> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.globalalerting.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.globalalerting.com/monitoring-and-response/mass-comms/sending-messages.md).

# Sending Messages

{% hint style="info" icon="user-lock" %}
These actions require the **View Comms Web App**, **View Messages** and **Send Messages** permissions.
{% endhint %}

## Sending Freeform Messages

1. From the GAP Comms home screen, click the "Create New Message" button.
2. Enter a name for the message in the "Name" text box.  This is not shown to recipients, it is used to identify the message in the GAP Comms user interface.
3. Select a message bearer the message will be used for using the "Bearer" picker.
4. If e-mail is selected as a bearer, select a priority for the messages from the "Priority" picker.
5. Click the "Next" button.
6. Enter a subject in the "Subject" text box.
7. Enter the message text into the text box / rich text editor and format it as desired.  You can use the parentheses button (<i class="fa-brackets-curly">:brackets-curly:</i>) to insert placeholders (such as recipient name, e-mail address and phone number) into the body of the resulting message.
8. Click the "Next" button.
9. Select whether the messages should require an acknowledgement of receipt, the selection of a response, or no action, using the "Request Response" picker.
10. If "Responses" is selected, add a response option (e.g. "Yes", "No", "Maybe") into the "Response Options" text box.
11. Click the "+ Add Response" button to add more.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 as required.
13. If you want to the message to be re-sent if the recipient does not respond, check the "Enable Resending" check box.
14. Select how many times the message should be re-sent using the "Number of Resends" drop-down list.
15. Select how frequently the message should be re-sent using the "Delay Between Each Resend" drop-down list.
16. Click the "Next" button.
17. Select the criteria used to determine the recipients of the message from the "Conditions" section.
18. Click the "+ Add Condition" button to add more.
19. Repeat steps 17 and 18 as required.
20. Preview the recipients using the "View Recipients" button.
21. Click the "Next" button.
22. If you want to schedule the message so it is sent later, check the "Send Later" check box.
23. Select a date and time to send the message using the "Schedule Time" picker.
24. Select a time zone for the date and time you just entered from the "Time Zone" drop-down list.
25. Click the "Next" button.
26. Review the summary and, if correct, click the "Send" button.  If you want to test the message by sending it to a single recipient, click the "Send Test Message" button, enter an e-mail address and click "Send".  You can optionally save the message as a draft to send later using the "Save Draft" button.

{% embed url="<https://vimeo.com/1181409947?fe=ci&fl=sv&share=copy>" %}

## Sending Messages Using Templates

{% hint style="info" %}
For information on creating templates for GAP Comms Messages, see [Managing Comms Templates](/administration/comms/managing-comms-templates.md).
{% endhint %}

1. From the GAP Comms home screen, click the "Create New Message" button.
2. Enter a name for the message in the "Name" text box.  This is not shown to recipients, it is used to identify the message in the GAP Comms user interface.
3. Select the template to base the message upon using the "Template" drop-down list.
4. If e-mail is selected as a bearer, select a priority for the messages from the "Priority" picker.
5. Click the "Next" button.
6. If required, amend the subject using the "Subject" text box.
7. If required, amend the text the "Message" text box / rich text editor and format it as desired.  You can use the parentheses button (<i class="fa-brackets-curly">:brackets-curly:</i>) to insert placeholders (such as recipient name, e-mail address and phone number) into the body of the resulting message.
8. Click the "Next" button.
9. If required, amend whether the messages should require an acknowledgement of receipt, the selection of a response, or no action, using the "Request Response" picker.
10. If "Responses" is selected, add a response option (e.g. "Yes", "No", "Maybe") into the "Response Options" text box.
11. Click the "+ Add Response" button to add more.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 as required.
13. If you want to the message to be re-sent if the recipient does not respond, check the "Enable Resending" check box.
14. Select how many times the message should be re-sent using the "Number of Resends" drop-down list.
15. Select how frequently the message should be re-sent using the "Delay Between Each Resend" drop-down list.
16. Click the "Next" button.
17. Select the criteria used to determine the recipients of the message from the "Conditions" section.
18. Click the "+ Add Condition" button to add more.
19. Repeat steps 17 and 18 as required.
20. Preview the recipients using the "View Recipients" button.
21. Click the "Next" button.
22. If you want to schedule the message so it is sent later, check the "Send Later" check box.
23. Select a date and time to send the message using the "Schedule Time" picker.
24. Select a time zone for the date and time you just entered from the "Time Zone" drop-down list.
25. Click the "Next" button.
26. Review the summary and, if correct, click the "Send" button.  If you want to test the message by sending it to a single recipient, click the "Send Test Message" button, enter an e-mail address and click "Send".  You can optionally save the message as a draft to send later using the "Save Draft" button.

{% embed url="<https://vimeo.com/1181426380?fe=ci&fl=sv&share=copy>" %}

## Sending Follow-Up Messages

See [Managing Messages](/monitoring-and-response/mass-comms/managing-messages.md#send-follow-up-messages).