# Directives

DEF MSG | Define Temporary Message

## Formats

1. | Override Message for Number: | DEF MSG(nnn)="message"
2. | Define Message & Name: | DEF MSG(name$)="message"
3. | Remove Message Override: | DEF MSG(nnn) DELETE
4. | Remove Message Name: | DEF MSG(name$) DELETE

Where:

message | String containing message text associated with name$ or to override the message text in nnn.
name$ | New system message name.
nnn | Message number from the system message library (i.e. _mlfile.en).

## Description

The DEF MSG directive allows you to change system messages on the fly. It can be used to temporarily override values returned by the MSG( ) function for specific message numbers. It also allows the creation of text-based message names.

#### Note:
To permanently define different system messages for a different language, create a *mlfile.xx for a different language and use the *msgupd program to define all the messages.
See Customizing System Messages for Different Languages.

## See Also

MSG( ) Return Message Text
MSGBOX Display Popup Message Box
MESSAGE_LIB Establish Message Library