# Managing Messages

Learn about editing, duplicating, archiving, deleting, and other message management options.

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# Archive a Message

> Archiving removes a message from all views in Messages Overview except for the Archive view. Archived messages do not show up in search.
In [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview), immediately after archiving or un-archiving, you will see *Cancel Archiving* or *Cancel Un-archiving*. Click to stop the action.

## Archive a message

* You cannot archive messages that are scheduled for delivery or ongoing messages that are active, except for sequences.
* You can archive:
   * Drafts
   * Messages that have been sent
   * Ongoing messages that are stopped
* Archiving a started/active sequence also cancels its undelivered messages.

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Click the archive icon (
) for the message you want to archive.

To archive an active sequence:

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Hover over a sequence and select the edit icon (
).
1. Click **Exit ▼** and select *Archive*.

## Un-archive a message

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Select the *Archive* view.
1. Click the archive icon (
) for the message you want to un-archive.


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# Delete a Message

> Delete messages from your project.
## Delete a Message

* Deleting an **automation** also deletes its message report and cancels its undelivered messages.
* A **recurring message** cannot be deleted unless its End Date has passed or you first [cancel it](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/change-status/#cancel).
* Only draft **scenes and in-app automations** can be deleted. Once they have been started they cannot be deleted. 
* Sent messages cannot be deleted, only [archived](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/archive/).

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Click the delete icon (trash) for each message you want to delete.

## Delete a Message From a Sequence

> **Important:** Do not edit a Sequence that has a control group. See [Sequence Control Groups](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/experimentation/control-groups/).

You cannot delete the first message in a sequence, you can only edit it.

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Click the edit icon (
) for a sequence.
1. Click the more menu icon (⋮) for the message you want to delete, and select *Delete Message*.
1. Click **Publish changes** to apply the changes to a sequence that is already in progress.


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# Duplicate a Message

> You can duplicate any message.
* **A/B tests, scenes, and in-app automation messages** duplicate to their composer of origin then open for editing.
* For messages created with the **Message or Automation composers**, you have the option to duplicate to the Message or Automation composer. **Recurring messages** duplicate to the Message composer.
* For **sequences**:
   * After duplication, the next screen is the [Sequence Manager](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#sequence_manager) for the new sequence.
   * The new sequence name is the original sequence name, with " - Copy" appended.
   * If the original sequence was *Started* at the time of duplication, the duplicate sequence is not active until you start it.
   * You cannot duplicate a message within a sequence.

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Click the duplicate icon (
) for the message or sequence you want to duplicate.
1. (Message and Automation composer messages only) Select the Message or Automation composer.

> **Tip:** You can also create duplicates in the [Journey Map](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#journey_map). See [Actions](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/features/orchestration-experimentation/journeys/#actions) in the *Journeys* documentation.


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# Editing a message

> You can make changes to your ongoing and unsent messages.
## Editing availability and behavior

Editing availability and behavior depend on the composer used to create the original message, status, and if it was scheduled for delivery:

* **Message, Automation, and A/B Test** — Opens the message in its composer of origin. For **scheduled messages** created with the Message and A/B Test composers, this action cancels the scheduled delivery, saves the message as a draft, and opens the message for editing.
> **Note:** Recurring messages that include multi-language [localized content](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/localization/) cannot be edited.

* **In-App Automation and Scene** — Opens the message for editing. Availability for editing depends on message status. Active messages can be edited at any time. An Expired or Canceled message can be edited and its end date extended, making it active again, within 14 days of the original expiration. After 14 days you can only duplicate the expired message. See [Change Message Status](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/change-status/). This message status information also applies to scenes.

   <p>Edits are not applied to active messages that have already been triggered by a user. For instance, for a message configured to display when viewing a specific app screen, if you edit the message after the trigger event occurred for a user but before they have viewed the specific app screen, they will see the version of the message that does not contain your edits.</p>

* **Sequences** — See: [Edit a sequence](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/sequences/create/edit/).

* **Apple News** — Apple News notifications are sent immediately so cannot be edited.

## Message names

Message names help you identify and filter your messages in [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview) and in individual message reports. You add a name when creating a message, and you can edit it later.

* A name is not required in the Message composer. If you do not assign a name, the default name is `Untitled`.
* A name is required in all other composers.
* Apple News notifications do not support message names.

## Editing steps

You can edit messages from:
   * [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview)
      1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
      1. Hover over the message you want to edit and click the edit icon (
).
   
   * [Journey Map](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#journey_map) — *In-app experiences only*
      1. Go to *Journeys* and search for a in-app automation or scene or select from the sidebar.
      1. Select the card at the center of the map, then select the edit icon (✏).

Make your changes, then save.

* To edit a message name:
   * **All composers except Automation and Sequence** — select the settings icon (⚙) in the header, enter a name, then click outside the box to close it.
   * **Automation** Select **Setup** in the header, then enter a name.

* To save your changes:
   * If you are **editing a draft and not ready to send**, click **Exit** to save your changes.
   * If you are **editing an ongoing message** or **ready to send**, go to the *Review* step and:
      * **Message or A/B Test** — Click **Send Message** or **Schedule Message**.
      * **Automation** — Click **Start Automation** or **Schedule Automation**, or click **Update Automation** if the message is already active.
      * **Scenes and In-App Automation** — Click **Finish**, or **Update** if the message is already active.


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# Flag a message as a test

> The test flag helps sort and filter messages that you create for test purposes, so that they don't clutter the list of messages bound for your external audience.
When you select a [Test Group](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#preview_test_groups) as a message recipient, your message is **automatically flagged** as a test. When you select any other message audience, you can **manually set the test flag** to designate the message as a test. The test flag is supported for the Message, A/B Test, In-App Automation, and Scene composers.

