# Populate the labels in a dashboard drop down menu via a message?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/populate-the-labels-in-a-dashboard-drop-down-menu-via-a-message/90012>\
**Category:** Dashboard\
**Created:** [5 August 2024 20:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/populate-the-labels-in-a-dashboard-drop-down-menu-via-a-message/90012 "2024-08-05T20:40:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 11

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2024 05:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/populate-the-labels-in-a-dashboard-drop-down-menu-via-a-message/90012/11 "2024-08-07T05:49:50Z")

</div>

> [@wb666greene](#):
>
> msg.X is the array I managed to produce),

It looks like you have used string manipulation rather than JSON parsing.

I say _look_ because it's hard to tell from how you have posted - please use the "copy value" button so we get correctly formatted data & always put code in a code block:

### getting data from node-red debug:

There’s a great page in the docs ([Working with messages : Node-RED](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/messages)) that will explain how to use the debug panel to find the right path/value for any data item.

Pay particular attention to the part about the buttons that appear under your mouse pointer when you over hover a debug message property in the sidebar.

![BX00Cy7yHi](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/d/bd1f333a9e043b061b39917c328b0094d3e52d30.gif)

### Property formatting posted code

In order to make code readable and usable it is necessary to surround your code with three backticks (also known as a left quote or backquote `````)

````auto
``` 
   code goes here 
```

````

You can edit and correct your post by clicking the pencil ✏ icon.

See this post for more details - [How to share code or flow json](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-share-code-or-flow-json/506)

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