There are multiple ways to add recipients to a message. This article is for school administrators and principals to understand all of the ways to add recipients to a message that is being sent out from their assigned campuses.
This article exists to provide School Administrators and Principals with everything they need to communicate via the Messages XR Enterprise platform and help their community stay engaged and connected.
Navigate to the To field in a message where you can click and search for recipients to select.
Option #1: Add recipients one-by-one
Click into the Search recipients field labeled “To” to search for recipients by name. As soon as you start typing, results will be generated below ready for you to select.
Option #2: Add recipients by List
Click the Select recipients button to open up this window. Be sure you are on the List tab. You'll see your groups populate so that you can expand out and attach recipients from pre-created lists and groups.
- Select groups: When you find a group that you'd like to include, check the box next to that group. These groups will then appear in the right panel. Change your mind? Click Remove and they will no longer display.
- Create group: You can even Create a group of recipients as you are creating your message to segment an entirely new set of recipients.
Option #3: Add recipients by Address file
In the Select recipients window, Click on the Address file tab where you can then drag (or browse to locate) your files into this area and see the recipients populate in the right-hand panel.
- Accepted files: .csv, .txt, or .tsv files
- Maximum size: 4MB
- Click Need help uploading your recipients? to learn more about the specifications for your datasheet.
Uploading Recipients Datasheet Specifications
- Create a list of addresses in a text file. Use one address per line.
- Separate fields with <TAB> (tab delimited).
- The first row can define the fields found in the file.
- After uploading, you can assign header rows.
- If you have custom merge tags, the first row in the column can be selected as the header row name and custom merge tag name (custom merge tag headers may contain only alphanumeric characters and underscores: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, _).
- Phone, SMS or Email is required.
For example:
| Phone Number | SMS Number | Email Address | First Name | Last Name | Language |
| 8015554611 | 8015554611 | dons@bogus.domain.com | Don | Stover | S |
Option #4: Add recipients by ID file
Upload recipients by assigned ID.
Important Note on IDs
Adding recipients by assigned ID works whenever each ID that is added by list already exists in the data, whether by data integration sync or bulk data upload. You are essentially connecting the uploaded datasheet of IDs with ones that are already in the system and representing a person.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Create a list of IDs in a text file
- Create a datasheet with one ID type per file (e.g., student, staff, teacher, or admin).
- For parent messages, use student IDs.
- Use a single column with one ID per row.
- Don’t add any headers; ID types can be assigned once uploaded.
- Save as .csv, .txt, or .tsv, under 4MB.
Step 2: Upload your datasheet
Upload each separate ID type list by dragging the completed datasheet into the ID file upload panel or Browsing to search for it.
Step 3: Confirm what is uploaded
Once uploaded, the screen will show what was just uploaded. Choose the Select ID type dropdown to specify the correct ID type for the file header.
In the dropdown that appears, you have three options:
- Add a Custom Merge Tag: These are user-created placeholders for data fields that are not standard or pre-built into the platform. When inserted into a message, communication can be more personalized and targeted toward your recipients.
- Add an ID Type: Select the ID type from the dropdown.
- Ignore: You can ignore this field.
- Click Done to add these as recipients.
- Click the Upload new file button to wipe out your recipients and start your upload again.