Desktop Alert Software v.4.4 by BusinessAlerts

Dedicated Version Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                Latest Version: 4.4, Rev.3

Last Updated: 23 July, 2009 7:00 PM IST

 

 

Contents                                           Pages

1.       Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 3

1.1   How does it work? …………………………………………………………… 4

1.2   Who might benefit from it? …………………………………………….. 5

1.3   Key Features ……………………………………………………………………. 7

1.4   Hardware and Software Requirements ……………………………  10

1.5   Licensing ………………………………………………………………………….. 10

2.       Server Component (called Control Panel) ………………………………. 11

2.1   Pre-requisites ………………………………………………………………….. 11

2.2   Customization …………………………………………………………………. 11

2.3   Installation ………………………………………………………………………. 11

2.4   Usage ………………………………………………………………………………. 11

3.       Client Component (called Desktop Application) …………………….. 12

3.1   Pre-requisites ………………………………………………………………….. 12

3.2   Customization …………………………………………………………………. 12

3.3   Installation & Activation ………………………………………………….. 12

3.4   Usage ………………………………………………………………………………. 13

4.       Alert Campaigns …………………………………………………………………….. 15

4.1   What is a Alert Campaign ………………………………………………… 15

4.2   Creating  a New Alert Campaign ……………………………………… 15

4.3   Re-Customizing Existing Alert Campaign ……………………….... 19

5.       Sending Alert Messages ………………………………………………………... 19

5.1   Add & Manage Subscribers ……………………………………………… 19

5.2    Add & Manage Message Templates ……………………………….. 23

5.3   Create and Send Alert Messages …………………………………….. 26

5.4   Check the Audit Reports …….……………………………………….….. 29

6.       Sending SMS Messages………………………………………………………….. 34

6.1    Add & Manage Mobile Numbers ……………………………………. 34

6.2   Create and Send SMS Messages ……………………………………… 37

6.3   Check the SMS Audit Records …………………………………………. 39

7.       API Usage ……………………………………………………………………………… 42

7.1   Who needs it ………………………………………………………………….. 42

7.2   How to use it ………………………………………………………………….. 42

8.       Desktop Alert Administrator ……………………………………………….… 43

8.1   Pre-requisites …………………………………………………………….…… 43

8.2   Installation & Activation …………………………………………….…… 43

8.3   Sending Desktop & SMS Alert Messages …………………….….. 44

9.       Optional Features …………………………………………………………….…… 45

9.1   Alert RSS / XML Feeds …………………………………………………….. 45

9.2   Alert Surveys ………………………………………………………………….. 46

9.3   Personal Alert Messages ………………………………………………… 49

9.4   Encrypted Alerts (256 bit) ……………………………………………… 51

10.   Help ……………………………………………………………………………..……... 51

10.1            FAQs …………………………………………………………………..…… 51

10.2            Forum ……………………………………………………………………… 52

10.3            Call Us …………………………………………………………………….. 52

10.4            Chat with us ……………………………………………………………. 52

10.5            Email Us ………………………………………………………………….. 52

 

 

 

 

1.           Introduction

Desktop Alert and Mobile Alert Software by BusinessAlerts offers an Instant and Secure communication channel between a business and its customer.


Its offers Instant Delivery of Alerts Messages to Customer Desktop as well as SMS Alerts to their mobiles. It can also undertake Customer Surveys as well as send Personal Messages to your customers.
It has No Spam or Virus Issues, has Multiple-Language Support, is Economical, and needs No other software to run.  Alerts Messages are Rich Text / HTML / Audio and Video Capable. There is a Full Audits of messages sent / viewed. It has the Ability to Create Time Limited Trial or Demo versions as well as Paid Subscriptions. It also has Full Desktop Alerts API Implementation which can automate the various webmaster tasks. It has 256 bit Encryption features which protect your data from hackers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1 How does it work?

 

 

In Dedicated Version of Desktop Alerts, Interface Tier and Server Tier are located at the Service Provider Server Facility while Application Tier is installed at their Customer Desktop.

