# Messages View Setup

Setup [Messages view](https://docs.intrepidcs.com/vspy-3-documentation/3.9.12/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-spy-networks/messages-view) by clicking the **Setup** button (Figure 1) in the [bottom toolbar](https://docs.intrepidcs.com/vspy-3-documentation/3.9.12/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-spy-networks/messages-view/messages-view-bottom-toolbar). A setup dialog will open.

![Figure 1: Press the Setup button to open a setup dialog.](https://2280262322-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3KyOmcYmM6ZVd3OQDa1%2Fuploads%2FzKixJz4HIGtEIxJsWD13%2Fspymintorsetup1.gif?alt=media\&token=0a785fbf-7aa6-4057-a646-ef84c19a9634)

The setup dialog (Figure 2) is divided into two areas labeled **General** and **Column Setup**.

### General Area Dialog

The **Number of Messages in History** specifies how many messages Vehicle Spy can collect before rolling over and overwriting the oldest messages. This setting is used by the [buffer progress display bar](https://docs.intrepidcs.com/vspy-3-documentation/3.9.12/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-spy-networks/messages-view/messages-view-buffer-display/buffer-progress-display).

For example, assume the buffer is 10,000 messages. When message 10,001 is received then message 1 is discarded. For much more flexible buffer collection see the [Function Blocks](https://docs.intrepidcs.com/vspy-3-documentation/3.9.12/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-scripting-and-automation/function-blocks) feature of Vehicle Spy. The Messages view buffer size is only adjustable when Vehicle Spy is offline.

### Column Setup Dialog

For more information on setting up a custom column set, please click [here](https://docs.intrepidcs.com/vspy-3-documentation/3.9.12/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-spy-networks/messages-view/messages-view-column-headers).

![Figure 2: The Messages setup dialog has General and Column Setup areas.](https://2280262322-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3KyOmcYmM6ZVd3OQDa1%2Fuploads%2FVSIBw26UHYw7kCUExVe9%2Fspymintorsetup2.gif?alt=media\&token=931c9d6c-ad63-437a-8c80-457eba6a968b)