I want to build an alert that queries a Custom Property string, I want to type the value in the alert, not select from a drop down list.

Not sure if this would work (have not tried it myself) but could be worth a try.

Go to Manage Custom Properties - select your Custom Property (Site) and click Edit.

Change the Restrict Values (untick the box). Click Submit.

Go to your alerts setup and see if now you can set the condition you want (Node - Site - Contains - (MPLS)).

If it allows you - save the alert.

Go back to the Manage Custom Properties and edit the Site CP and tick the Restrict Values box to enable it again.

Check to see if the alert works as designed and then check the alert definition to see if the condition you created "sticks" after the changes to Restrict Values setting.

ralphpost I'm not sure we're using the same version? When I go into the Custom Property in question, here are my options outside of adding values to the drop down list:

turn off the option for the drop down list - then adjust the alert to use contain of this custom property - then re enable the Restrict Values : Create a drop-down list of values

or SQL will do what you want - cultivate the alert and change to sql and adjusting that base should be easy.

When I take the checkmark out, my extensive site list disappears. If I submit that, will that list be gone forever? I wouldn't want to have to re-enter those values when I go to put the checkmark back in.

When I take the checkmark out, my extensive site list disappears. If I submit that, will that list be gone forever? I wouldn't want to have to re-enter those values when I go to put the checkmark back in.