1.2 Who might benefit from it?

 

All business and websites can use our Desktop Alerts to their advantage.

 

These are just some of the uses of Desktop Alerts, there can be many more.

Do you use Emails for sending messages to your customers?
If Yes, you should look at using Desktop Alerts instead or in addition to emails because :

Our Desktop alerts, on the other hand, face no spam issues.

There is no such issue with our Desktop Alerts.

Our Desktop Alerts doesn't require any Email address to deliver your messages.

Our Desktop Alerts will deliver your message as it is.

Our Desktop Alerts will guarantee that messages will be delivered at the time you set.

Our Desktop Alerts gives full Audit and Stats on Application installed, Messages sent and Messages Read.

But our Customized Desktop Alerts will make your Brand always visible on customers desktop and help immensely in building up your brand's image.

 

 

 

1.3 Key Features

 

Alerts on the Desktop

Our Desktop Alert application delivers the alert messages on your customer's computer screens within few seconds ensuring high visibility and impact of your messages.

Alerts on the Mobile

Our Mobile Alert application delivers the alert messages on your customer's mobile phones as SMS within few seconds ensuring that your mobile customers do not miss out on important alerts.

256 bit Encryption

Our Desktop Alerts Software uses industry standard 256 bit encryption so that communication between the software and the server is secure and can't be intercepted.

Instant Delivery of Alerts

Our combination of a three tier mechanism and fast algorithms ensure that your messages reach your customers within seconds. Moreover you have full control over timing of your messages so you can decide when your message will be seen by the customer.

Branded Application customized to your needs.

Customization includes but is not limited to application icon, splash graphic, window dimensions, hyperlinks and titles.

Multiple Alert Campaigns

You can even add more than one Alert Campaign to the same Control Panel and manage all the campaigns from one place. Each Campaign has its own Custom Branded Desktop Application.

Multiple Concurrent Alert Messages

Multi Threaded Application doesn't get blocked by the un-responded messages, it continues to show the new messages in new tabs so you can be confident that your messages will reach your customers in time.

Multiple Templates for your use

You will be able to use lots of custom pre-designed templates to help you send messages quickly. Further, you will be able to create your own templates and use them in your campaigns.

Spam Free and Virus / Malware Free

You will be able to deliver your messages to your customers bypassing clutter of spam emails and virus attachments. Also, your customers can be assured that their privacy is protected with us since this software doesn't collect any information from their computer.

More Efficient and Effective than Emails

Studies have proven that our Alerts method is a much more efficient and effective way to deliver your messages to your customers which will result in a greatly increased response rate.

No Extra Software required to run

Desktop alerts is a fully standalone application and doesn't require any other software other than your current operating system to function.

Create Rich Text, HTML, Audio, Video & Flash Content Alerts

You can embed any rich text, html, audio, video, flash components in your messages to give your customers a more enriching experience.

Send Personal Alerts

Desktop Alerts gives you the capability of sending alerts to just one member at a time thus making it a person-to-person message.

Send Group Wise Alerts

You have the ability to send Alert Messages to certain Groups of people satisfying one or more criteria thus allowing you pin point accuracy.

Full Audit Trail

Full Audit Trail of Messages sent / viewed / deleted is available in the Control Panel so that you can gauge effectiveness of your campaigns.

Full Featured API Implementation

If you wish, you can use Desktop Alerts API to fully automate your sending of alerts without leaving your website. API provides you with easy to use methods to manage your alert messages.

Desktop Surveys using Alerts

Our Desktop Alert software allows campaign owners to take Surveys from their customers thus getting important feedback about their services. Campaign owners can create and manage surveys as well as see the results in the control panel.

Mobile Surveys using SMS

Our Alert software allows campaign owners to send Survey Request SMS to their customers mobiles and collect responses from them thus getting important feedback from their mobile customers about their services. Every SMS is tracked for its response

IP / Geographical Location based Alerts

You have the ability to send Alerts only to desktops with a particular IP address or desktops in any particular geographical location.

