Sending SMS Messages Using Aptify's Messaging

Defining a Message SourceAptify Twilio integration supports sending text messages through Aptify's bulk messaging system from both the Aptify Desktop and Web interfaces. This topic outlines the how to send a text message using Aptify's messaging system.

1. Open a view of a service that has messaging enabled. 

   • Your system administrator must enable messaging for a service if it is not currently available.

   • In the Aptify Desktop interface, you can also open the Aptify messaging dialog directly from a record by selecting the email icon that appears next to the Email control.
     
     

2. Select the recipients for a bulk message from the records in the view. Only the selected records are added to the message’s recipient list. If no records are selected, then the sys­tem will generate messages for all records in the view.
   
3. Select Messaging from the view's toolbar using one of the following options:
   • In the Web interface, select Messaging from under the More drop-down menu.
   • In the Desktop interface, select the Messaging icon.
      
4. In the Aptify desktop interface, if prompted, select the appropriate Message Source and click OK.
   • The Aptify Web interface does not support more than one message source at this time, the default message source is always used.
   • Your system administrator can create a message source to ensure that text messages are only sent to valid numbers. See Defining a Message Source for more details.
     
     
5. Enter a Subject.
   • This is a required field for all messages sent through Aptify, however, when sending a text message, only the text on the Plain Text tab will be sent.
      
6. Go to the Delivery tab (or Options > Delivery in the Aptify Desktop interface) and select the Twilio SMS as the message system.
   • If you want the Twilio SMS message system to be automatically select when sending a text message, you could utilize Aptify's message template service to set the default message system. See Creating a New Message Template for more information.
      

7. Go to the Plain Text tab and enter the message you want to send.

   • In the Aptify Web interface, you are currently required to populate both the Plain Text and HTML Message tab, however, when sending text message, only the text on the Plain Text tab will be sent.

   •  In the Aptify Desktop client, once the Twilio SMS message system is selected, the HTML Message tab is disabled.
      

8. Go to the Addressing tab (or Options > Addressing in the Aptify Desktop interface) and make sure the appropriate To field is selected.  Text messages can only be sent to valid phone numbers, not email addresses.
   • In what Email field you select, a valid phone number must be entered in a standard phone format.
     • Supported formats include: 
       • (123) 456-7890
       • +1 123-456-7890
       • 123-456-7890
          
   • You can dedicate an Email field (for example, the Email3 field on the Person entity) for phone numbers, or you can also add phone number fields to the Message Source so they are available in the messaging interface.
   • Your system administrator can create a message source to ensure that text messages are only sent to valid numbers. See Defining a Message Source for more details.
     
     • Keep in mind that the Aptify Web interface does not support more than one message source at this time, the default message source is always used.
        

9. Click the Send Messages button on the form’s toolbar to send the messages.

   • The text from the Plain Text tab is sent to the recipients.
      

   See Creating a New Message Template for more information on other options available when using Aptify bulk messaging dialog.