Sending a Text Message

Modified on 11/12/2014 12:14 PM by Suzanne Coy — Categorized as: Contacts (People and Organisations), Getting Information Out Of ShowBiz

Overview¶

This guide explains how create and send a text message from ShowBiz. It assumes you already have the Text Messaging system enabled and configured or you are using the system in simulation mode

This example takes you through sending a text message from the Contacts Manager screen but will work from any Manager screen in ShowBiz. The data available to put into the message will vary dependant upon which Manager screen you used.

Finding the Recipients¶

1) Open the Contacts Manager screen¶

In the Comm Info field enter 07 (this will find only those contacts with mobile numbers i.e. numbers starting 07)
Enter data into other criteria fields in order to return the Contacts who will be the recipients for the message

2) Select the Contacts and open the Text Messaging System main screen¶

Tick each Contact you would like to send the message to
Click the `Mail Merge Checked Results` button
On the `Mail Merge Manager` screen select the `Text messaging system` option
Click OK and the Text Messaging System main screen will open

3) Create and send the Text Message¶

Type the body the message into the box as shown in the picture above. Fields passed through from the Manager screen can be inserted in a similar fashion to creating a Word Mail Merge document. Drop down the `` box and choose a field to insert at the current cursor location.
To see how the message will look when sent at any point you can press the `Preview` button (clicking the left and right arrow buttons to the right of the button scrolls through the recipients so you can see how each recipients message will look
You are limited to 160 characters in a text message and the characters remaining are shown in a box underneath
Totals and shown at the bottom of the screen. `Total Texts` shows the total amount of texts to send as per the number ticked on the Manager screen and `Total Texts To Be Sent` shows the actual number that will send (if these totals differ it will be due to some records selected not having a valid mobile number to send to)
Click `Send` to send the messages. The system will run through the send process and a message reporting the status will be displayed.

Important Note: The Texting Module has a simulation mode which allows you to run through the Text sending processing without actually sending any messages (this can be used before purchasing the system if you wish to see how it works). The mode that the module is currently in is displayed in the information bar at the top of the Text Messaging System screen. In the above screen shot simulate send is on as indicated by the red bar and message. Simulate send off is indicated by a green information bar and message.