Create Time Limited Trials

You can provide Alert service to your customers on a Trial basis by creating a Time Limited Trial Code from within the Control Panel which will expire after a stipulated time period.

Automatic Updates

Desktop Alerts software will update itself whenever a new update is available so that any bugs / new features / security enhancements can be taken care of automatically.

Personal Reminder Service

Your Customers will also be able to use the Personal Reminder Service Feature of Desktop Alerts in which they can set Reminders for specific events so that the Alert is issued at the desired time.

Issue Emergency Alerts

Desktop Alerts provides you with capability of issuing Emergency Alerts which causes Alert to be displayed very prominently on user desktop along with an alarm siren sound and the user has to acknowledge and click on the alert to clear it from the screen.

Advanced Control Panel

Business Alerts provides you with an advanced control panel free of charge to manage your alerts. You will be able to manage all aspects of the alerts and examine their audit trails.

 

 

 

 

 

1.4 Hardware and Software Requirements

 

1         Server Component (Control Panel): 

·         Web Server (Apache / IIS / any other)

·         PHP Support (at least version 5.0 or above)

·         MySQL Database Server (at least version 4.3 or above)

2         Client Component (Desktop Application):

·         Windows 2000 /  Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7

 

Any Special Firewall Configuration:  None because Desktop application uses Standard HTTP Port (80) for communication.

Any Proxy Configuration: None because Desktop Application uses Pre-configured Proxy Information from Internet Explorer settings. 

 

1.5 Licensing

 

License for “Dedicated version of Desktop Alerts” entitles you to

·         have your own Dedicated Control Panel on your own server

·         Offer unlimited messaging capabilities without any usage charges.  

·         You will get One Alerts Campaign and its Custom Desktop Application but you can also order more Campaigns and application as per requirements. Additional Campaigns will be charged extra.

You can Request for Quote for Dedicated Desktop Alerts Software by submitting Form at http://www.alertsdesktop.com/desktop_alert_signup.php?product=dedicated

 

 

 

 

 

2. Server Component (called Control Panel)

 

This component comprises set of PHP Scripts and has to be installed on the Web Server and requires PHP 5 or above and MySQL Database 4.3 or above.

 

2.1 Pre-Requisites:

·         Web Server (Apache / IIS / any other)

·         PHP Support (at least version 5.0 or above)

·         1 MySQL Database (MySQL Database Server  at least version 4.3 or above)

2.2 Customization:  

 

Some of the features which can be customized or removed as per requirements

·         SMS Feature

·         Encryption Feature

·         Personal Message Feature

·         Personal Reminder Feature

·         Add-on Managers Feature

·         Emergency Message Feature

·         IP / Geo-location feature

2.3 Installation:

 

Control Panel can be installed by any experienced webmaster or it will be installed by BusinessAlerts Technical Staff free of any charges. All installation instructions are provided with the installation file.

2.4 Usage:

After installation, you can login into the Control Panel using your login and password and start managing your Alert Software. Please refer to Section 4 to see basic functionality of sending alert messages and Section 5 for sending SMS messages.

3. Client Component (called Desktop Application)

This component comprises Windows based Desktop application which sits on your customer desktop and deliver instant messages to your customers.

3.1 Pre-Requisites:

·         Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7

3.2 Customization:

Almost all features can be customized as per the requirements

·         Application Icon

·         Application Links

·         Alert Sounds

·         Alert Check Intervals

·         Size of Alert Windows

·         Position of Alert Windows

·         Any Advertisement s add-ons

3.3 Installation & Activation:

·         Windows Installer (single exe file) will be provided with each Desktop Alert Campaign which will install application on customer computer.

·         After installation, activation screen will come up where customer has to enter his/her Subscriber Email and password.  Please refer to Section 4.1 to see how to add Subscribers.

 

·         On successful activation, application will show a Success message otherwise Error message will be shown.

