Write your message
Why this matters
Every message part is charged, so the length and character set of your text affect the price. The Text Message section shows both as you type.
Steps
- On the Send New tab, go to Text Message.
- Type your message in the box.
- To add a value from your sheet, put the cursor where it should go and choose a column from the merge field list. See Merge fields.
- To add an emoji, click the Emojis button. Emojis change the character set; see below.
- Check the size line under the box before you preview.
The size line
Under the message ExcelSend shows how many characters it has and how many parts it will take, and which alphabet it uses:
| Alphabet | One part | Each part when split |
|---|---|---|
| Standard alphabet | 160 characters | 153 characters |
| Latin1 | 140 characters | 134 characters |
| Advanced alphabet | 70 characters | 67 characters |
“Approximately” appears when your message has merge fields, because each merged message is a different length. The preview gives the exact size of each one.
Alerts appear under the message when they apply:
- Advanced alphabet: a character outside the standard set has shrunk the allowed size. The characters are highlighted so you can replace them.
- Multiple parts.: “Your message is long so will go out in multiple parts. Each part is chargeable.”
- Using merge fields: some merged messages may be longer, and cost more, than others.
More detail in SMS message parts.
Save and reuse a message
- With the message in the box, click the Save button.
- Enter a message name, up to 25 characters, and click save. The status bar shows “message was saved”.
To use a saved message, click Open, search your saved messages and choose one.
Common problems
The message went from 1 part to 3 A character from outside the standard alphabet, often an emoji or a curly quote pasted from Word or email, switched the whole message to the advanced alphabet. Look for the highlighted characters and retype them.
The part count says “Approximately” Your message has merge fields. Check the size of the longest messages in the preview.