diff --git a/nodes/core/locales/en-US/messages.json b/nodes/core/locales/en-US/messages.json
index 22326b07e..4fa78b1ba 100644
--- a/nodes/core/locales/en-US/messages.json
+++ b/nodes/core/locales/en-US/messages.json
@@ -459,7 +459,8 @@
             "replace": "Replace with"
         },
         "errors": {
-            "invalid-from": "Invalid 'from' property: __error__"
+            "invalid-from": "Invalid 'from' property: __error__",
+            "invalid-json": "Invalid 'to' JSON property"            
         }
     },
     "range": {
diff --git a/nodes/core/logic/15-change.html b/nodes/core/logic/15-change.html
index 5205868af..19d1f4d68 100644
--- a/nodes/core/logic/15-change.html
+++ b/nodes/core/logic/15-change.html
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
         category: 'function',
         defaults: {
             name: {value:""},
-            rules:{value:[{t:"set",p:"payload",to:""}]},
+            rules:{value:[{t:"set",p:"payload",pt:"msg",to:"",tot:"str"}]},
             // legacy
             action: {value:""},
             property: {value:""},
@@ -77,11 +77,11 @@
             } else {
                 if (this.rules.length == 1) {
                     if (this.rules[0].t === "set") {
-                        return this._("change.label.set",{property:"msg."+this.rules[0].p});
+                        return this._("change.label.set",{property:(this.rules[0].pt||"msg")+"."+this.rules[0].p});
                     } else if (this.rules[0].t === "change") {
-                        return this._("change.label.change",{property:"msg."+this.rules[0].p});
+                        return this._("change.label.change",{property:(this.rules[0].pt||"msg")+"."+this.rules[0].p});
                     } else {
-                        return this._("change.label.delete",{property:"msg."+this.rules[0].p});
+                        return this._("change.label.delete",{property:(this.rules[0].pt||"msg")+"."+this.rules[0].p});
                     }
                 } else {
                     return this._("change.label.changeCount",{count:this.rules.length});
@@ -99,14 +99,27 @@
             var search = this._("change.action.search");
             var replace = this._("change.action.replace");
             var regex = this._("change.label.regex");
-            if (this.reg === null) { $("#node-input-reg").prop('checked', true); }
-            $("#node-input-action").change();
 
             function resizeRule(rule,width) {
-                rule.find('input[type="text"]').width(width-220);
+                rule.find('input[type="text"]:not(.red-ui-propertySelect)').width(width-180);
+                rule.find('.red-ui-propertySelect').propertySelect("width",width-180);
             }
 
             function generateRule(rule) {
+
+                if (rule.t === "change" && rule.re) {
+                    rule.fromt = 're';
+                    delete rule.re;
+                }
+                if (rule.t === "set" && !rule.tot) {
+                    if (rule.to.indexOf("msg.") === 0 && !rule.tot) {
+                        rule.to = rule.to.substring(4);
+                        rule.tot = "msg";
+                    } else {
+                        rule.tot = "str";
+                    }
+                }
+
                 var container = $('<li/>',{style:"background: #fff; margin:0; padding:8px 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;"});
 
                 var row1 = $('<div/>').appendTo(container);
@@ -114,37 +127,28 @@
                 var row2 = $('<div/>',{style:"margin-top:8px;"}).appendTo(container);
                 var row3 = $('<div/>',{style:"margin-top:8px;"}).appendTo(container);
 
-                var selectField = $('<select/>',{class:"node-input-rule-type",style:"width: 100px"}).appendTo(row1);
+                var selectField = $('<select/>',{class:"node-input-rule-type",style:"width: 110px; margin-right: 10px;"}).appendTo(row1);
                 var selectOptions = [{v:"set",l:set},{v:"change",l:change},{v:"delete",l:del}];
                 for (var i=0;i<3;i++) {
                     selectField.append($("<option></option>").val(selectOptions[i].v).text(selectOptions[i].l));
                 }
 
-                $('<div/>',{style:"display:inline-block; width: 50px; text-align: right;"}).text("msg.").appendTo(row1);
-                var propertyName = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 220px",class:"node-input-rule-property-name",type:"text"}).appendTo(row1);
-
+                var propertyName = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 250px",class:"node-input-rule-property-name",type:"text"}).appendTo(row1).propertySelect({options:['msg','flow','global']});
 
                 var finalspan = $('<span/>',{style:"float: right; margin-right: 10px;"}).appendTo(row1);
                 var deleteButton = $('<a/>',{href:"#",class:"editor-button editor-button-small", style:"margin-top: 7px; margin-left: 5px;"}).appendTo(finalspan);
                 $('<i/>',{class:"fa fa-remove"}).appendTo(deleteButton);
 