3.4 Usage

 

·         After successful installation and activation of the Desktop Alert Application, Alert messages will start coming automatically from the Control Panel.

 

·         Customer  can even better manage the incoming messages using many options available using the Context Menu (Right Click on System Tray Icon)

 

 

 

 

 

Menu Items:  

 

About:

Here you can see Desktop Alerts software version, Copyright Notices, Disclaimers and Links to your website.

Options:

Here you can set various options like Sound Alert in which you can select default or customized sound to play when new alert arrives.

Snooze:

Here you can set Alert application to sleep mode over time interval. No Alerts will be shown during this period.

Auto Close Timer:

Here you set the time taken for Alert window to close itself automatically. You can also set this option "Off" so that Alert Window doesn’t go away until you press the button. This can be useful for important alerts.

Window Position:

Here you can set the position of Alert Window which pops up whenever there is new alert. You may choose from any of the 8 positions across the screen namely Top Left, Top Middle, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Middle, Bottom Right, Left Center and Right Center. With this option you can avoid too much clutter around system tray area of your desktop.

Sign In / Sign Out:

You can Sign out of Desktop Alerts so that no Alerts are fetched from your account till you Sign In again. This can be useful when you are away from computer for extended periods of time.

Alerts Log:

Here you can open previous Alerts Log window showing all previous alerts as they appeared. This can be useful in case you didn’t saw them before. You can clear the Log when required.

Visit Us:

This opens up website of your service provider.

Help:

Help Page.

Exit:

Here you can close the alerts application

 

4. Alert Campaigns

 

4.1 What is a Alert Campaign

 

Alert Campaigns are fundamental unit of our Desktop Alert System. All the Alert Messages, SMS Alerts, Subscriptions and Reports are categorized campaign wise.

Each Alert Campaign comprises of

·         Separate Space in Database and Website Pages

·         Custom Desktop Alert Application

You can have more than one campaigns running at the same time. Each campaign will have its own customized desktop alert application and can be managed independently of other campaigns.

4.2 Creating a New Alert Campaign

 

Login to your Control Panel and go to the “New Campaign” page in the “CAMPAIGNS” Section.  There you can give a Name to your Campaign and “Proceed to Software Customization”.

On Software Customization page, you will see various Application parameters you can customize. They include Application Language, Website Link, Application Active / Snooze System Tray Icons, Alert Sound, Alert window height and width and any other Special Feature required.

After you fill in all the values and click submit, you will go to the preview screen where you can confirm all the parameters. If there is any error during uploading of some file, you will see the error message on Software Customization page.

 After you preview and confirm the order, order details will be sent to us and we will start working on creating the new application which may take 5 minutes to few hours depending upon features required.

General Help for Customizing Application

Alert Campaign: This is the fundamental unit of our Desktop Alert System. All the Alert Messages, SMS Alerts, Subscriptions and Reports are categorized campaign wise.

Typically you will create an new Campaign when you need your own Brand Identity for sending your Alert Messages. You will get a Customized Desktop Alert Application for each of your campaigns. You can create as many campaigns as you want and manage them easily using this control panel.

New Campaign: You can create a New Campaign by filling in below mentioned parameters for the Control Panel and Custom Desktop Application.

While the application is being created, you will see Application “In Development” screen like this.

When ready, application will be available for download from “Current Campaigns” page. 

4.3 Re-Customizing Existing Alert Campaign

 

To re-customize your existing campaign application, you just have to click on link next to “Want to Re-customize again?”  And you will be taken to the Software Customization Form as shown in Section 4.2.

You can just fill in the values again and Re-Submit Customization Order which will be processed promptly by us. There is no limit on no of re-customizations you can do, so that you can keep trying till you get the required looks and functionality of the desktop application.

 

5. Sending Alert Messages

Simple steps for sending Alert messages to your subscribers for the first time are

1.       Create Alert Subscriptions (see Section 4.1) and send “Subscriber Emails” and “Password” along with the link to download Desktop Application Installer to your subscribers so that they can install and activate their applications.

