Before sending a transactional message, you should test it in order to verify that:

it renders and displays as you expect;
personalization codes (if used) are replaced with the expected contact data;
any attachments are actually included and can be opened; and
links are clickable and properly mapped to the intended target (a web site or stored file).

Choose a transactional message

In the Admin interface:

Navigate to Messages > Transactional > List.
Hover over the envelope-arrow icon for the message and select View and Test.

The Transactional Mailing Data table displays a list of all contact records that were in the Recipient Data File (or an iMIS SQL View) that was uploaded when the message was created.

TIP: You can use the Search button above the table to find specific contact records, and the Columns button to customize which columns display and their order. Neither of these actions affect the test.

Access the Test options

The left-column hover menus for all contact records in the table have identical options: View On Screen and Email It.

When you choose one of these, the only difference from one record to another is the value in the Recipient field on the Test Transactional Mailing page; it populates with the email address of whichever contact record you selected.

Test Transactional Mailing page

The Test Transactional Mailing page offers several "test method" options. These allow you to send a test email, preview the message, and focus-test the features of your transactional message.

Click the Test Method dropdown to make a selection and refer to the appropriate section below for information.

TIP: The Format setting has two options, HTML and Text, that are applicable only to the View on Screen and Email It methods. Higher Logic recommends that you test both formats and both methods.

Test Method: View On Screen

Use this option to preview the message.

Select View On Screen and click Submit.
Higher Logic recommends that you preview both formats (HTML and Text) of the message.

The page refreshes and displays the message in the selected format. This is your opportunity to:

Review all the aspects of the message (e.g., the contents, text, layout, images, etc.) to ensure that it looks as you expect.
Review the information in and formatting of the attachment, if the message has one. Click the name of the .PDF file next to Attachment to open the file.

There are action buttons across the top of the preview. Click:

Return to Test Options to go back to the Test Transactional Mailing page where you can try a different test method.
Modify Mailing to open the Transactional Mailing Properties page where you can edit the message's configuration settings.
Edit Attachment to open the Modify Attachment Template page where you can make changes to the attachment template and the attachment's properties. (Refer to the NOTE: immediately below.)
Edit Mailing Template to open the Modify Mailing Template page where you can make changes to various aspects of the template. (Refer to the NOTE: immediately below.)

NOTE: When you make changes to the attachment or to the template via the abovementioned editing options, the changes are not just for their use with this message. They are permanent changes to the attachment or the template.

Click Return to Test Options to return to the Test Transactional Mailing page after you've completed your review.

Test Method: Email It

Use this option to send a test message to yourself, colleagues, or both (comma-separate multiple email addresses).

NOTE: The Send To section displays only when Email It is selected as the test method.

Select Email It and a Format (HTML or Text).

You can customize the following fields:

Test Subject - this will differ from the transactional message's subject; use it to indicate that this is a test message.
Test Message - this will differ from the transactional message's body text; use it to provide instructions (e.g., "Please click-test all links." and "Please review and reply by Tuesday.") or other information that is useful for your test audience.
Address - specify one or more (comma-separated) email addresses of colleagues who are not in an existing test group.
Test Group - click the dropdown to select a test group for the message. Click Create a new group to create and include a test group.

Click Submit.

A confirmation message displays at the top of the browser; click OK.

Test Method: Spam Filter Test

Use this option to run the message through a "spam filter" test to determine whether it could be perceived as a "spam risk" and be subject to being blocked.

Select Spam Filter Test and click Submit.
The page refreshes and displays the results of the test.

Test Method: Personalization Test

Use this option to test any personalization fields in the message.

NOTE: This option displays only if personalization has been used in the message.

Select Personalization Test and click Submit.
The page refreshes and displays the results of the test.

Now that you've tested a transactional message, learn:

how to send your transactional message.
where to view a variety of message statistics in the message's dedicated report.

Transactional Module - Test a Transactional Message