Creating application message numbers

Typically, the unique message number consists of an alphanumeric prefix that identifies the application or its owner, followed by an autonumbered suffix that is created and applied when the message is constructed. You are not required to follow this model, but it provides the best way to identify and locate messages.

For example, suppose your organization is called WonderWare, and you have an application called IssueTrack. You could create and designate a message number prefix like "WW-IssTr-" to identify all messages used in conjunction with this application. If you added an autonumbering suffix to this, you could then create messages for your application without worrying about maintaining unique message numbers. Using this process also allows you to locate all messages designed for use with your application.

To create this type of message numbering, perform these steps:

Open the System Parameters form or General Parameters form.
In the Message Num Prefix field specify the desired prefix.
This causes the system to use the prefix automatically when application messages are generated.
Open the Maintain Application Messages.
Use this form to construct the message.
The Message Num column on this form is defined as a TBD (To Be Determined) field, which means that, when you create a message and save it, the system automatically uses the prefix and assigns the next available number as the suffix. When you take action to create a new application message, this field is automatically populated with the prefix defined in Step 2. Numbers are automatically added to the prefix when you save the message.
Note: Predefined core messages assigned to and used by Mongoose have the prefix "MG_". Other Mongoose-based applications might have and use other prefixes.

For more information about constructing application messages, see Constructing Application Messages.
Save the message.

Mongoose creates the application message with the prefix as defined on the System Parameters form and increments the Message Num value by 1.

Continuing our example, when you create your first application message, the system automatically assigns the message number "WW-IssTr-1" to it. The next message is created as "WW-IssTr-2", and so on.