Write the message and add attachments to an automation
Write the automated message in several languages with data fields, design emails visually, and attach documents and Excel reports.
Updated October 4, 2026
After you have set when an automation runs and who receives it (see Message automations), you write the message itself. A message can exist in several languages, contain fields from the data, and carry attachments such as a PDF from a document template or an Excel report.
Choose the languages
- Select every language you want to write in under Languages. A tab appears for each language.
- Choose the fallback in Default message automation language.
- In Language Selector, enter the path to the recipient's language in the data, for example the driver's language. Each recipient then gets the message in their own language, or the default when it is missing.
Write the message
- Go to Template message and open the tab of the first language.
- For email and notifications, enter the Topic (the subject).
- Write the text. For other channels, type two curly brackets and the start of a field name to pick a field from the list.
- For the next language, click Copy from above to start from the first language's text, then translate it.
For email, a visual email builder opens. Drag building blocks from Blocks into the email, see the structure under Layers, and insert fields from Variables. Switch between Edit, Preview and Source, and check the result on Desktop and Mobile.
Use fields
Fields are written between double curly brackets and are filled in when the message is sent:
| Write | Result |
|---|---|
{{reference}} | The value of a field. |
{{chauffeur.name}} | A field of a related record. |
{{reference ?? name}} | The first of the two that is filled in. |
{% if notes %}…{% endif %} | Text that only appears when the field is filled in. |
{% for item in goods %}{{item.description}}{% endfor %} | A line for each item in a list. |
{{:formatDate(createdAt, dd MMM yyyy HH:mm)}} | A formatted date. |
{{:formatMoney(total)}} | An amount with currency. |
In the email builder's Variables tab you find these under Helpers (Formatted date, Amount with currency, First value that is filled, Show only if filled, Repeat for each item) and all available fields under Fields. Click one to insert it at the cursor.
The available fields depend on the trigger event, or on the record type of the query when TQL is on. Choose those first.
Add attachments
- Attachments: upload fixed files that go with every message.
- Document template attachments: choose document templates. They are filled in with the data and attached as PDF. See Document templates.
- Report attachments: click Add report, choose a report in Select a report, set its period and other options, and enter a File name. The report is generated when the message is sent and attached as an Excel file.
Available reports include shipment results, transport orders per customer, open invoices aging, revenue per customer, trips per vehicle and per driver, quote conversion, vehicle utilization, lane analysis and tachograph activities. For the period, choose a relative date such as Today or 7 days ago; it moves along with every run. Choose Custom date… to enter a fixed date.
A scheduled automation with a report attachment is an easy way to email a weekly overview to management. Set it to run on Monday morning with a cron expression such as 0 7 * * 1 and a period starting 7 days ago.
Avoid duplicate messages
Below the trigger settings you can enter a field that identifies a record, such as its ID, and a period. If a message about the same record was already sent within that period, it is not sent again. This is useful for events that can happen several times in a short time.