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Field Data Tool Window

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The Field Data Tool Window is a field-specific and dockable window that is interactively driven by field selection in the Details Tool Window, which is in turn driven by message selection in the Analysis Grid and other data viewers. Interaction between the Analysis Grid viewer and the Details and Field Data windows occurs only within the context of individual sessions, rather than across different sessions.

Displaying Field Data

In most cases, the Field Data window reproduces the value of a selected field that is specified in the Value column of the Details window, which could be a string, numerical, binary, or other value. For example, if you select a field in the Details window for a TCP message that is selected in the Analysis Grid viewer, the value of that field also displays in the Field Data window. In cases where the information is reproduced, the Field Data window will indicate that there is “No alternate presentation available” for these fields.

However, there are some cases where more complex field information can display in the Field Data window. This can enable you to very quickly assess the type of payload data a message is carrying. For instance, if you select a TCP message in the Analysis Grid viewer and the Payload field in the Details window, the Field Data window usually displays information in text/plain format. If the TCP payload is an HTTP message, then the Field Data window might display HTML fragments. Moreover, if you select the Payload field in the Details window for an HTTP message selected in the Analysis Grid viewer, the Field Data window might display formats that include the following: text/html, text/css, font/eot, application/x-javascript, text/javascript, and application/json; or different media formats such as image/gif, image/jpeg, image/png, image/bmp, and so on. Also, XML is another format that can display in the Field Data window.

Note

The Field Data window indicates the data format or presentation type by displaying a label value in the lower-left corner of the window.

Decoding URLs

The Field Data window now provides decoding of URLs by removing the special encoding characters from any URL string. For example, when you select the Uri field in the Details window for an HTTP message, the Field Data window displays an upper section named Actual Value and a lower section named Decoded Value. The latter section shows the decoded value of the Uri with the encoding characters removed, while the original value of the Uri is retained in the Actual Value section. A typical result might be that all Uri spacing characters such as "%20" are removed.

Correlating Field Details

You can also correlate the hexadecimal details for most fields selected in the Details window with the values displayed in the Field Data window, by observing them in the Message Data Tool Window. For example, to view the hexadecimal details for a TCP Payload field value that is displaying in the Field Data window, click the Message Data tab.

Working With the Field Data Tool Window

If the Field Data window is no longer displaying, you can redisplay it by selecting the Field Data item in the Windows submenu that is accessible from the global Message Analyzer Tools menu. You can also undock and reposition the Field Data window by taking advantage of the docking navigation control that displays after you drag the Field Data window by its tab away from its default docking location. You might do this to move the Field Data window adjacent to another Tool Window or data viewer with which you are working, to enhance your data analysis perspectives.

After the Field Data window is displayed, you can use it in the previously specified manner. When data is displaying in this window, you can select the following right-click context menu items to perform the indicated tasks:

  • Save Text As … — Message Analyzer interprets the type of field data displaying in the Field Data window and causes the Save As dialog to open with a file extension specification that correlates with the interpreted data type. For example, if the displaying field data is text/html, the Save As dialog opens with the Save as type drop-down selection set to HTML Files (*.html).

  • Open in Default Application — Message Analyzer interprets the type of field data displaying in the Field Data window and causes a default application to open for the associated type of field data. For example, if the displaying field data is indicated as text/css, the default HTML editor on your system opens, such as SharePoint Designer or Expression Web, to enable you to save the data in that application.

  • Copy Text — enables you to simply copy the text to the Clipboard for further processing.