 
-                $('<div/>',{style:"display: inline-block;text-align:right; width:150px;padding-right: 10px; box-sizing: border-box;"}).text(to).appendTo(row2);
-                var propertyValue = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 220px",class:"node-input-rule-property-value",type:"text"}).appendTo(row2);
-
+                $('<div/>',{style:"display: inline-block;text-align:right; width:120px;padding-right: 10px; box-sizing: border-box;"}).text(to).appendTo(row2);
+                var propertyValue = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 250px",class:"node-input-rule-property-value",type:"text"}).appendTo(row2).propertySelect({default:'str',options:['msg','flow','global','str','num','json']});
                 var row3_1 = $('<div/>').appendTo(row3);
-                $('<div/>',{style:"display: inline-block;text-align:right; width:150px;padding-right: 10px; box-sizing: border-box;"}).text(search).appendTo(row3_1);
-                var fromValue = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 220px",class:"node-input-rule-property-search-value",type:"text"}).appendTo(row3_1);
+                $('<div/>',{style:"display: inline-block;text-align:right; width:120px;padding-right: 10px; box-sizing: border-box;"}).text(search).appendTo(row3_1);
+                var fromValue = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 250px",class:"node-input-rule-property-search-value",type:"text"}).appendTo(row3_1).propertySelect({default:'str',options:['msg','flow','global','str','re']});
 
                 var row3_2 = $('<div/>',{style:"margin-top:8px;"}).appendTo(row3);
-                $('<div/>',{style:"display: inline-block;text-align:right; width:150px;padding-right: 10px; box-sizing: border-box;"}).text(replace).appendTo(row3_2);
-                var toValue = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 220px",class:"node-input-rule-property-replace-value",type:"text"}).appendTo(row3_2);
-
-                var row3_3 = $('<div/>',{style:"margin-top:8px;"}).appendTo(row3);
-                var id = "node-input-rule-property-regex-"+Math.floor(Math.random()*10000);
-                var useRegExp = $('<input/>',{id:id,class:"node-input-rule-property-re",type:"checkbox", style:"margin-left: 150px; margin-right: 10px; display: inline-block; width: auto; vertical-align: top;"}).appendTo(row3_3);
-                $('<label/>',{for:id,style:"width: auto;"}).text(regex).appendTo(row3_3);
-
+                $('<div/>',{style:"display: inline-block;text-align:right; width:120px;padding-right: 10px; box-sizing: border-box;"}).text(replace).appendTo(row3_2);
+                var toValue = $('<input/>',{style:"width: 250px",class:"node-input-rule-property-replace-value",type:"text"}).appendTo(row3_2).propertySelect({default:'str',options:['msg','flow','global','str','num','json']});
 
                 selectField.change(function() {
                     var width = $("#node-input-rule-container").width();
@@ -170,10 +174,13 @@
 
                 selectField.find("option").filter(function() {return $(this).val() == rule.t;}).attr('selected',true);
                 propertyName.val(rule.p);
+                propertyName.propertySelect('type',rule.pt)
                 propertyValue.val(rule.to);
+                propertyValue.propertySelect('type',rule.tot)
                 fromValue.val(rule.from);
+                fromValue.propertySelect('type',rule.fromt)
                 toValue.val(rule.to);
-                useRegExp.prop('checked', rule.re);
+                toValue.propertySelect('type',rule.tot)
                 selectField.change();
 
