Method and system for message handling

A method and system for message handling wherein a structured message is transmitted as a reduced message with the structure removed. The method includes: monitoring messages to be transmitted, the step of monitoring comprising: for each message, identifying one or more elements within the message and identifying the format of content and/or structure encapsulated by those elements; determining the probability that a message will conform to a previously identified format; and using the determined probability to decide when to transmit a format template for the message, wherein the format template is for use by a destination to add the structure removed by a message source back into the message.