{"id":1036,"date":"2026-10-26T18:58:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T13:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smppcenter.com\/kb\/?p=1036"},"modified":"2026-10-26T18:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T13:28:09","slug":"send-customised-sms-file-upload","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smppcenter.com\/kb\/send-customised-sms-file-upload\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Send Customised SMS Using File Upload"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sending the same message to 50,000 people is easy. Sending 50,000 different messages, each with the customer’s name, an amount or an order number, is where most people get stuck. File Upload Custom is the feature that does it, and this guide covers it end to end so you can hand it to a customer or use it when supporting one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three different file upload modes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before anything else, be clear which one the customer needs. The compose screen has separate options and they behave differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mode<\/th>What the file contains<\/th>Message comes from<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
File Upload (Mobile)<\/strong><\/td>One mobile number per row<\/td>The message box in the panel, same text for everyone<\/td><\/tr>
File Upload (Mobile with Message)<\/strong><\/td>Phone and Message columns<\/td>The file. The message box is disabled<\/td><\/tr>
File Upload Custom<\/strong><\/td>Phone, optional Message, plus up to 10 custom columns<\/td>Either the file or the message box, with variables filled from the file<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This guide is about the third one. If the customer only needs one fixed message, the first mode is simpler and harder to get wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What file types you can upload<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CSV, XLS, XLSX and TXT. You can also zip a file of any of those types and upload the zip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the Download Sample File<\/strong> link on the compose screen before building anything. It gives you the exact structure, and it saves the usual round of failed uploads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 1: the message lives in the file<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the most flexible option, because every row can carry a completely different message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build the file like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Column A header: Phone<\/code><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Column B header: Message<\/code><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Column C header: $CUSTOM1$<\/code><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Column D header: $CUSTOM2$<\/code><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    You can use up to 10 custom columns, from Column C through Column L<\/strong>, so $CUSTOM1$<\/code> to $CUSTOM10$<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then fill the rows. Put the mobile numbers in Column A, write the message in Column B with the variable names inside it, and put the values for those variables in the custom columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Phone<\/th>Message<\/th>$CUSTOM1$<\/th>$CUSTOM2$<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    91xxxxxxxxx1<\/td>hello $CUSTOM1$ please pay USD $CUSTOM2$<\/td>Joe<\/td>200<\/td><\/tr>
    91xxxxxxxxx2<\/td>hello $CUSTOM1$ please pay USD $CUSTOM2$<\/td>Simon<\/td>100<\/td><\/tr>
    91xxxxxxxxx3<\/td>hello $CUSTOM1$ please pay USD $CUSTOM2$<\/td>Kumar<\/td>150<\/td><\/tr>
    91xxxxxxxxx4<\/td>hello $CUSTOM1$ please pay USD $CUSTOM2$<\/td>Gupta<\/td>350<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    At send time, each row’s message has its variables swapped for that row’s values, so Joe gets “hello Joe please pay USD 200”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Include the country code with every number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Method 2: the message lives in the panel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the message wording is the same for everyone and only the values change, leave the Message column out of the file entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Phone<\/th>$CUSTOM1$<\/th>$CUSTOM2$<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    91xxxxxxxxx1<\/td>Joe<\/td>200<\/td><\/tr>
    91xxxxxxxxx2<\/td>Simon<\/td>100<\/td><\/tr>
    91xxxxxxxxx3<\/td>Kumar<\/td>150<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Then on the compose screen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Upload the file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. In Select Mobile Number Column<\/strong>, choose the header that holds the mobile numbers. The dropdown lists the headers found in your file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Click in the message box and write the message.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. To insert a variable, click the airplay icon<\/strong> inside the message box. A dropdown of the available custom variables appears, and the one you pick is inserted at the cursor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      This method is usually the better one for regular campaigns. The file stays small and clean, and the wording is fixed in one place instead of repeated on every row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Every other field on the compose screen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Identifier.<\/strong> A title for the campaign so you can recognise it later in reports. Use something meaningful, like “Oct dues reminder batch 2”, not “test”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Send Type.<\/strong> Pre-set to File Upload and not editable here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Sender ID.<\/strong> Pick an approved sender ID from the dropdown. You can set a default sender ID in the Sender ID section so it loads automatically on the compose page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Message Type.<\/strong> Text uses the GSM 03.38 character set. Unicode uses the Unicode set for regional scripts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Transliterate.<\/strong> With Unicode selected, you can type in English and press space to convert into the language chosen in the dropdown. Typing “Namaste” with Hindi selected gives \u0928\u092e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0947.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Enable Smart Link.<\/strong> Turning this on shows a Smart Link Title field, and adds Smart Link and Media Link options under the message box. Both open a dialog where you add a new link or pick a saved one, and the link is appended to the message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Append HTTP.<\/strong> Controls whether https:\/\/<\/code> appears in your smart links. Setting it to false removes it and saves roughly 6 to 8 characters, which matters when you are close to a segment boundary. The trade off is that some recipients hesitate to tap a link with no visible https, so test on a small batch first. Default is true, which is the recommended setting. Over the API this is appendHTTP=true<\/code> or appendHTTP=false<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Remove Duplicates.<\/strong> On by default, and it strips duplicate numbers across single, multiple, group and file upload sends. You can switch it off if a customer genuinely needs to message the same number twice, but it is not recommended, because some operators fail repeat traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Send as Flash SMS.<\/strong> Sends as a flash message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Text Message.<\/strong> Where the content goes when you are using method 2. You can mix text and Unicode in one message, but the whole message is then costed as Unicode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      DLT Templates List.<\/strong> Lists templates for the selected sender ID. Choosing one appends it to the message box and fills in the DLT Template ID for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      DLT Template ID.<\/strong> Only needed if you typed the template content in manually instead of picking it from the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Save Message Content as Draft.<\/strong> Saves what is in the message box so you can reuse it later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Schedule.<\/strong> Pick a future date and time. You can change or cancel it later from the Manage Schedule menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Enable Campaign Manager.<\/strong> Appears once Schedule is on, and sends the campaign in chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n