                 $("#node-input-rule-container").append(container);
@@ -185,7 +192,8 @@
             if (!this.rules) {
                 var rule = {
                     t:(this.action=="replace"?"set":this.action),
-                    p:this.property
+                    p:this.property,
+                    pt:"msg"
                 }
 
                 if (rule.t === "set") {
@@ -250,13 +258,17 @@
                 var type = rule.find(".node-input-rule-type option:selected").val();
                 var r = {
                     t:type,
-                    p:rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-name").val()
+                    p:rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-name").val(),
+                    pt:rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-name").propertySelect('type')
                 };
                 if (type === "set") {
                     r.to = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-value").val();
+                    r.tot = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-value").propertySelect('type');
                 } else if (type === "change") {
                     r.from = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-search-value").val();
+                    r.fromt = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-search-value").propertySelect('type');
                     r.to = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-replace-value").val();
+                    r.tot = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-replace-value").propertySelect('type');
                     r.re = rule.find(".node-input-rule-property-re").prop('checked');
                 }
                 node.rules.push(r);
diff --git a/nodes/core/logic/15-change.js b/nodes/core/logic/15-change.js
index 6e1588c99..e222be9da 100644
--- a/nodes/core/logic/15-change.js
+++ b/nodes/core/logic/15-change.js
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
 
     function ChangeNode(n) {
         RED.nodes.createNode(this, n);
-        
+
         this.rules = n.rules;
-        
+
         if (!this.rules) {
             var rule = {
                 t:(n.action=="replace"?"set":n.action),
                 p:n.property||""
             }
-            
+
             if (rule.t === "set") {
                 rule.to = n.to||"";
             } else if (rule.t === "change") {
@@ -37,15 +37,35 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
             }
             this.rules = [rule];
         }
-        
+
         this.actions = [];
 
         var valid = true;
-        
+
         for (var i=0;i<this.rules.length;i++) {
             var rule = this.rules[i];
+            // Migrate to type-aware rules
+            if (!rule.pt) {
+                rule.pt = "msg";
+            }
+            if (rule.t === "change" && rule.re) {
+                rule.fromt = 're';
+                delete rule.re;
+            }
+            if (rule.t === "set" && !rule.tot) {
+                if (rule.to.indexOf("msg.") === 0 && !rule.tot) {
+                    rule.to = rule.to.substring(4);
+                    rule.tot = "msg";
+                }
+            }
+            if (!rule.tot) {
+                rule.tot = "str";
+            }
+            if (!rule.fromt) {
+                rule.fromt = "str";
+            }
             if (rule.t === "change") {
-                if (rule.re === false) {
+                if (rule.fromt !== 're') {
                     rule.from = rule.from.replace(/[-[\]{}()*+?.,\\^$|#\s]/g, "\\$&");
                 }
                 try {
@@ -55,57 +75,66 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                     this.error(RED._("change.errors.invalid-from",{error:e.message}));
                 }
             }
+            if (rule.tot === 'num') {
+                rule.to = Number(rule.to);
+            } else if (rule.tot === 'json') {
+                try {
+                    rule.to = JSON.parse(rule.to);
+                } catch(e2) {
+                    valid = false;
+                    this.error(RED._("change.errors.invalid-json"));
+                }
+            }
         }
-        
+
         function applyRule(msg,rule) {
-            var propertyParts;
-            var depth = 0;
-
-            propertyParts = rule.p.split(".");
             try {
-                propertyParts.reduce(function(obj, i) {
-                    var to = rule.to;
-                    // Set msg from property to another msg property
-                    if (rule.t === "set" && rule.to.indexOf("msg.") === 0) {
-                        var parts = to.substring(4);
-                        var msgPropParts = parts.split(".");
-                        try {
-                            msgPropParts.reduce(function(ob, j) {
-                                to = (typeof ob[j] !== "undefined" ? ob[j] : undefined);
-                                return to;
-                            }, msg);
-                        } catch (err) {}
+                var property = rule.p;
+                var value = rule.to;
+                if (rule.tot === "msg") {
+                    value = RED.util.getMessageProperty(msg,rule.to);
+                } else if (rule.tot === 'flow') {
+                    value = node.context().flow.get(rule.to);
+                } else if (rule.tot === 'global') {
+                    value = node.context().global.get(rule.to);
+                }
+                if (rule.pt === 'msg') {
+                    if (rule.t === 'delete') {
+                        RED.util.setMessageProperty(msg,property,undefined);
+                    } else if (rule.t === 'set') {
+                        RED.util.setMessageProperty(msg,property,value);
+                    } else if (rule.t === 'change') {
+                        var current = RED.util.getMessageProperty(msg,property);
+                        if (typeof current === 'string') {
+                            current = current.replace(rule.from,value);
+                            RED.util.setMessageProperty(msg,property,current);
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    var target;
+                    if (rule.pt === 'flow') {
+                        target = node.context().flow;
+                    } else if (rule.pt === 'global') {
+                        target = node.context().global;
+                    }
+                    if (target) {
+                        if (rule.t === 'delete') {
+                            target.set(property,undefined);
+                        } else if (rule.t === 'set') {
+                            target.set(property,value);
+                        } else if (rule.t === 'change') {
+                            var current = target.get(msg,property);
+                            if (typeof current === 'string') {
+                                current = current.replace(rule.from,value);
+                                target.set(property,current);
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
 
