Define content for an alert

The Content section is used to define the key parts of an alert in the BlackBerry AtHoc system: the title, the body, the type, and any response options, website links, attachments, and location details that are relevant.

  1. To create an alert or alert template in a language other than the default language displayed on the screen, click the button beside the Type field and select a language. This does not change the language displayed on the screen. Instead, it changes the language that the message is delivered in. If text-to-speech is enabled, the audio portion of the sent alert will be in the language you selected.
  2. In the Severity field, select a severity level from the list.
    Important: High severity is reserved for extreme emergencies. On the mobile app, it overrides the device sound settings to play any sounds associated with the alert or alert template.
  3. In the Title field, enter a one-line summary that communicates the purpose of the alert or alert template. The maximum number of characters is 100. The title is required and displays at the top of the recipients' screen when the alert is sent out.
  4. Optionally, to insert a placeholder into the alert or alert template title, click The Expand icon and select the placeholder from the list.
  5. In the Body field, enter up to 4000 characters of text that communicate why the alert has been sent and provide instructions to the target audience.
  6. In the Type field, select the type that fits with the alert or alert template you are creating.
  7. In the Response Options field, do one of the following:
    • Click Custom Response Options to view and select from a list of pre-set responses.
    • Click Add Response Option to define one or more responses that alert recipients can send to let you know that they have received the message.
      Note: Targeted users in countries that have a provisioned SMS country code can respond to SMS alerts. Users in countries that do not have a provisioned country code cannot respond to SMS alerts.
  8. Optionally, in the Add Bilingual section, click Add.
    1. On the Translation Language dialog, click Change Language.
    2. Select a language from the Select Language pull-down menu. The Title, Body, and Response Options are displayed in the original language on the left and in the selected language on the right.
    3. Review the translated text and make any necessary edits.
    4. Click Apply.
  9. Optionally, in the More Info Link field, enter one of the following:
    • A URL that opens a webpage where users can get more details about the alert. When users receive the alert, a For more info link in it will take them to the webpage.
    • A URL that opens an attachment (media or documents) stored on Dropbox.
    Note: To include the URL in SMS alerts, the SMS alert template must contain a [TargetUrl] placeholder. For more information, see "Configure the hosted gateway for cloud services" in the BlackBerry AtHoc System Settings and Configuration guide.
  10. If you entered a URL in the previous step, click Test URL to verify that the link works correctly.
  11. Optionally, in the Location section, click Add to access a map where you can select a geographic area for the alert or alert template. This location can also be used to target users by location. For more information, see Target by location.
  12. Optionally, in the Location section, if you have selected a location, select Enable Geofence Targeting to target users who enter the location after the alert is sent.
  13. Optionally, in the Attachments section, drag and drop or click Browse to select files to include as attachments in the alert.
  14. Configure the Target users section.