Send a single text, email, or voice message to one client, one contact, or any phone number or email address in eCourtDate.
A one-off message is a single message you write and send yourself, outside of any auto message or flow. You can send one from a client profile, from a contact record, or from the Dashboard to any phone number or email address you type.
Overview
- What it is: The Send a Message form, which creates one message per recipient on the text, email, or voice channel
- Why it matters: One-off messages cover the communication that automation does not, such as a same-day update, a follow up, or a reply to a specific person
- Who uses it: Your agency staff who can create messages and contacts
- Expected outcomes: Your message appears in Scheduled Messages until its send time passes, then moves into the message feed with a delivery status
Prerequisites
- A role with permission to create messages and contacts (Admin > Users > Roles)
- At least one agency phone number (Admin > Settings > Agency Phones) for text and voice, or an agency email (Admin > Settings > Agency Emails) for email
- A recipient, which is either a client with at least one contact that is valid and opted in, or a phone number or email address you can type
How-To Steps
Send a message from a client profile
- Click Clients in the top navigation, or click the search icon next to the logo and enter the client's name
- Click the Edit button on the client's row to open the profile
- Check the Manage Contacts card above the Send a Message form for a contact badged VALID and not badged OPTED-OUT
- Enter a phone number or email in the Add phone or email field and click Create Contact if the client has no usable contact yet
- Enter a Subject and a Message in the Send a Message card below the contacts
- Choose a file in the Attach Files field to upload an attachment with the message (optional)
-
Click the Options button (the grid icon in the top right of the card) to open Send Date, Send Time, Auto Messages, Merge Tags, and Insert Files (optional)
-
Click Send Message
Send a message to one contact
- Search for the client and open the profile
- Click the contact you want to message in the Manage Contacts list to open the contact record
-
Select the number or address you are sending from in the From Phone or From Email field of the Send a Message card
-
Enter your text in the Message field, and in the Subject field when the contact is an email contact
-
Set a Send Date and Send Time to hold the message until later (optional)
-
Click Send Message
Send a message to any phone number or email
- Click Dashboard in the top navigation
-
Click New Message to open the Send a Message card
-
Enter a phone number or email address in the To (Client, Phone, or Email) field and click Add
- Click a client in the results list instead to add every contact of that client that is valid, opted in, and set to notify
- Repeat the entry for each additional recipient
- Confirm every recipient appears as a badge above the field, and click a badge to remove it
- Enter a Subject and a Message
- Choose a file in the Attach Files field to upload an attachment (optional)
- Click Send Message
What to Expect
Your message is queued rather than sent the instant you click Send Message. Default Message Delay, in the Message Defaults section of Admin > Settings, holds outbound messages for a number of minutes and defaults to 5, so you have time to review or remove the message. Turning on Send Immediately in the same section makes outbound messages skip the dispatch queue.
- Each message stays in the Scheduled Messages list, with its To value and scheduled time, until it sends
- Sending from a client profile can create more than one message, because each contact that receives it gets its own message and its own row in Scheduled Messages
- Setting a Send Date and Send Time holds the message until that moment, and a Send Time entered without a Send Date is dropped
- Choosing an entry under Auto Messages fills Subject and Message from that template, and if the template runs in simulate mode the card shows "Simulate Mode is enabled for this message." with a Send Live button
- Sent and received messages appear in the feed on the Dashboard, which you filter with the All, Outbound, and Inbound buttons
- A character count badge sits next to the Message label, turning amber past 320 characters and red past 480
- Click the refresh icon above Scheduled Messages to reload the scheduled list
Best Practices
- Confirm the contact is badged VALID and not badged OPTED-OUT before you write the message
- Start from Auto Messages in the options panel for wording your agency sends often, then edit it for this recipient
- Insert merge tags from the Merge Tags list rather than typing them, because the Message field is flagged when it holds a tag that does not exist
- Set Send Date and Send Time so messages land during your agency's business hours
- Read the recipient badges above the To (Client, Phone, or Email) field one last time before clicking Send Message
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I send one message to several recipients at once?
A: Yes. On the Dashboard, add each phone number, email address, or client to the To (Client, Phone, or Email) field, and eCourtDate creates a separate message for each recipient.
Q: What happens when I click a client in the search results?
A: eCourtDate adds that client's contacts that are valid, opted in, and set to notify. If the client has none, an alert reads "No contacts found for this client" and nothing is added.
Q: Can I change or stop a message once it is scheduled?
A: While the message is still scheduled, open it from Scheduled Messages and use the Update Message To card to change the To, Subject, Message, Send Date, or Send Time, then click Save. Click Trash to remove it, which is offered only while the scheduled time is still in the future.