-                    if (++depth === propertyParts.length) {
-                        if (rule.t === "change") {
-                            if (typeof obj[i] === "string") {
-                                obj[i] = obj[i].replace(rule.from, rule.to);
-                            }
-                        } else if (rule.t === "set") {
-                            if (typeof to === "undefined") {
-                                delete(obj[i]);
-                            } else {
-                                obj[i] = to;
-                            }
-                        } else if (rule.t === "delete") {
-                            delete(obj[i]);
-                        }
-                    } else {
-                        // to property doesn't exist, don't create empty object
-                        if (typeof to === "undefined") {
-                            return;
-                        // setting a non-existent multilevel object, create empty parent
-                        } else if (!obj[i]) {
-                            obj[i] = {};
-                        }
-                        return obj[i];
-                    }
-                }, msg);
-            } catch (err) {}
+                }
+            } catch(err) {console.log(err.stack)}
             return msg;
         }
-        
         if (valid) {
             var node = this;
             this.on('input', function(msg) {
diff --git a/red/api/index.js b/red/api/index.js
index 570f32be1..c001dac23 100644
--- a/red/api/index.js
+++ b/red/api/index.js
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ var nodeApp;
 var server;
 
 var errorHandler = function(err,req,res,next) {
+    console.log("HERE I AM");
     if (err.message === "request entity too large") {
         log.error(err);
     } else {
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ function init(_server,runtime) {
         adminApp.use(bodyParser.json({limit:maxApiRequestSize}));
         adminApp.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({limit:maxApiRequestSize,extended:true}));
 
-        adminApp.get("/auth/login",auth.login);
+        adminApp.get("/auth/login",auth.login,errorHandler);
 
         if (settings.adminAuth) {
             //TODO: all passport references ought to be in ./auth
@@ -98,43 +99,43 @@ function init(_server,runtime) {
                 auth.getToken,
                 auth.errorHandler
             );
-            adminApp.post("/auth/revoke",needsPermission(""),auth.revoke);
+            adminApp.post("/auth/revoke",needsPermission(""),auth.revoke,errorHandler);
         }
 
         // Flows
-        adminApp.get("/flows",needsPermission("flows.read"),flows.get);
-        adminApp.post("/flows",needsPermission("flows.write"),flows.post);
+        adminApp.get("/flows",needsPermission("flows.read"),flows.get,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.post("/flows",needsPermission("flows.write"),flows.post,errorHandler);
 
-        adminApp.get("/flow/:id",needsPermission("flows.read"),flow.get);
-        adminApp.post("/flow",needsPermission("flows.write"),flow.post);
-        adminApp.delete("/flow/:id",needsPermission("flows.write"),flow.delete);
-        adminApp.put("/flow/:id",needsPermission("flows.write"),flow.put);
+        adminApp.get("/flow/:id",needsPermission("flows.read"),flow.get,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.post("/flow",needsPermission("flows.write"),flow.post,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.delete("/flow/:id",needsPermission("flows.write"),flow.delete,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.put("/flow/:id",needsPermission("flows.write"),flow.put,errorHandler);
 
         // Nodes
-        adminApp.get("/nodes",needsPermission("nodes.read"),nodes.getAll);
-        adminApp.post("/nodes",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.post);
+        adminApp.get("/nodes",needsPermission("nodes.read"),nodes.getAll,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.post("/nodes",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.post,errorHandler);
 
-        adminApp.get("/nodes/:mod",needsPermission("nodes.read"),nodes.getModule);
-        adminApp.put("/nodes/:mod",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.putModule);
-        adminApp.delete("/nodes/:mod",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.delete);
+        adminApp.get("/nodes/:mod",needsPermission("nodes.read"),nodes.getModule,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.put("/nodes/:mod",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.putModule,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.delete("/nodes/:mod",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.delete,errorHandler);
 
