How to Disable Messages based on Status

A status with **Disable Messages** turned on stops eCourtDate from generating scheduled messages for any record that carries that status name. Use it when your agency needs to silence outbound messaging for canceled, closed, or inactive records without editing every Flow.

### Overview

- **What it is:** A checkbox on each status that stops message generation for the events, clients, and payments matching that status name
- **Why it matters:** Your agency avoids sending reminders for records that are no longer active, without turning off a Flow that other records still need
- **Who uses it:** Agency administrators who manage statuses and messaging settings
- **Expected outcomes:** Matching records stop generating new scheduled messages, and the status shows a red **Messages Disabled** badge in the **Statuses** list

### Prerequisites

- You need access to **Admin** > **Settings** > **Statuses**
- You need to know the exact status name used on your records, because eCourtDate matches statuses by name
- You need access to **Admin** > **Messaging** > **Flows** if you also want to update messages that are already scheduled

### How-To Steps

#### Create the status

1. Go to **Admin** > **Settings** in the top navigation bar.
2. Click the **Statuses** tab.
3. Enter the status name in the **Name** field of the **Create Status** card.
4. Select the record type from the **Type** dropdown.
5. Click **Create**.

Skip these steps if the status already exists.

#### Turn off messages for the status

1. Click **Edit** on the status row in the **Statuses** list.
2. Check **Disable Messages**.
3. Click **Save**.

#### Apply the change to messages already scheduled

1. Go to **Admin** > **Messaging** in the top navigation bar.
2. Click the **Flows** tab.
3. Click **Sync** on the Flow that sends the messages you want to rebuild.

You can also open the Flow and click **Tools** > **Sync Messages** to do the same thing from inside the Flow.

### What to Expect

After you save the status:

- The **Statuses** list shows a red **Messages Disabled** badge on that status. Every other status shows a green **Messages Enabled** badge.
- New and updated records that match the status stop generating scheduled messages.
- A payment that matches shows a **MESSAGES DISABLED** badge at the top of its page.
- Messages already scheduled stay in place until you sync the Flow.

#### Fields eCourtDate checks

The status name is compared against these fields, so a status named "canceled" disables messages whether it sits in the **Status** field or the **Type** field.

| Record | Fields compared to the status name |
|--------|------------------------------------|
| Events | Status, Type, Appeared |
| Clients linked to the event | Status, Type, Group |
| Payments | Status, Type |

#### What still sends

- Auto Messages that have **Override Statuses that Disable Messages** checked
- One-off messages you send yourself
- Bulk action messages you send yourself

### Best Practices

- Copy the status name exactly as it appears on your records, including spelling and spacing, because the match is by name
- Set **Type** to payment on any status that needs to stop payment messages, since payment records only match statuses of that type
- Sync the affected Flow after you save, so messages already scheduled are rebuilt with the new setting
- Use the **Disable Messages** filter in the **Search Statuses** panel to review every status that stops messages
- Confirm the result on a real event or payment with **Tools** > **Troubleshoot** before you rely on the change

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Does turning on Disable Messages cancel messages that are already scheduled?**

A: No. Go to **Admin** > **Messaging** > **Flows** and click **Sync** on the Flow, or open the Flow and click **Tools** > **Sync Messages**.

**Q: Can an Auto Message still send when the status disables messages?**

A: Yes. Open the Auto Message, find the **Filters** card, and check **Override Statuses that Disable Messages**.

**Q: Why do my payments still generate messages?**

A: A payment only matches a status whose **Type** is set to payment, and the status cannot be archived or trashed. Open the status and confirm both.

**Q: Can I still send a message to a record with a disabling status?**

A: Yes. One-off messages and bulk action messages are not filtered by this setting.

**Q: What else stops messages besides a status?**

A: Archiving or trashing a record removes its scheduled messages, the **Auto-Disable Messages** checkbox on a location stops messages for records at that location, and the **Status Conditions** on a Flow message limit which statuses that message applies to.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** Messages still generate for a record that carries the status.

**Symptoms:** The status shows the **Messages Disabled** badge, but the record keeps producing scheduled messages.

**Solution:**

1. Open the event or payment, click **Tools** > **Troubleshoot**, and look for the critical issue "Event status disables messages" or "Payment status disables messages"
2. Compare the status name on the record to the name on the status, since the match is exact
3. Confirm the status is not archived or trashed
4. Sync the Flow so messages already scheduled are rebuilt

**Issue:** Messages stopped for records you did not expect.

**Symptoms:** Records that should still receive messages generate none.

**Solution:**

1. Go to **Admin** > **Settings** > **Statuses** and check the **Disable Messages** box in the **Search Statuses** panel to list every status that stops messages
2. Open the event or payment and click **Tools** > **Troubleshoot** to see which check is failing
3. Review the **Auto-Disable Messages** setting on the assigned location
4. Review the **Status Conditions** on the Flow message
5. Confirm the footer shows **Live Mode** rather than simulate mode

If messages still behave unexpectedly, click **Help** > **New support ticket** in eCourtDate.

### Related Articles

- [How to manage statuses](/how-to-manage-statuses)
- [How to define custom statuses](/how-to-define-custom-statuses)
- [How to Create a Flow](/how-to-create-a-flow)
- [How to Create an Auto Message](/how-to-create-an-auto-message)
- [How to Create Locations](/how-to-create-locations)
- [How to Send a One-off Message](/how-to-send-a-one-off-message)
- [Troubleshooting Automated Messages](/troubleshooting-automated-messages)