2.       Modify Default Alert Template or Create New Template (Section 4.2) for your Messages.

3.       Create New Message (Section 4.3), select the Template to use and Send the Message.

5.1 Add & Manage Subscribers

Login to your Control Panel and go to the “Alert Subscriptions” page in the “SUBSCRIPTIONS” Section. Here you will see all your current subscriptions.

To add a new Subscription, click on “Add New Subscription” Link and you will see form to create new subscription. You can either create a Fixed Time Period Subscription Suitable for Demo / Trial / Fixed Quotas. This type of subscription expires after a fixed time period unless you manually renew it from the control panel.

Or you can create a Recurring Subscription [Suitable for Normal User Accounts]

Recurring Subscriptions don’t expire and automatically renew after the given period. You will need to manually expire or delete this subscription whenever you need to disable that subscriber.

 

General Help for Creating Alert Subscriptions

Alert Subscriptions: These subscriptions are meant for managing your Campaign Subscribers.

Typically you will create a subscription for your subscriber and send that information (email and password) to your subscriber along with download link to your custom desktop alert application. Subscriber can then install the application and activate it using the subscriber information you sent to them. After successful activation, your subscriber will start receiving all the alerts you send to its campaign.

New Subscription: You can create New Subscription for each of your subscribers or you can use same subscription for many of your subscribers as in case of Trial / Demo versions.

Subscription Types:

Fixed Time Period Subscription: This Subscription type is fixed time period subscription in which subscription expires after a defined time interval. This type of subscription is useful for creating demo or trial or group based alert solutions. Various Fields of this type of Subscription are

Recurring Subscription: This Subscription Type is generally used for normal individual subscriptions in which you give unique subscription info (Subscription Email and Password) to each of your subscribers. This enables you to manage each subscriber independently for renewal / expiry etc. This type of subscription automatically renews and does not expire till you manually expire it from Alert Subscriptions page. Various Fields of this type of Subscription are

 

After adding subscription, you will be able to manage subscription (Renew / Expire / Delete) using dropdown provided.

 

5.2 Add & Manage Message Templates

 

Alert Message Templates are HTML based templates and act as a framework (or scaffolding) which is combined with Alert Message to create a Complete Alert which is then delivered to the desktop.

Login to your Control Panel and go to the “Alert Templates” page in the “ALERTS” Section. Here you will see all your current templates.

 

To create a New Alert Template, click on “Create New Alert Template” and you will see the New Template Creation Form with WYSIWYG Editor. By using this editor along with the “Replacement Variables”, you will be able to create the New Alert Template.

Please make sure you use proper Replacement variables (Alert Message is a must) while designing Alert Templates. To use any replacement variable, just select it from dropdown list and press Insert button and their variable will be inserted at the current cursor position in the template.

General Help for creating the New Template

Alert Templates: This is basically a framework (or scaffolding) which is combined with Alert Message to create a Complete Alert which is then delivered to the desktop.

Campaign owners use these templates to separate the visual design (html, images etc.) from the actual alert messages so that they can create the design framework one time and use that framework again and again in their alert messages. This saves a lot of time by eliminating need for re-typing of entire alert and also standardizing design for the campaign. Clients can create as many templates as they want and re-use these templates in their campaigns.

These Templates must contain Replacement Placeholders [like $alert_title, $alert_message, $alert_date , $alert_time etc.] which are then replaced by the actual data when the Alert is sent. You don't need to remember all these variables; you can just use the "Insert On-the-Fly Replacement Variables" Drop down Menu, Select and Insert that Replacement Placeholder into your template. Any template must have at least $alert_message placeholder for the actual Alert Message.

New Template: You can create New Alert Template in Simple Text Input Mode or Rich Text / HTML Mode. In Rich Text Mode, you will see WYSIWYG editor to design your Template while you will see simple text box in Simple Text Input mode.