Once a test message is ready for your external audience, [duplicate the message](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/duplicate/) and make sure to change the audience selection before sending. You cannot remove the Test designation after a message is sent.

## Manually Set the Test Flag

When creating or [editing](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/edit/) a message:

1. Click the settings icon (⚙) in the header.
1. Enable *Mark this message as a test*.
1. Click outside the box to close it.

## View Tests

See all your tests in a single view.

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Select the *Tests* view.

## Hide/Show Tests

You can control whether or not you see tests in [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview).

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Toggle *Hide Tests* to hide or show tests.

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<!-- PAGE: Change message status, PATH: https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/manage/change-status/ -->

# Change message status

> Change the status for ongoing, recurring, and throttled messages.
You can change message status in:
* [Message Reports](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/reports/message/)
* [Messages Overview](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#messages_overview)
* [Journey Map](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#journey_map)
* [Sequence Manager](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#sequence_manager)

In these locations, *Live* is the same as *Active*.

## Pause or resume a message

You can pause/resume:
* All messages created with the **Automation composer** — *Pause* disables the automation so no users can trigger sending the message.
* [Recurring messages](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/delivery/delivery/) — *Pause* disables message delivery.
* [Throttled messages](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/delivery/delivery-options/#throttle-delivery) — *Pause* disables message delivery. You can pause/resume within 48 hours of send time.
   > **Important:** * Throttling is not supported for Message Center.
>    * <p>If you combine Message Center with other App message types and pause or stop delivery within 48 hours of send time, delivery status change has no effect on Message Center delivery. Message Center messages will remain in the inbox until expiration, if set. You can also <a href="https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/content/app/message-center/#remove-a-message-from-a-message-center">manually remove messages from the Message Center inbox</a>.</p>


1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Locate a message or open a message report.
1. Click **⏸ Pause** or **play Resume**.

## Cancel a message {#cancel}

Canceling a message is effectively the same as [setting an end date](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/in-app-experiences/configuration/optional-features/#specify-start-and-end-dates) for the current date and time. You can cancel active messages at any time. You can cancel:
* All messages created with the **In-App Automation and Scene composers**
* [Recurring messages](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/delivery/delivery/)
* [Throttled messages](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/delivery/delivery-options/#throttle-delivery) — You can cancel within 48 hours of send time.
   > **Important:** * Throttling is not supported for Message Center.
>    * <p>If you combine Message Center with other App message types and pause or stop delivery within 48 hours of send time, delivery status change has no effect on Message Center delivery. Message Center messages will remain in the inbox until expiration, if set. You can also <a href="https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/content/app/message-center/#remove-a-message-from-a-message-center">manually remove messages from the Message Center inbox</a>.</p>

   
1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Select **
 Stop** for a message.

For in-app automation and scenes, you can also cancel in the journey map:
1. Go to *Journeys* and select an in-app automation or scene.
1. Select *Pause* from the menu above its map card.

> **Tip:** You can set an *End Date* in the *Delivery* step in the Message composer, and the *Settings* step in the In-App Automation and Scene composers.


## Restart an in-app automation or scene {#restart}

Restarting a canceled or expired in-app automation or scene changes its status to Active. This is effectively a shortcut to editing the message and either eliminating or [specifying an end date](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/in-app-experiences/configuration/optional-features/#specify-start-and-end-dates). You can restart messages within 14 days of expiration. After 14 days you can only duplicate the message.

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**.
1. Click *play Restart* for the in-app automation or scene you want to restart.
1. Select *Restart this message indefinitely* or *Specify an end date*. To specify an end date, enter a date in YYYY-MM-DD format or use the date picker, then select the time and time zone.
1. Click **Submit**.

For in-app automations and scenes, you can also restart in the journey map:
1. Go to *Journeys* and select an in-app automation or scene.
1. Select *Restart* from the menu above its map card.
1. Select *Restart this message indefinitely* or *Specify an end date*. To specify an end date, enter a date in YYYY-MM-DD format or use the date picker, then select the time and time zone.

## Start or pause a sequence {#start-pause-sequence}

> **Tip:** * **Do not pause** a sequence before you edit it. Edit the sequence, then click **Publish changes**. You can also [test the sequence](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/sequences/create/test/#test-a-sequence) before publishing changes. For active sequences, changes to [outcomes](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/sequences/create/outcomes/) are published automatically after saving.
> * You should only pause a sequence when you want to stop it and use it at a later date. Paused sequences remain in your project and can be edited and started again at any time.

*Pause* disables message delivery but not the timer between messages. When you pause a sequence:

* New audience members cannot trigger the sequence.
* For audience members who have already triggered the sequence:
   * If the delay period before your audience's next message elapses, your audience will not receive remaining messages in the sequence. (Also known as *falling out out of the funnel*.)
   * If you resume (*Start*) the sequence before the delay period for your audience's next message elapses, they will continue the sequence.

**Messages Overview**

1. Go to **Messages**, then **Messages Overview**, and then select the edit icon (
) for the sequence you want to start or pause.
1. Click **play Start** or **⏸ Pause**.

**Journey Map**

1. Go to *Journeys* and search for a sequence or select from the sidebar.
1. Select *Start* or *Pause* from the menu above its map card.

**Sequence Manager**

1. Go to *Journeys* and search for a sequence or select from the sidebar.
1. Click the card at the center of the map, then click the edit icon (
).
1. Click **play Start** or **⏸ Pause**.


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