# Composer navigation

A composer is a tool for creating messages using the dashboard.

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To open a composer, select the plus sign icon () in the project dashboard and make a selection.

## Layout

After you open a composer, the layout is generally the same for each. See the image and legend for each part of the composer:

![The content step in the Message composer](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-content-app-nav_hu_b7673e2053183a0b.webp)

*The content step in the Message composer*

| Number | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 1 | Go to the top-level [Dashboard](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#dashboard). |
| 2 | These are the project's icon, name, and environment type. |
| 3 | [Name a message](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/edit/#message-names) or [flag a message as a test](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/flag-as-test/). In a [Sequence](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#sequence), the Sequence name and message position appear to the right of the gear icon (). |
| 4 | Progress through the composer steps. For more information, see [Composer progress](#composer-progress) below. |
| 5 | [Preview personalized content](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/personalization/previewing/). |
| 6 | Create a [Composer Favorite](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#composer_favorites). Available in the Message composer only. |
| 7 | Exit the composer or perform other actions, like reverting an edit. For more information, see [Exit menu](#exit-menu) below. |
| 8 | Select the arrow icon (
) to expose Help & Summary. The Help tab displays information relevant to the current step. Select the question mark icon (
) in the composer and the Help tab will open to that topic. The Summary tab lists your message's current content and configuration. |
| 9 | Select a channel to configure the content in multi-channel messages. For more information, see [Content configuration](#content-configuration) below. |
| 10 | On the Content and Review steps, the device preview updates with your changes. Select the arrows to page through the various device previews. The [Scene](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#scene) composer has various [preview tools](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/in-app-experiences/configuration/content/#preview-tools). The preview for open channels is a table. |
| 11 | Select a different message type or [Template](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#template). |
| 12 | For App and Web, a color-coded indicator appears below the text box, warning when your message may be truncated on some devices. For SMS, a counter appears above the text box, showing the total number of characters and how many individual SMS messages will be sent. Best practice is to make your message as brief as possible, though some customers find success when a message truncates, teasing their audience to learn more. |
| 13 | Your drafts are saved automatically. To access your draft messages, go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**, then **Drafts**. |
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## Composer progress

In the Message, Automation, A/B Test, and Sequence composers, completed steps are green and a check mark icon (
) indicates you have met the minimum requirements for the current step. An exclamation point icon (
) indicates the minimum requirements are not met. Select a step name to move ahead or to go back and edit.

![A completed Content step in the Message composer](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-progress_hu_bcee74901bdedb82.webp)

*A completed Content step in the Message composer*

![An incomplete Content step in the Message composer](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-attention_hu_5b26bdc06660d435.webp)

*An incomplete Content step in the Message composer*

In the In-App Automation and Scene composers, each step is indicated as a dot. Hover over a dot to see its step name appear. Return to any previous step by seelcting its dot. Select the right arrow icon (
) to continue to the next step. The icon will be greyed out and inactive until the step's minimum requirements are fulfilled. In the final step, Select **Finish**.

![The Audience step in the In-App Automation composer](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-progress-in-app_hu_1de6da2e5e24dbed.webp)

*The Audience step in the In-App Automation composer*

## Exit menu

When you select **Exit** while composing a message, your message is saved as a draft and you will go to [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview). For messages in a [Sequence](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#sequence), you will go to the [Sequence Manager](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#sequence_manager) instead of Messages Overview. If composing a new message in a Sequence, your message is saved as a draft. If editing a message in a Sequence, your changes are saved.

In a message, select the down arrow icon (
) for more options:

| Option | Description and supported composers |
| --- | --- |
| **Delete** | Deletes a Message, Automation, Scene, In-App Automation, A/B Test, or [Composer Favorite](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#composer_favorites) |
| **Revert** | Cancels edits to a Message, Automation, A/B test, Sequence, or Composer Favorite |
| **Save changes** | Saves edits in a Composer Favorite |
| **Make a copy...** | Makes a copy of a Composer Favorite |

In the Sequence Manager, select the down arrow icon (
) for more options:

| Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Save and exit** | Applies changes to the Sequence and opens the Sequence in the [Journey Map](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#journey_map) — If your Sequence is in progress, select the Sequence in the map, then select **Publish changes** to resume your Sequence with your changes applied. Changes to [outcomes](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/sequences/create/outcomes/) are published automatically after saving. |
| **Revert** | Exits the Sequence without saving changes and opens the Sequence in the [Journey Map](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#journey_map) |
| **Archive** | Stops and archives the Sequence — **Archiving a started/active Sequence also cancels its undelivered messages and may affect linked components in a [Journey](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#journey)**. |

## Content configuration

When you select multiple channels in the Message, Automation, A/B test, and Sequence composers, you configure the content on a separate tab for each:

![Configuring App content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-content-app_hu_28a88387be2dfd33.webp)

*Configuring App content*
![Configuring Web content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-content-web_hu_6727bcaa97e417fb.webp)

*Configuring Web content*
![Configuring Email content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-content-email_hu_f156989fe2bb2555.webp)

*Configuring Email content*
![Configuring SMS content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-content-sms_hu_1daaee817ad927ac.webp)

*Configuring SMS content*
![Configuring Open channel content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/composer-content-open_hu_d7e540bb74030620.webp)

*Configuring Open channel content*