Auto reply to SMS & MMS

You can activate an auto reply on the virtual number where you receive SMS and MMS. The sender will directly receive an auto reply as soon as their message is received in our system. You will compose the auto reply yourself.

Go to Resources in you Toolbox and click the arrow next to the virtual number or keyword. Click ”Auto reply”, and make the following adjustments:

  1. Activate –Check this box to activate the automatic reply.
  2. Originator –Choose what sender id you want the auto reply to have. You can choos between a text of a maximum of 11 characters (a-z A-Z 1-9), a phone number or reply-SMS. If you want to user reply-SMS, type Autoreply in the Originator field.
  3. Auto reply –This is where you compose the messages that you want us to send in the auto reply.
  4. Update – Saves your settings.

Dynamic auto replies

Use this functionality if you need to use different replies depending on content, time of day etc.

You achieve this by typing code in the Message box. Use the open language Django.
Below some examples are listed along with available variables.
If you want to do more advanced programming, you can read more here: http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.2/ref/templates/builtins/.

You have access to the following variables:

  • Message – the entire received message
  • Words – a list of words in the received message, without punctuation, lowercase letters. It is possible to index, for example:{{Words.0}} {{Words.1}}
  • Now – a datetime in GMT when the message was received
    Now.weekday gives 0-6, 0 is monday
    Now.month gives 1-12
  • Originator – the senders mobile number
  • SupplierId – TellusTalks log id for the transaction
  • GroupEvent – event directed to an address book
    Possible values: START – join, MESSAGE – message sent to the group, STOP – leave the group, REPLY – someone replies,
    START_request – someone wants to join a closed group, SEND_request – non moderator tries to send message to the group, unknown_user – message from non group member.
  • GroupMember – (True/False) if it is a member sending the message
  • GroupModerator – (True/False), if it is a moderator sending the message

Exampels of dynamic replies

If the word Pizza is in the received message, the following reply should be sent:
”This is the recipe for pizza…”
Type in the Message field:
{%if ”pizza” in Message|lower %}
This is the recipe for pizza…
{%endif%}

If it is earlier than Thursday and the clock is not yet 14:00 the reply is:
”Thank you! We will get back to you within 4 hours”
At other times the reply will be:
”Thank you! We will get back to you tomorrow”

Type in the Message field:

{%if Now.weekday < 4 and Now|date:”H” < 14 %}
Thank you! We will get back to you within 4 hours
{%else%}
Thank you! We will get back to you tomorrow
{%endif%}
If it is Thursday and the clock is not yet 14:00 the reply is:
”Thank you! We will get back to you within 4 hours”
At other times the reply will be:
”Thank you! We will get back to you on Monday”
Type in the Message field:
{%if Now.weekday == 4 and Now|date:”H” < 14 %}
Thank you! We will get back to you within 4 hours
{%else%}
Thank you! We will get back to you on Monday
{%endif%}
If it is later than Thursday the reply is:
”Thank you! We will get back to you on Monday”
Type in the Message field:
{%if Now.weekday > 4%}
Thank you! We will get back to you on Monday
{%endif%}
If you want the first three words of the received message to be included in the auto reply:
Your message {{Words.0}} {{Words.1}} {{Words.2}} … has been received.