# Ok, back to my other question - structures and how they are shown

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Tags:** debug\
**Created:** [19 June 2026 08:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316 "2026-06-19T08:06:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [19 June 2026 08:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316/1 "2026-06-19T08:06:55Z")

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WRT this thread:

> [@"Errors" - what am I supposed to see in the \`debug\` window?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/errors-what-am-i-supposed-to-see-in-the-debug-window/101312/3):
>
> Thanks. Yeah, I worked that out ITMT. (No offence.) I should learn to read. wink Sorry folks.

I got confused trying to make a payload and did it the wrong way.  
Mia culpa.

So I was thinking about _HOW_ I was thinking wrongly.  
Here's why I was making that mistake.

Example flow:  
`inject` - `function` - `debug`

```auto
[{"id":"8b10d682f4fe2612","type":"inject","z":"26262ba1.62dcbc","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","x":5000,"y":7180,"wires":[["f4f62a0bc9525937"]]},{"id":"f4f62a0bc9525937","type":"function","z":"26262ba1.62dcbc","name":"Start tirigger","func":"const device = \"Foo\"\n\nmsg.topic = device + \"/cmnd/power1\"\n\nnode.warn(\"Device \" + device)\n\nmsg.payload = {\n config: {\n name: device\n }\n}\n\nreturn msg","outputs":1,"timeout":0,"noerr":0,"initialize":"","finalize":"","libs":[],"x":5155,"y":7180,"wires":[["2d5eeb80655c6a5a"]],"l":false},{"id":"2d5eeb80655c6a5a","type":"debug","z":"26262ba1.62dcbc","name":"debug 77","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"true","targetType":"full","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":5330,"y":7180,"wires":[]}]

```

I was wanting to make a _message_ with the structure:  
`msg.payload.config.name`  
(hint - there's part of the problem)

I was _ACTUALLY_ wanting it to be:

```auto
msg.payload = {
    config: {
        name: "A1"
    }
};

```

So the elephant in the room - for me at least - when I look in the `debug` ad copy the path I am _told/given_  
`payload.config.name`

Yes, I know: I have been here for a few years now. I should know better.  
But as I take a lot of things literally........ (What I see)  
I think it would be more _intuitive_ if it was shown as:

## `payload{config{name}}`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [19 June 2026 08:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316/2 "2026-06-19T08:48:59Z")

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Hi @Trying_to_learn

The standard JavaScript syntax for a path to a variable inside an object is `payload.config.name`. That is what you are given because that is what you'd using in a function node, for example, to access that variable.

We aren't going to invent a non-standard syntax for this.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [19 June 2026 08:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316/3 "2026-06-19T08:50:54Z")

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Ok. I was only explaining the path I went down and the mistakes that tripped me up.

If that is the way, then I can't expect it to change.

But I hope others have read this and it has saved then from making te same mistake themselves.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [19 June 2026 09:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316/4 "2026-06-19T09:40:52Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> The standard JavaScript syntax for a path to a variable inside an object is `payload.config.name`. That is what you are given because that is what you'd using in a function node, for example, to access that variable.

Just to be a bit pedantic for clarity. This is the text you would paste into a change node or similar. That is why it doesn't have `msg.` on the front (which you need for use in function nodes of course).

My understanding is that it is this way because less experienced users are more likely to need to paste the property path into another node than they are to use a function node.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2026 09:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-back-to-my-other-question-structures-and-how-they-are-shown/101316/5 "2026-07-03T09:41:33Z")

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