-        adminApp.get("/nodes/:mod/:set",needsPermission("nodes.read"),nodes.getSet);
-        adminApp.put("/nodes/:mod/:set",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.putSet);
+        adminApp.get("/nodes/:mod/:set",needsPermission("nodes.read"),nodes.getSet,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.put("/nodes/:mod/:set",needsPermission("nodes.write"),nodes.putSet,errorHandler);
 
-        adminApp.get('/credentials/:type/:id', needsPermission("credentials.read"),credentials.get);
+        adminApp.get('/credentials/:type/:id', needsPermission("credentials.read"),credentials.get,errorHandler);
 
-        adminApp.get(/locales\/(.+)\/?$/,locales.get);
+        adminApp.get(/locales\/(.+)\/?$/,locales.get,errorHandler);
 
         // Library
-        adminApp.post(new RegExp("/library/flows\/(.*)"),needsPermission("library.write"),library.post);
-        adminApp.get("/library/flows",needsPermission("library.read"),library.getAll);
-        adminApp.get(new RegExp("/library/flows\/(.*)"),needsPermission("library.read"),library.get);
+        adminApp.post(new RegExp("/library/flows\/(.*)"),needsPermission("library.write"),library.post,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.get("/library/flows",needsPermission("library.read"),library.getAll,errorHandler);
+        adminApp.get(new RegExp("/library/flows\/(.*)"),needsPermission("library.read"),library.get,errorHandler);
 
         // Settings
-        adminApp.get("/settings",needsPermission("settings.read"),info.settings);
+        adminApp.get("/settings",needsPermission("settings.read"),info.settings,errorHandler);
 
         // Error Handler
-        adminApp.use(errorHandler);
+        //adminApp.use(errorHandler);
     }
 }
 function start() {
diff --git a/red/runtime/util.js b/red/runtime/util.js
index 12bb537e9..c9890d423 100644
--- a/red/runtime/util.js
+++ b/red/runtime/util.js
@@ -103,10 +103,58 @@ function compareObjects(obj1,obj2) {
     return true;
 }
 
+function getMessageProperty(msg,expr) {
+    var result = null;
+    if (expr.indexOf('msg.')===0) {
+        expr = expr.substring(4);
+    }
+    var msgPropParts = expr.split(".");
+    msgPropParts.reduce(function(obj, i) {
+        result = (typeof obj[i] !== "undefined" ? obj[i] : undefined);
+        return result;
+    }, msg);
+    return result;
+}
+
+function setMessageProperty(msg,prop,value,createMissing) {
+    if (typeof createMissing === 'undefined') {
+        createMissing = (typeof value !== 'undefined');
+    }
+    if (prop.indexOf('msg.')===0) {
+        prop = prop.substring(4);
+    }
+    var msgPropParts = prop.split(".");
+    var depth = 0;
+    msgPropParts.reduce(function(obj, i) {
+        if (obj === null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        depth++;
+        if (depth === msgPropParts.length) {
+            if (typeof value === "undefined") {
+                delete obj[i];
+            } else {
+                obj[i] = value;
+            }
+        } else {
+            if (!obj[i]) {
+                if (createMissing) {
+                    obj[i] = {};
+                } else {
+                    return null;
+                }
+            }
+            return obj[i];
+        }
+    }, msg);
+}
+
 module.exports = {
     ensureString: ensureString,
     ensureBuffer: ensureBuffer,
     cloneMessage: cloneMessage,
     compareObjects: compareObjects,
-    generateId: generateId
+    generateId: generateId,
+    getMessageProperty: getMessageProperty,
+    setMessageProperty: setMessageProperty
 };
diff --git a/test/nodes/core/logic/15-change_spec.js b/test/nodes/core/logic/15-change_spec.js
index 031843343..564eaee0e 100644
--- a/test/nodes/core/logic/15-change_spec.js
+++ b/test/nodes/core/logic/15-change_spec.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
         var flow = [{ id: "c1", type: "change", name:"change1" }];
         helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
             helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("name", "change1");
-            helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("rules", [{t:undefined,p:''}]);
+            helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("rules", [{fromt:'str',pt:'msg',tot:'str',t:undefined,p:''}]);
             done();
         });
     });
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
         var flow = [{ id: "c1", type: "change", name:"change1", action:"replace" }];
         helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
             helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("name", "change1");
-            helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("rules", [ { p: '', t: 'set', to: '' } ]);
+            helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("rules", [ {fromt: 'str', p: '', pt: 'msg', t: 'set', to: '', tot: 'str'} ]);
             done();
         });
     });
@@ -51,12 +51,12 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
         helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
             //console.log(helper.getNode("c1"));
             helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("name", "change1");
-            helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("rules", [ { from: /(?:)/g, p: '', re: undefined, t: 'change', to: '' } ]);
+            helper.getNode("c1").should.have.property("rules", [ { from: /(?:)/g,fromt: 'str', p: '',pt: 'msg', re: undefined, t: 'change', to: '',tot: 'str' } ]);
             done();
         });
     });
 
