# Preview and test groups

Create audience groups that can be used for previewing personalized content and receiving test messages.

A *preview group* is an audience group used for previewing personalized content in the dashboard. Wherever a personalization preview is available, you can select a preview group, and its group members' attributes will appear for any Handlebars references to attributes. You can enable any preview group as a *test group* so you can send test messages to its group members. These messages appear as tests in Messages Overview.

By keeping a saved list of approved test users in Airship, you can be sure that your test messages only reach an approved, in-house list of users. You might limit your test group to company employees such
as Product staff, Development team, etc.

## Requirements, validation, and registration

When adding users to a group, you must enter an ID: [Channel ID](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#channel_id), email address, or [MSISDN](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#msisdn). The ID is used for rendering attributes in personalization previews and where test messages will be sent. The ID is validated upon entry, and you will see errors if these requirements are not met:

* Your project must be already be configured for the [Channel (Engagement)](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#channel_engage) for an entered ID.
* Channel IDs must exist for the project.
* MSISDNs must be for SMS channels that exist for the project.

You can add any email address, and an email channel will be registered for the project.

## Creating a new group

You can create up to 20 groups. You cannot change the group name and Test Group setting after creating the group, but you can delete the group and create a new one. Also, you cannot change a user ID later, but you can [add and remove users from the group](#adding-editing-and-removing-group-members).

> **Tip:** Make sure to use IDs that are valid for the group's intended purpose. For example, if you will be sending push notifications to the group, enter a Channel ID for an iOS or Android Channel.


1. Select the **Audience** menu, then **Preview and Test Groups**.
1. Select **Create group**.
1. Enter a name for the group.
1. (Optional) Enable **Test group**.
1. Select **Save and continue**.
1. For each group member, select **Add user**, then enter a name and Channel ID, email address or MSISDN. If a MSISDN is associated with more than one [Sender ID](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#sender_id), select the one that should be used as the sender of test messages.
1. Select **Done**.

After adding a user, you will return to the list of all users in the group. The ID column displays the Channel ID for each user. You cannot view the original email address or MSISDN entered when adding the user.

Select **Preview and Test Groups** in the page breadcrumbs to return to the list of all your groups. Select the delete icon (
) to remove a group.

<!-- This is not going out with first release. 

You can change the group name:

1. Go to *Audience » Preview and Test Groups*.
1. Click 
 for a group.
1. Click 
 next to the group name in the breadcrumbs.
1. Enter a new name.
1. Click **Save**.

To delete a group:

-->

## Adding, editing, and removing group members

1. Select the **Audience** menu, then **Preview and Test Groups**.
1. Select the pencil icon (
) for a group.
1. Complete the steps for an action:
   | Action | Steps |
   | --- | --- |
   | **Add a user** | Select **Add user** and complete steps as described in [Creating a new group](#creating-a-new-group). |
   | **Edit a user's name** | Select the pencil icon (<svg class="dm-icon"><use xlink:href="#pencil" /></svg>) for a user, change the name, and select **Done**. |
   | **Delete a user** | Select the delete icon (<svg class="dm-icon"><use xlink:href="#delete" /></svg>) for a user. |

## Using preview groups

See [Previewing personalized content](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/personalization/previewing/).

## Sending to test groups

Messages you send to a test group appear in the Tests view in [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview). You can send to a test group from these locations:

| Location | Steps |
| --- | --- |
| The Audience step in the Message, A/B Test, In-App Automation, and Scene composers | Select **Test Users** and select a test group. You must complete the remaining composer steps and send the message before it is sent to the group. |
| The Review step in the Message, Automation, and Sequence composers | Select **Send Test**, select at least one test group, then select **Send**. The message sends immediately. |
| The Manage screen in a Sequence | See [Test a message in a Sequence](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/sequences/create/test/#test-a-message-in-a-sequence). The message sends immediately. |
| The Test Run option in a Sequence | See [Test a sequence](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/sequences/create/test/#test-a-sequence). The message sends immediately. |