.
Client Time The date and time that an activity occurred.
Message Details about the activity.
Server Name The server where the activity occurred.
Message Module The module name where the activity occurred.
Name The name of the user who generated the message.
Dialog Result This column is only populated for messages that were also displayed as a message box. The choice that was made on the message box (the button that was clicked) displays in this column. For these types of messages, you can view the message box text in the Message column and then view the action the user took in the Dialog Result column.
Message Priority The priority level of the message. Colors are used to represent different priority levels. See the following table.

Message Priorities

Level Color Description
Operator Failure light red Errors that halt execution.
Operator Warning light yellow Warns of a potential problem.
Operator Information white Informs of normal operation.
Support Trace light orange Messages for troubleshooting that track normal process flow and protocol execution.
Development Failure red Informs programmer of infrequent, but important, task.
Development Warning yellow Informs programmer of infrequent, but less critical, task.
Development Information gray Informs programmer of regular operation.
Development Trace orange Informs programmer of detailed operation.

Message Panel

Displays the details of the selected message. Click the Message Panel toolbar button to show/hide the message panel. You can also double-click a message in the grid to display the panel.

Status bar

Button Description
Print Prints the contents of the console window.
Help Displays help for the Message Console. The Help window incorporates contents, index, search, favorites, and glossary tabs to make it easy for you to find answers to your questions.
Search Not currently available.
Navigation Allows for paging through the grid. Click first page (<<), previous page (<), next page (>), or last page (>>).
Records Displays the number of messages in the console window.