Q: Why does my message not go out the moment I send it?
A: Default Message Delay holds outbound messages, and it defaults to 5 minutes. An admin can lower it or turn on Send Immediately in the Message Defaults section of Admin > Settings.
Q: How do I send a file that is already stored in eCourtDate?
A: Click Options, open Insert Files, and choose the file. eCourtDate adds that file's merge tag to your message. Use Attach Files instead when the file is on your computer.
Troubleshooting
Issue: The Send Message button stays disabled
Symptoms: You filled in part of the form, but the button will not accept a click.
Solution:
- Enter text in the Message field, or choose a file in Attach Files
- Add at least one recipient, which on the Dashboard means a badge showing above the To (Client, Phone, or Email) field
Issue: The Add button stays disabled, or the recipient field turns red
Symptoms: You typed a number or address on the Dashboard and cannot add it as a recipient.
Solution:
- Enter at least three characters
- Check the entry is a complete email address or a full phone number including the area code
- Confirm you have not already added the same recipient, because duplicates are rejected
Issue: The Send a Message card is missing on a contact record
Symptoms: You opened the contact, but there is no form to write a message.
Solution:
- Check the contact for an INVALID or OPTED-OUT badge, because the card appears only for a valid, opted-in contact
- Correct the phone number or email address on the contact record, or use another contact for that client
Issue: A scheduled message sent earlier than planned
Symptoms: You set a Send Time, and the message went out on the usual delay instead.
Solution:
- Set a Send Date as well, because a Send Time without a Send Date is dropped
- Reopen the message from Scheduled Messages and set both fields, then click Save
Related Articles
A one-off message is a single message you write and send yourself, outside of any auto message or flow. You can send one from a client profile, from a contact record, or from the **Dashboard** to any phone number or email address you type.
### Overview
- **What it is:** The **Send a Message** form, which creates one message per recipient on the text, email, or voice channel
- **Why it matters:** One-off messages cover the communication that automation does not, such as a same-day update, a follow up, or a reply to a specific person
- **Who uses it:** Your agency staff who can create messages and contacts
- **Expected outcomes:** Your message appears in **Scheduled Messages** until its send time passes, then moves into the message feed with a delivery status
### Prerequisites
- A role with permission to create messages and contacts (**Admin** > **Users** > **Roles**)
- At least one agency phone number (**Admin** > **Settings** > **Agency Phones**) for text and voice, or an agency email (**Admin** > **Settings** > **Agency Emails**) for email
- A recipient, which is either a client with at least one contact that is valid and opted in, or a phone number or email address you can type
### How-To Steps
#### Send a message from a client profile
1. Click **Clients** in the top navigation, or click the search icon next to the logo and enter the client's name
2. Click the **Edit** button on the client's row to open the profile
3. Check the **Manage Contacts** card above the **Send a Message** form for a contact badged **VALID** and not badged **OPTED-OUT**
4. Enter a phone number or email in the **Add phone or email** field and click **Create Contact** if the client has no usable contact yet
5. Enter a **Subject** and a **Message** in the **Send a Message** card below the contacts
6. Choose a file in the **Attach Files** field to upload an attachment with the message (optional)
7. Click the **Options** button (the grid icon in the top right of the card) to open **Send Date**, **Send Time**, **Auto Messages**, **Merge Tags**, and **Insert Files** (optional)
8. Click **Send Message**
#### Send a message to one contact
1. Search for the client and open the profile
2. Click the contact you want to message in the **Manage Contacts** list to open the contact record
3. Select the number or address you are sending from in the **From Phone** or **From Email** field of the **Send a Message** card
4. Enter your text in the **Message** field, and in the **Subject** field when the contact is an email contact
5. Set a **Send Date** and **Send Time** to hold the message until later (optional)
6. Click **Send Message**
#### Send a message to any phone number or email
1. Click **Dashboard** in the top navigation
2. Click **New Message** to open the **Send a Message** card
3. Enter a phone number or email address in the **To (Client, Phone, or Email)** field and click **Add**
4. Click a client in the results list instead to add every contact of that client that is valid, opted in, and set to notify
5. Repeat the entry for each additional recipient
6. Confirm every recipient appears as a badge above the field, and click a badge to remove it
7. Enter a **Subject** and a **Message**
8. Choose a file in the **Attach Files** field to upload an attachment (optional)
9. Click **Send Message**
### What to Expect
Your message is queued rather than sent the instant you click **Send Message**. **Default Message Delay**, in the **Message Defaults** section of **Admin** > **Settings**, holds outbound messages for a number of minutes and defaults to 5, so you have time to review or remove the message. Turning on **Send Immediately** in the same section makes outbound messages skip the dispatch queue.
