# Defining Messages

You can define a new message definition or select an existing message definition for a conversion rule for modification.

Note: Do not consider any dependencies before performing the following steps.

## Procedure

1. Select option 1 - Define Message Contents to go to the Message Definitions panel.
   For more information about this panel, see Message Definitions Panel.
2. Type either of the following commands:
   - To create a new entry, enter `ADD` on the command line, and then press Enter.
   - To select an existing definition to modify, enter `S` in the Sel field, and then press Enter.
3. In the Message Id field, enter up to 16 characters to name the message definition.
4. In the Type field, enter a valid data type.
5. In the Dec field, enter (if applicable) the implied number of digits after a decimal point.
6. In the Name field, enter up to 54 characters to name the message field. Press Enter.
7. Press Enter before exiting the panel.
8. Exit the Define Message Contents panels in either of the following ways:
   - Press PFK3.
   - On the command line, enter `END`, and then press Enter.
9. Review the message displayed in the upper-right corner of the Transformer Configuration panel to verify that your changes have been saved.

Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All rights reserved.