Various Fields to create Alert Template are

 

5.3 Create and Send Alert Messages

 

Login to your Control Panel and go to the “Alert Messages” page in the “ALERTS” Section. Here you will see all your current messages.

To create New Alert Message, click on “Create New Alert Message” and you will see New Message form which comprises a WYSIWYG editor, Alert Template Selector Dropdown, Alert Title and Expiry Period.

After filling in the Alert Title, Alert Message, Alert Template and Expiry Interval, click “Send Alert” and alert message will be sent to all the Campaign Subscribers.

 

After posting message, you will be able to see its status on “Alert Messages” page. Here you can Edit the message or Preview it as it will appear on your subscriber desktop.

You will see the Title, Current Status, Creation and Expiry Date for each Alert.

You can also Activate / Disable / Delete any of the Alert Messages.

General Help for creating Alert Message

Alert Messages: These are the messages which appear on the subscriber's desktops.

These messages are often used along with Alert Templates to create different messages for the subscribers. You can place all the design elements of Alert like Fonts, Colors, and Sizes etc. in the template while actual text message can be typed in the Alert Message box. Further, you can create as many templates as you want and can use any of them while sending alerts.

New Alert Message: You can create New Alert Message in Simple Text Input Mode or Rich Text / HTML Mode. In Rich Text Mode, you will see WYSIWYG editor to type your message while you will see simple text box in Simple Text Input mode.

Various Fields to create Alert are

5.4 Check the Audit Reports

  You can a whole range of Audit reports to choose from

·         Alert Subscriptions Report: This report shows Subscriptions added, deleted, renewed, expired and installed.

·         Alert Messages Report: It shows Messages posted, viewed, expired.

·         Alert Installation Report: It shows Applications installed, their IPs, IDs, Location and Time of Install and Expiry.

·         Alert Hits Report: It shows Alert messages received, their IPs and time of receive.

You can view all these Reports in the “REPORTS” section

 

Alert Subscription Report

 

 

 

Alert Messages Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desktop Application Installation Reports

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alert Message Hits Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Reports Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Sending SMS Messages

 

Simple steps for sending SMS Alert messages to your subscribers for the first time are

1.       Create SMS Subscription (see Section 5.1) by adding the Subscriber Cell Phone number or Email Address.

2.       Create New SMS Message (Section 5.3), and Send the Message.

 

6.1 Add & Manage Mobile Numbers

 

Login to your Control Panel and go to the “SMS Subscriptions” page in the “SUBSCRIPTIONS” Section. Here you will see all your current SMS subscriptions

 

To add a new SMS Subscription, click “Add New SMS Subscription” and you will see the New SMS Subscription form.

You can either create a Fixed Time Period Subscription Suitable for Demo / Trial / Fixed Quotas. This type of subscription expires after a fixed time period unless you manually renew it from the control panel.

 

 

Or you can create a Recurring Subscription [Suitable for Normal User Accounts]

Recurring Subscriptions don’t expire and automatically renew after the given period. You will need to manually expire or delete this subscription whenever you need to disable that subscriber.

 

General Help for Creating SMS Subscriptions

SMS Subscriptions: These subscriptions are meant for managing your Campaign Mobile Subscribers which receive your message via SMS.

Typically you will create a sms subscription using your subscriber mobile phone number and start sending sms messages right away. Some cell phone service providers provide Email to SMS service in which email sent to particular email address is forwarded automatically as SMS to your subscriber's mobile phone number, in that case you may write that email address in place of SMS address in the form. You may even enter your subscriber email address if you want SMS message to be delivered to subscriber inbox.

New SMS Subscription: You can create New Fixed Period or Recurring SMS Subscription for each of your subscribers.

