Manage Message Types

Message Types tie each message format to the Search Field Expressions that extract business values from it. When you add or change Search Fields, or clean up formats that are no longer logged, this page shows how to keep the Message Type list correct and how to apply new Search Fields to messages that are already logged.

• ✅ Add, duplicate, and edit Message Types
• ✅ Delete Message Types, and restore them if you change your mind
• ✅ Re-index historical data after you add or change Search Field Expressions

On this page, an administrator, or a user whose Role may modify Message Types, learns to manage the Message Type list. Business users who only look up Message Types start with the Message Types Overview instead.

Understanding delete and restore

Delete in Nodinite is a soft delete: the Message Type is flagged as deleted and hidden from the list, but it stays in the database, so you can restore it. See Show deleted records for how this works across Nodinite.

A Message Type's life after Delete. Green: active. Yellow: deleted, and anyone who may modify Message Types can restore it. See Show deleted records.

Who can do what

Add, edit, delete, and restore also work from the Repository menu for users whose Role allows it; the Administration menu needs the built-in Administrator Role.

Every right is set per Role on its Repository Permissions tab. Users first need the global Access right on Repository (Repository Access), then Access on the Message Types row; Create and Modify sit on the Message Types Permissions for all row. A Deny in any of the user's Roles always wins.

Find the Message Types list

Open Administration > Repository Management > Message Types, or Repository > Message Types. From Administration, clicking a Message Type opens it for editing; from Repository, it opens it for viewing. Type in the filter box to narrow a long list, and check Include deleted to list deleted Message Types too.

Use the filter box and Include deleted to find the Message Type you want to manage.

Add a Message Type

Click Add Message Type to open the editor. See Add or manage Message Type for every field, including encoding and how long Nodinite keeps the messages.

The Add Message Type button opens the Message Type editor.

To start from an existing Message Type instead, choose Duplicate from its Action menu. The copy opens in the editor.

Tip

You can also manage Message Types from DevOps pipelines with the Nodinite Web API.

Edit a Message Type

Click the Message Type's Name in the Administration list, or choose Edit from its Action menu. See Add or manage Message Type.

The Action menu

Click Action on a row to open the Action menu for that Message Type:

• Edit opens the Message Type in the editor.
• Duplicate copies it into a new Message Type.
• Delete on an active Message Type; Restore on a deleted one.
• Reindex applies the Message Type's Search Field Expressions to messages that are already logged.
• Export opens the Export wizard.

The Action menu of an active Message Type. The items you see depend on your Role and on whether the Message Type is deleted.

Delete a Message Type

Choose Delete from the Message Type's Action menu.

Restore deleted Message Types

1. Check Include deleted to list deleted Message Types.
2. Open the Action menu of the deleted Message Type and choose Restore.

Reindex a Message Type

Re-indexing applies Search Field Expressions to historical messages and extracts their values retroactively. You need it when you add new Search Fields or change existing expressions.

When to re-index

• You added a new Search Field and want to search historical data
• You changed a Search Field Expression and need to recalculate existing values
• You prepare for a compliance audit that needs retroactive search

Warning

Most Search Field plugins load the entire message into RAM. Use this function only for small messages, or be prepared for high memory usage.

Start a re-index

1. Click Action on the Message Type's row.
2. Choose Reindex.
   
   The Reindex item starts a re-index for this Message Type only.
3. Review the prompt, and click Reindex to confirm.
   
   Click Reindex to start the re-index for the selected Message Type.

Important considerations

• Resource-intensive: Re-indexing can be very CPU- and memory-intensive and may slow the processing of new events.
• Batch your changes: Re-index only once, after you finish editing several Search Field Expressions.
• Cannot abort: Once started, the re-index runs to completion. There is no way to stop it.
• Processing order: Nodinite processes messages by ascending date and time (oldest first).
• Message Type-specific: Only the Search Field Expressions assigned to this Message Type are evaluated again.

Tip

For large Message Types (millions of messages), schedule the re-index during low-traffic periods and watch the performance of the Logging Service.

How a re-index runs explains batching, where to find the result, and how to follow progress.

Export a Message Type

Note

Import/Export is disabled in Nodinite 7.0. Use the Web API to move data between instances for now.

Choose Export from the Message Type's Action menu to open the Nodinite generic Export wizard.

Copy API URI

Click Copy API URI to see the underlying REST call to the Web API and copy the query string. Use it in custom Reports, automation scripts, or DevOps pipelines.

Frequently asked questions / Troubleshooting

I deleted a Message Type by mistake. Can I get it back?

Yes. Check Include deleted, then restore it.

My new Search Field finds nothing in older messages

New and changed Search Field Expressions apply only to messages logged after you save them. Re-index the Message Types that need the values in older messages.

Next Steps

Add or manage Message Type
Add or manage Search Field
Show deleted records
Manage the Repository

Related Topics

Message Types - What a Message Type is
Message Types Overview - Find and view Message Types
Permission Set for the Repository Model
Search Fields
Log Views