How do I create a dynamic SMS message?

Summary

This article will explain how to create a Dynamic SMS Message. This is a message which when ran will be customised to include information which is gathered from the data within Platinum.

More Information

In order to create a Dynamic SMS Message you will need to, go to " Messages" at the top of Platinum on the "Task Bar" and then go to " SMS Messaging Manage Messages".

• Press <F6> or click the [Add] button.
• On the new screen that appears you will need to do the following:
  • Give the Message a "Description:".
  • Set the "From:" to 'Fixed text'.
    • Then enter up to eleven characters. (This will show when the message is received by the recipient.)
  • Set the "Text source" to 'Dynamic text'.
    • The next part is to select the module where the report that has the "Dynamic text" is located.
      (For Example: A text message notifying a customer that their vehicle is ready for collection would need to run from the Workshop. So you would need to select 'Workshop Management' in the drop down.)
    • Finally you will need to enter in the 'Code' for the report, which contains the "Dynamic text" (i.e. '~AA'), if you do not have a report already then you will need to create one. (See below for an example.)

Example Report

This section will demonstrate how a report needs to be constructed in order to be used as as a report for "Dynamic text". This report is for sending out an email to a Workshop customer to notify them that their vehicle is ready for collection.

~AA Vehicle Ready for Collection.

Sort Order - As this is a report in the Workshop based on a Job card, the only variable required here is 'J01 Job Number'.

File Selection - As with most custom reports this will be set to '** Automatic File Selection **'.

Date Ranges - As the report is specific to a particular job, the date ranges would not be used.

Range Filter (1) - This is how we set the report criteria to collect the information for the specific customer and vehicle.

• Here we will set an environment variable for the job card, so that the details displayed will be about the job highlighted.
• The "Range Formula" will be set to 'J01=$ENV{"J01WS"}'. ("Range Filter (2)" and "Range Filter (3)" are not required.)

Column Details - This is where the "Dynamic text" is stored. The text can span multiple columns depending on the text that you want to send. In this example it will be on just the first column and row.

• Set "Type/Grp :" 'B/0'.
  • "Row/Col No. :" '1/01'.
  • "Column Type : " 'T'
  • "Calculation :" '"Your " + $LJUSTIFY{IF J33 = "" THEN "vehicle" ELSE J33,99} + $STR_REPLCE{IF J32 = "" THEN "" ELSE ", registration " + J32 + ",",~,|,1} + " is ready for collection."'.
  • "Width :" '99'

The text within the "" is output in the report. The First formula will output the vehicle 'Make/Model' if it is not blank on the vehicle record or it will output the word 'Vehicle'. The second formula will output the vehicle 'Registration' number if it is not blank on the vehicle record.

Output Options - This report is set as:

• "Style :" 'R' for report format.
• "Output :" 'I' for internal use.
• "Report Category :" 'INT Internal Report' which will be used in report searches.

Definable Literals - This is not used.

For more details on writing reports please click here.

See Also

• Report Generator - Getting Started
• What is a Report Generator variable?
• Why are there three ranges?
• How do I send an SMS Message from Platinum?
• How can I Change the Wording on my Text Messages?
• Troubleshooting SMS Messaging

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Keywords AND Misspellings

SMS, Short, Message, Service, Text, Messages, Saved, Create, Dynamic, Specific, Unique, Custom, Personal, Information, Report, Reports, Generate, Generator, Send, Report Generator