NEs and FOs can have messages attached to them, e.g. for passing information from one operator to the next. Symbols that have a message attached are marked with an asterisk beside their name. The marking is propagated upwards through the map structure. Group symbols show an asterisk and the number of messages present in the structure below. With the new map style, messages are indicated with a balloon icon (also see Figure Examples of Alarm Flags and Message Flag).