Subscription Types:

Fixed Time Period Subscription: This Subscription type is fixed time period subscription in which subscription expires after a defined time interval. This type of subscription is useful for creating demo or trial or group based alert solutions. Various Fields of this type of Subscription are

Recurring Subscription: This Subscription Type is generally used for normal individual subscriptions. This type of subscription automatically renews and does not expire till you manually expire it from SMS Subscriptions page. Various Fields of this type of Subscription are

 After adding subscription, you will be able to manage subscription (Renew / Expire / Delete) using dropdown provided.

 

6.2 Create and Send SMS Messages

 

Login to your Control Panel and go to the “Alert SMS” page in the “ALERTS” Section. Here you will see all your current SMS Alerts.

To create a New SMS Alert, click “Create New Alert SMS” and you will see the form to create the new SMS Message.  Put in the SMS Title, SMS Message, Expiry Period and click “Send SMS” to see SMS Alert Message.

 

Since your SMS Messages will start delivering right away, there is not much use of editing and expiry period but still you can keep the area clean by deleting expired SMS messages.

General Help for Creating SMS Message

Alert SMS: These are the messages which appear on the subscriber's mobiles in SMS Format.

These messages are simple text messages which are sent to the subscriber's mobile phones. Due to restricted memory of mobile sms networks, ideally these messages should be less than 160 characters and contain no special characters.

New SMS: You can create New SMS Alert message by entering the text message you want to send to your subscribers.

Various Fields to create SMS Alert are

 6.3 Check the SMS Audit Records

 

You can a whole range of Audit reports to choose from

·         SMS Subscriptions Report: This report shows SMS Subscriptions added, deleted, renewed and expired.

·         SMS Messages Report: It shows Messages posted, viewed, expired.

·         SMS Hits Report: It shows Alert messages received, their IPs and time of receive.

You can view all these Reports in the “REPORTS” section

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMS Subscriptions Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMS Messages Report

 

SMS Hits Report

7. API Usage

Desktop Alerts API is useful for developers who wish to create their own programs to interface with the Desktop Alerts Control Panel.

We already have a program called Desktop Alert Administrator (see Section 6) which uses this API to post Desktop and SMS Alerts.

7.1 Who needs it?

 

Anyone who wishes to directly interface with the Alerts Database rather than using the Control Panel and its web pages.  It can be any script or any desktop program or anything else which can be used to access API.

7.2 How it works?

 

You will require API Credentials from “API Details” page in “Account Section”.

First time users will have to request API credentials by clicking on the “Request API Credentials” link and their unique API Credentials are auto generated and available for usage.

After noting the API Credentials in a secure place, you can start creating your own implementation of API.

You can see all API Technical Documentation and Examples here. http://www.alertsdesktop.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=17

8. Desktop Alert Administrator

Desktop Alert Administrator is a simple tool to post alert messages right from the desktop application without going to the Control Panel. It saves quite a bit of time when you can large no of messages to post to your subscribers. It works using Alerts API so you will require the API Credentials in order to make it work.

8.1 Pre-Requisites

 

·         Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7

·         API Credentials (API Username, Password and Signature)

8.2 Installation & Activation

Installation is by simple windows based installer which will install application at place of your choice.

After installation, you will see the Activation Screen where you will have to provide your API Credentials (see Section 5)

After filling in the info, just click Activate and it will verify your information and show you the success message.

8.3 Sending Desktop & SMS Alert Messages

After activation, just click “Refresh” and it will fetch all the campaign and template data from your account. Then you can just select Campaign, Template, Expiry Period and choose Desktop Alert only / SMS Alert Only / Combined Desktop and SMS alert.

After filling Alert Title and Alert Message, just press “Send Alert” and application will attempt to send Alert Message using API. You will see success / failure status in the Status bar at bottom of the application.

 

9. Optional Features

9.1 Alert RSS / XML Feeds

 

These are the RSS XML Feeds from which Alert Messages are fetched.

These are simple RSS XML Feeds which contains the Alert Titles and Messages as its elements. This XML Feed is parsed and various pairs of Alert Title and Alert Message is derived from it and sent to the subscribers. This enables Campaign Owners to include external RSS Feeds (from their own website or some other source) as source of their Alert Messages.

