Manage user groups

You can create groups to have a pre-selected set of people to send a message quickly. The groups will be available under the My Groups when you or other users are selecting recipients for messages. What can groups be used for? 

• Sports: Coaches, create a group for your team and their parents for when you need send them messages.
• Clubs: Send out meeting reminders or special interest newsletters.
• Parents of a specific class: Select only the parents of one of your classes.

This article will show you how to create and manage user groups, as well as understand the way that those with more limited roles can utilize groups in their workflow.

Navigate to Messages > Groups to start learning how to manage your user groups. 

We'll focus on the different types of tasks that can be performed in the Groups area. 

View all groups and child schools

Navigate to Messages > Groups tab. The page will load all the groups in schools that you are able to view.

• Select the Show Child Schools button, or click again to Hide Child Schools and shorten the list.
  

Add a new private group

Private groups that you create are only available for messages that you send out. All staff members can create private groups.

• In the Groups tab, click the Add button. 
  
• In the Group ID field, enter a group ID between 1 and 99 or click the Private ID button to generate an available private ID. 
• School Dropdown: Select a school. The group will belong to this school, but it won't affect the members of the group. 
• Group name: Give your group a name.
  
• Select one or more members: Click to expand the dropdown and select where your members are coming from.
   
  • From a list: Select a list within a folder.
  • From a file: Upload a file of users to add into a group.
    
  • Advanced search: Perform a search to locate the users you're looking for. 
  • Click Save when finished.

Add a new public group

• In the Groups tab, click the Add button. 
  
• In the Group ID field, enter a group ID greater than 100 or click the Public ID button to generate an available public ID. 
• School Dropdown: Select a school. The group will belong to this school, but it won't affect the members of the group. 
• Group name: Give your group a name.
• Select one or more members: Click to expand the dropdown and select where your members are coming from.
  
  • From a list: Select a list within a folder.
  • From a file: Upload a file of users to add into a group.
    
  • Advanced search: Perform a search to locate the users you're looking for. 
  • Click Save when finished.

Public groups will be available to all users that have permission to send messages.

Add a new Public > Static Group

Create a static group by selecting members from a list of available users.

• Select From a List in the Select one or more members dropdown. 
  

• Select the members for your group.

  • Selecting the folder icon will expand the folders, showing students and parents from your classes or other groups.

  • Add entire folder of names by clicking Select next to the folder. To add individuals, expand the folder and click on the individual's name.

  • Type a name into the field at the bottom and select Search to find a specific user.

  • Current members selected will display in the Selected members panel. To remove them, select the name from this list.
    

  • Select the Advanced Options button to expand out another set of panels where you can select users that can view and contact members of this group.
    

  • Click Save when finished, and you now have created a new Static group! 

Add a new Public > Query Group

Create a group by searching for users that meet a specific criteria. For example, you might send messages to parents with students that are receiving a below average grade, or to teachers who have students with too many absences.

• Select Advanced search in the Select one or more members box.
  
• Configure your query settings.
  • Select the Organization(s) and Account type(s) for your search.
    • = means, equals the selected field
    • != means, does not equal the select field
  • Select Match All or Match Any to select only users that match all the criteria or any of the criteria.
  • Select the Field, Operation, and Value for the search criteria. Add as many criteria as needed.
  • Select Preview to view a list of users that currently match the criteria.
    • Current members selected will display in the Selected Members panel.
    • To remove them, click on the name from this list.
• Select Advanced Options to select users that can view members of and contact members of this group.
• Save when finished.

Add a new Public Group > File Group

• Select From a file in the Select one or more members box.
• Configure the file settings.
  • Select the Member Type you are uploading.
• Select Choose File to select the file to upload and click Load.
• After uploading the file, select the Load button to move the recipients to the Selected members box.
  • Current members selected will display in the Selected Members list.
  • To remove them, click on the name from this list.
• Select Advanced Options to select users that can view members of and contact members of this group.
• Save when finished.

Remove a group

• Check the box next to the group you want to Delete.
  
• Select Remove.
• Confirm in the Remove the selected group? window by selecting Remove again.