> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/python-development-quick-start-guide/cortex-xsoar-python-development-quick-start-guide/development-tools-and-resources/cortex-xsoar-automation-scripts/set-an-incident-field.md).

# Set an Incident Field

As part of the incident investigation process, you may need to assign incoming data to an incident field.  

This example automation sets the incident **details** field to a **message** argument passed into the script.

1. Create an automation and use the **Settings** button to add a mandatory argument  **message**.

   ![cortex-xsoar-automation-setincidentfield.png](/files/pdQN7TtZmS0xZBaeIuas)
2. Use the basic automation template to create the following code.

   The **`demisto.args()`** function accesses the argument passed to the automation. Arguments are passed as a dictionary and can be accessed by the argument name as a dictionary key.

   The **`demisto.executeCommand()`** function with the **`setIncident`** command sets the value of an incident field.  The command parameters are passed as a dictionary with the details incident field name as the key and the message value as the value.

   ```programlisting
   def main():
       try:
           mesgValue = demisto.args()['message']
           demisto.executeCommand("setIncident", 
               {'details': mesgValue}
           )
       except Exception as ex:
           demisto.error(traceback.format_exc())
           return_error("Failed to execute setIncident: " + 
               str(ex)
           )

   if __name__ in ("__main__", "__builtin__", "builtins"):
       main()
   ```

   If any exceptions occur, the **`demisto.error()`** function logs the exception traceback to the Cortex XSOAR server log and the **`return_error()`** function displays the error in the War Room.
3. Save the completed automation and in the playground run the automation to test it.  View the context and verify the **`incident.details`** value.

   ![cortex-xsoar-automation-see-incident-details.png](/files/wE7LB8CdsdebYtqa9Azf)


---

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