- Each message stays in the **Scheduled Messages** list, with its **To** value and scheduled time, until it sends
- Sending from a client profile can create more than one message, because each contact that receives it gets its own message and its own row in **Scheduled Messages**
- Setting a **Send Date** and **Send Time** holds the message until that moment, and a **Send Time** entered without a **Send Date** is dropped
- Choosing an entry under **Auto Messages** fills **Subject** and **Message** from that template, and if the template runs in simulate mode the card shows "Simulate Mode is enabled for this message." with a **Send Live** button
- Sent and received messages appear in the feed on the **Dashboard**, which you filter with the **All**, **Outbound**, and **Inbound** buttons
- A character count badge sits next to the **Message** label, turning amber past 320 characters and red past 480
- Click the refresh icon above **Scheduled Messages** to reload the scheduled list
### Best Practices
- Confirm the contact is badged **VALID** and not badged **OPTED-OUT** before you write the message
- Start from **Auto Messages** in the options panel for wording your agency sends often, then edit it for this recipient
- Insert merge tags from the **Merge Tags** list rather than typing them, because the **Message** field is flagged when it holds a tag that does not exist
- Set **Send Date** and **Send Time** so messages land during your agency's business hours
- Read the recipient badges above the **To (Client, Phone, or Email)** field one last time before clicking **Send Message**
### Frequently Asked Questions
**Q: Can I send one message to several recipients at once?**
A: Yes. On the **Dashboard**, add each phone number, email address, or client to the **To (Client, Phone, or Email)** field, and eCourtDate creates a separate message for each recipient.
**Q: What happens when I click a client in the search results?**
A: eCourtDate adds that client's contacts that are valid, opted in, and set to notify. If the client has none, an alert reads "No contacts found for this client" and nothing is added.
**Q: Can I change or stop a message once it is scheduled?**
A: While the message is still scheduled, open it from **Scheduled Messages** and use the **Update Message To** card to change the **To**, **Subject**, **Message**, **Send Date**, or **Send Time**, then click **Save**. Click **Trash** to remove it, which is offered only while the scheduled time is still in the future.
**Q: Why does my message not go out the moment I send it?**
A: **Default Message Delay** holds outbound messages, and it defaults to 5 minutes. An admin can lower it or turn on **Send Immediately** in the **Message Defaults** section of **Admin** > **Settings**.
**Q: How do I send a file that is already stored in eCourtDate?**
A: Click **Options**, open **Insert Files**, and choose the file. eCourtDate adds that file's merge tag to your message. Use **Attach Files** instead when the file is on your computer.
### Troubleshooting
**Issue:** The **Send Message** button stays disabled
**Symptoms:** You filled in part of the form, but the button will not accept a click.
**Solution:**
1. Enter text in the **Message** field, or choose a file in **Attach Files**
2. Add at least one recipient, which on the **Dashboard** means a badge showing above the **To (Client, Phone, or Email)** field
**Issue:** The **Add** button stays disabled, or the recipient field turns red
**Symptoms:** You typed a number or address on the **Dashboard** and cannot add it as a recipient.
**Solution:**
1. Enter at least three characters
2. Check the entry is a complete email address or a full phone number including the area code
3. Confirm you have not already added the same recipient, because duplicates are rejected
**Issue:** The **Send a Message** card is missing on a contact record
**Symptoms:** You opened the contact, but there is no form to write a message.
**Solution:**
1. Check the contact for an **INVALID** or **OPTED-OUT** badge, because the card appears only for a valid, opted-in contact
2. Correct the phone number or email address on the contact record, or use another contact for that client
**Issue:** A scheduled message sent earlier than planned
**Symptoms:** You set a **Send Time**, and the message went out on the usual delay instead.
**Solution:**
1. Set a **Send Date** as well, because a **Send Time** without a **Send Date** is dropped
2. Reopen the message from **Scheduled Messages** and set both fields, then click **Save**
### Related Articles
- [How to Send a Message From the Dashboard](/how-to-send-a-message-from-the-dashboard)
- [How to Delete a Scheduled Message for a Client](/how-to-delete-a-scheduled-message-for-a-client)
- [How to Use Merge Tags](/how-to-use-merge-tags)
- [How to Manage Contacts](/how-to-manage-contacts)
- [How to Manage Agency Phone Numbers](/how-to-manage-agency-phone-numbers)
- [How to Configure Opt-in and Opt-out Compliance](/how-to-configure-opt-in-and-opt-out-compliance)
- [How to Send a Mass Message using Bulk Actions](/how-to-send-a-mass-message-using-bulk-actions)
- [How to Create an Auto Message](/how-to-create-an-auto-message)