# Metric Events - Metric Key vs Metric Selector and Alerting on Lack of Metric Data

**URL:** <https://community.dynatrace.com/t/metric-events-metric-key-vs-metric-selector-and-alerting-on-lack-of-metric-data/49288>\
**Category:** Open Q&A\
**Tags:** metric-events, dynatrace-managed\
**Created:** [December 10, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/metric-events-metric-key-vs-metric-selector-and-alerting-on-lack-of-metric-data/49288 "2024-12-10T15:25:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mmevanson](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/dynatrace/user_avatar/community.dynatrace.com/mmevanson/32/22764_2.png) [@mmevanson](https://community.dynatrace.com/u/mmevanson)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/metric-events-metric-key-vs-metric-selector-and-alerting-on-lack-of-metric-data/49288/1 "2024-12-10T15:25:41Z")

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Greetings!  
We have been setting up quite a few metric events.&nbsp; We are trying to use metric keys vs. metric selectors due to licensing restrictions.&nbsp; However, I noticed that only metric selectors support alerting on lack of metric data.&nbsp; Can someone explain why this is the case?&nbsp; It seems like the knowledge of whether or not a metric is present should be obtainable and alertable for both metric keys and selectors.&nbsp; &nbsp;  
Thanks,

Matt

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**Author:** ![AntonPineiro](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/dynatrace/user_avatar/community.dynatrace.com/antonpineiro/32/49_2.png) [@AntonPineiro](https://community.dynatrace.com/u/AntonPineiro)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/metric-events-metric-key-vs-metric-selector-and-alerting-on-lack-of-metric-data/49288/2 "2024-12-10T17:06:53Z")

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Hi,

I can see that flag in metric keys as well.

Best regards

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**Author:** ![RohitBisht](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/dynatrace/user_avatar/community.dynatrace.com/rohitbisht/32/38577_2.png) [@RohitBisht](https://community.dynatrace.com/u/RohitBisht)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/metric-events-metric-key-vs-metric-selector-and-alerting-on-lack-of-metric-data/49288/3 "2024-12-18T02:42:50Z")

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Another option to try would be anomaly detector app

> **[Anomaly Detection app](https://docs.dynatrace.com/docs/dynatrace-intelligence/anomaly-detection/anomaly-detection-app)**
>
> Explore anomaly detection configurations using the Anomaly Detection app.

You can setup missing data alert:

> **[Anomaly detection configuration](https://docs.dynatrace.com/docs/dynatrace-intelligence/anomaly-detection/anomaly-detection-configuration)**
>
> How to set up an alert for missing measurements.