Login to your Control Panel and go to “Alert Feeds” page in “ALERTS” section. You will see list of current Feeds if you have added any feed earlier.

To add a New Feed, click on “Create New Alert Feed” and you will see a form to add New Feed.

General Help for Creating New Feed

New Feed: You can add a New Alert Feed to your compaign by adding below parameters.

Various Fields to create RSS Feed are

9.2 Alert Surveys

 

Alert Surveys are a great way to get your subscriber opinion on any matter and it is very easy to quickly create and send the various kinds of Surveys to your subscribers. Your subscribers will get notification of surveys and they will be able to submit their survey opinions right from within desktop alert software itself and you will be able to see the individual as well as summary results of all your surveys in the Members Control Panel. You subscribers will also have the ability to submit the surveys at their own chosen times as well as decline the surveys.

To see all the current surveys, login to the control panel and go to “Alert Surveys” in “ALERTS” Section.

To create a New Survey, click on “Create New Alert Survey” and you will see the form to setup the Survey.

Firstly, you will see page to setup General Survey Parameter i.e.  Campaign, Survey Name, Title, show results to subscribers after they complete the survey and the time till which survey remains valid.

Then you will proceed to add Questions, Response Types and Possible Answers to the Survey. You will also specify whether Answer is required or not, if required, survey will not proceed forward without getting answer to this question. Question Format will decide the Result Report Format options available. You can add any no. of possible of answers and Save the Question. You can repeat this step and add any no. of questions and finally click “I am done” link to Save the Survey.

Then you can Preview the Survey and if it looks all right, make it “Active”.

General Help for Creating Survey

Various Fields to Create Survey are

Various Fields for Each Survey Question are:

Survey Results

·         Summary Results for each Survey can be seen by clicking “Results” on “Alert Surveys” page. 

·         Subscriber wise Results can be seen by clicking the link in the “Responses” column.

9.3 Personal Alert Messages

 

These are the alert messages which appear only on the selected subscriber's desktops.

This feature is used to send personal and group alerts to one or more subscribers. Rest all the features are same as that of regular Alerts. You can place all the design elements of Alert like Fonts, Colors, and Sizes etc. in the template while actual text message can be typed in the Alert Message box. Further, you can create as many templates as you want and can use any of them while sending alerts.

Click on “Personal Messages” link in “ALERTS” Section and you will see page showing current Personal Messages.

To add New Personal Message, click “Create New Personal Message” and you will see the New Message creation Form.

General Help for Creating New Personal Message

New Personal Message: You can create New Personal Message in Simple Text Input Mode or Rich Text / HTML Mode. In Rich Text Mode, you will see WYSIWYG editor to type your message while you will see simple text box in Simple Text Input mode.

Various Fields to create Personal Message are

 

9.4 Encrypted Alerts (256 bit)

 

These are Alerts which are encrypted before sending and decrypted only at client desktop for which alert is meant for.

Program uses “Authenticated Encryption” which ensures

·         Privacy of Data – by Encrypting data using 256 bit encryption

·         Authenticity of Data – by adding Authentication layer to prevent Data tempering

This feature has to be added at the Campaign level, so client has to specify that it needs Encryption while creating a New Campaign.

 

 

10. Help

10.1 FAQs

 

All current FAQs about Desktop Alerts are available at this link http://www.alertsdesktop.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12

10.2 Forum

 

                Desktop Alerts Forums are one stop place for viewing all information about Desktop Alerts.

http://www.alertsdesktop.com/forum

10.3 Call Us

                You can reach our Chandigarh, India Office at +91.98150.60030

10.4 Chat with us

                You can chat with us using Live Help on http://www.alertsdesktop.com or we can arrange talk and chat sessions using Yahoo / Skype / Gtalk etc. with prior appointments.

10.5 Email Us

                For Sales and General Purpose Queries, please mail deepika at business-alerts.com

                For Technical Queries, please mail nagender at sangra.net