-    describe('#replace' , function() {
+    describe('#set' , function() {
 
         it('sets the value of the message property', function(done) {
             var flow = [{"id":"changeNode1","type":"change","action":"replace","property":"payload","from":"","to":"changed","reg":false,"name":"changeNode","wires":[["helperNode1"]]},
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
             helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
                 var changeNode1 = helper.getNode("changeNode1");
                 var helperNode1 = helper.getNode("helperNode1");
+                var rule = helper.getNode("changeNode1").rules[0];
                 helperNode1.on("input", function(msg) {
                     try {
                         msg.payload.should.equal("changed");
@@ -118,6 +119,9 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
             helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
                 var changeNode1 = helper.getNode("changeNode1");
                 var helperNode1 = helper.getNode("helperNode1");
+                var rule = helper.getNode("changeNode1").rules[0];
+                rule.t.should.eql('set');
+                rule.tot.should.eql('msg');
                 helperNode1.on("input", function(msg) {
                     try {
                         msg.foo.should.equal("bar");
@@ -237,6 +241,44 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
                 changeNode1.receive({pay:{load:"changeMe"}});
             });
         });
+
+
+        it('changes the value to a number', function(done) {
+            var flow = [{"id":"changeNode1","type":"change",rules:[{"t":"set","p":"payload","to":"123","tot":"num"}],"name":"changeNode","wires":[["helperNode1"]]},
+                        {id:"helperNode1", type:"helper", wires:[]}];
+            helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
+                var changeNode1 = helper.getNode("changeNode1");
+                var helperNode1 = helper.getNode("helperNode1");
+                helperNode1.on("input", function(msg) {
+                    try {
+                        msg.payload.should.eql(123);
+                        done();
+                    } catch(err) {
+                        done(err);
+                    }
+                });
+                changeNode1.receive({payload:""});
+            });
+        });
+        it('changes the value to a js object', function(done) {
+            var flow = [{"id":"changeNode1","type":"change",rules:[{"t":"set","p":"payload","to":'{"a":123}',"tot":"json"}],"name":"changeNode","wires":[["helperNode1"]]},
+                        {id:"helperNode1", type:"helper", wires:[]}];
+            helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
+                var changeNode1 = helper.getNode("changeNode1");
+                var helperNode1 = helper.getNode("helperNode1");
+                helperNode1.on("input", function(msg) {
+                    try {
+                        msg.payload.should.eql({a:123});
+                        done();
+                    } catch(err) {
+                        done(err);
+                    }
+                });
+                changeNode1.receive({payload:""});
+            });
+        });
+
+
     });
     describe('#change', function() {
         it('changes the value of the message property', function(done) {
@@ -347,7 +389,7 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
             });
         });
 
-        it('Reports invalid regex', function(done) {
+        it('reports invalid regex', function(done) {
             var sinon = require('sinon');
             var flow = [{"id":"changeNode1","type":"change","action":"change","property":"payload","from":"\\+**+","to":"NUMBER","reg":true,"name":"changeNode","wires":[["helperNode1"]]},
                         {id:"helperNode1", type:"helper", wires:[]}];
@@ -363,6 +405,43 @@ describe('change Node', function() {
 
