Need help rendering a message via view mode

[meecect]

I noticed that in views, only 'partials' render in the 'message text' field, and if I try to add a field for 'rendered entity' and select a view mode, nothing is rendered (in views anyway). I am running 8.x-1.x-dev from d.o.

I am adding a entity to a field via code, something like this:
$message = Message::create(['template' => 'new_concept', 'uid' => $node->get('uid')]); $message->set('field_node_reference', $node); $message->set('field_published', $node->isPublished()); $message->save();
Looking at the DB, it appears the node is added as a reference, but I can't seem to get any of it to render via a view mode. Also, even if I only have partials set to display in the view mode, rendering the message entity doesn't output them.

thanks,

[meecect]

Also, when using message_notify, I get the partials that are selected on the message_notify view modes for subject and body, but adding node reference or user references fields to the display mode doesn't do anything. Only partials render.

[meecect]

hmm, i don't seem to be having the same issue with node references, just user references when it comes to message_notify display modes, so I'm not sure if it is entity type specific or a permissions issue or what.