Configure SMS

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Lock.gif| Permissions required
to access this module:
Section:
Contact Management
Permission(s):
Access notices management screen
Set up and modify a Text Messaging account

PARS can send SMS messages for various reasons, such as truancy/absence, school closure, sports team meetings, behaviour awards, etc. SMS messages can be sent to internal or external contacts. For this you will need an account with textanywhere who are the SMS provider that we work with.

This page is used to input the details of your Text Anywhere account, as well as configure some preferences. Please note that your proxy server details must be correct for SMS messages to send.

This page is accessed via:
PARS main menu > Contact management > Configure > Configure SMS

Account details

There are two tabs at the top of this page - one for your Text Anywhere account details and another to configure SMS preferences.

Click the link that says "Here" to go to Text Anywhere's website. You can setup an account for free which will provide you with 50 free SMS messages. The messages never expire so you can create a free account whenever you like without any drawbacks. The number of SMS credits remaining in your account is shown on the external contact page.

Gscsms01.1.jpg

Once you have created an account, enter the Client identifier and Client password into PARS. Please note that the Client identifier is not an email address and will normally be in the format shown in the screenshot above. Once you have entered those details, contact us at TASC Software to obtain your authorisation code. You can either use the email address provided or ring 01902 824281.

Once all details on this page are entered, click "Save" at the top-left. Then click the "Test" button which will open a window - enter your mobile number and click "OK".

Options

If you click the "Options" tab at the top of the page, you can configure SMS preferences.

Gscsmsoptions.jpg

Reply to email address
This option should not be used as it has been superseded by a job run by the automation module. Any replies sent by parents will be forwarded via email to the staff member who sent the original SMS message, and/or a central email address.

Use separate reply to for detentions
If you are using an email address to receive SMS replies (above), then you can use this option to specify a separate email address that will receive replies to SMS messages sent via the edit detention page.

Originator
If this field is blank then SMS message sent from PARS will come from a random telephone number (which will never change). You can enter text or numbers here, which will replace the random number. You might want your SMS messages to come from "TASC School" or something similar, rather than a phone number. If you enter something into this field, parents will not be able to reply.

Use SSL connection
If your messages are being blocked by your proxy server, then tick this option.