def make_message(msg_format, coll_id="testcoll", type_id="testtype", **kwargs):
        """
        Combine supplied message format string with keyword parameters to build
        a message text.
        """
        msg_vals = dict(kwargs, coll_id=coll_id, type_id=type_id)
        msg_text = msg_format%msg_vals
        return msg_text