             });
         });
+
+        it('supports regex groups - new rule format', function(done) {
+            var flow = [{"id":"changeNode1","type":"change",rules:[{"t":"change","p":"payload","from":"(Hello)","to":"$1-$1-$1","fromt":"re","tot":"str"}],"name":"changeNode","wires":[["helperNode1"]]},
+                        {id:"helperNode1", type:"helper", wires:[]}];
+            helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
+                var changeNode1 = helper.getNode("changeNode1");
+                var helperNode1 = helper.getNode("helperNode1");
+                helperNode1.on("input", function(msg) {
+                    try {
+                        msg.payload.should.equal("Hello-Hello-Hello World");
+                        done();
+                    } catch(err) {
+                        done(err);
+                    }
+                });
+                changeNode1.receive({payload:"Hello World"});
+            });
+        });
+
+
+        it('changes the value - new rule format', function(done) {
+            var flow = [{"id":"changeNode1","type":"change",rules:[{"t":"change","p":"payload","from":"ABC","to":"123","fromt":"str","tot":"str"}],"name":"changeNode","wires":[["helperNode1"]]},
+                        {id:"helperNode1", type:"helper", wires:[]}];
+            helper.load(changeNode, flow, function() {
+                var changeNode1 = helper.getNode("changeNode1");
+                var helperNode1 = helper.getNode("helperNode1");
+                helperNode1.on("input", function(msg) {
+                    try {
+                        msg.payload.should.equal("abc123abc");
+                        done();
+                    } catch(err) {
+                        done(err);
+                    }
+                });
+                changeNode1.receive({payload:"abcABCabc"});
+            });
+        });
     });
 
     describe("#delete", function() {
diff --git a/test/red/runtime/nodes/flows/util_spec.js b/test/red/runtime/nodes/flows/util_spec.js
index f3b50ae6b..fa99424c5 100644
--- a/test/red/runtime/nodes/flows/util_spec.js
+++ b/test/red/runtime/nodes/flows/util_spec.js
@@ -434,7 +434,8 @@ describe('flows/util', function() {
             var diffResult = flowUtil.diffConfigs(originalConfig,changedConfig);
             diffResult.added.should.have.length(0);
             diffResult.changed.sort().should.eql(['2', 'sf1']);
-            diffResult.removed.should.have.length(0);
+            diffResult.removed.should.have.length(1);
+            diffResult.removed.sort().should.eql(['sf1-2']);
             diffResult.rewired.should.have.length(0);
             diffResult.linked.sort().should.eql(["1","3"]);
 
diff --git a/test/red/runtime/util_spec.js b/test/red/runtime/util_spec.js
index 09f3f5db6..332a6a480 100644
--- a/test/red/runtime/util_spec.js
+++ b/test/red/runtime/util_spec.js
@@ -110,6 +110,57 @@ describe("red/util", function() {
             cloned.req.should.equal(msg.req);
             cloned.res.should.equal(msg.res);
         });
-
     });
+
+    describe('getMessageProperty', function() {
+        it('retrieves a simple property', function() {
+            var v = util.getMessageProperty({a:"foo"},"msg.a");
+            v.should.eql("foo");
+            var v2 = util.getMessageProperty({a:"foo"},"a");
+            v2.should.eql("foo");
+        });
+        it('should return undefined if property does not exist', function() {
+            var v = util.getMessageProperty({a:"foo"},"msg.b");
+            should.not.exist(v);
+        });
+        it('should throw error if property parent does not exist', function() {
+            /*jshint immed: false */
+            (function() {
+                util.getMessageProperty({a:"foo"},"msg.a.b.c");
+            }).should.throw();
+        })
+    });
+
+    describe('setMessageProperty', function() {
+        it('sets a property', function() {
+            var msg = {a:"foo"};
+            util.setMessageProperty(msg,"msg.a","bar");
+            msg.a.should.eql('bar');
+        });
+        it('sets a deep level property', function() {
+            var msg = {a:{b:{c:"foo"}}};
+            util.setMessageProperty(msg,"msg.a.b.c","bar");
+            msg.a.b.c.should.eql('bar');
+        });
+        it('creates missing parent properties by default', function() {
+            var msg = {a:{}};
+            util.setMessageProperty(msg,"msg.a.b.c","bar");
+            msg.a.b.c.should.eql('bar');
+        })
+        it('does not create missing parent properties', function() {
+            var msg = {a:{}};
+            util.setMessageProperty(msg,"msg.a.b.c","bar",false);
+            should.not.exist(msg.a.b);
+        })
+        it('deletes property if value is undefined', function() {
+            var msg = {a:{b:{c:"foo"}}};
+            util.setMessageProperty(msg,"msg.a.b.c",undefined);
+            should.not.exist(msg.a.b.c);
+        })
+        it('does not create missing parent properties if value is undefined', function() {
+            var msg = {a:{}};
+            util.setMessageProperty(msg,"msg.a.b.c",undefined);
+            should.not.exist(msg.a.b);
+        })
+    })
 });