The very quick quickstart#

This quickstart gets you started using SMS-iT Workflow© as quickly as possible. Its allows you to try out the UI and introduces two key features: workflow templates and expressions. It doesn't include detailed explanations or explore concepts in-depth.

In this tutorial, you will:

  • Load a workflow from the workflow templates library
  • Add a node and configure it using expressions
  • Run your first workflow

Step one: Sign up for SMS-iT Workflow©#

This quickstart uses SMS-iT Business Plan. A free trial is available for new users. If you haven't already done so, sign up for an account now.

Step two: Open a workflow template#

SMS-iT Workflow© provides a quickstart template using n8n training nodes. You can use this to work with fake data and avoid setting up credentials.

  1. Go to Templates | Very quick quickstart.
  2. Click Use for Free to view the the template.
  3. Click Copy template to clipboard (JSON) to copy the template.
  4. Go to your SMS-iT account and click on Workflow Automation to go to SMS-iT Workflow. At the overview section of SMS-iT Workflow, click on Create Workflow and paste the copied template into the workflow editor.

This workflow:

  1. Gets example data from the Customer Datastore node.
  2. Uses the Edit Fields node to extract only the desired data and assigns that data to variables. In this example, you map the customer name, ID, and description.

The individual pieces in an SMS-iT Workflow workflow are called nodes. Double click a node to explore its settings and how it processes data.

Step three: Run the workflow#

Select Test Workflow. This runs the workflow, loading the data from the Customer Datastore node, then transforming it with Edit Fields. You need this data available in the workflow so that you can work with it in the next step.

Step four: Add a node#

Add a third node to message each customer and tell them their description. Use the Customer Messenger node to send a message to fake recipients.

  1. Select the Add node Add node icon connector on the Edit Fields node.
  2. Search for Customer Messenger. SMS-iT Workflow shows a list of nodes that match the search.
  3. Select Customer Messenger (SMS-iT Workflow training) to add the node to the canvas. SMS-iT Workflow opens the node automatically.
  4. Use expressions to map in the Customer ID and create the Message:
    1. In the INPUT panel select the Schema tab.
    2. Drag Edit Fields1 > customer_id into the Customer ID field in the node settings.
    3. Hover over Message. Select the Expression tab, then select the expand button Add node icon to open the full expressions editor.
    4. Copy this expression into the editor: 
      1
      Hi {{ $json.customer_name }}. Your description is: {{ $json.customer_description }}
  5. Close the expressions editor, then close the Customer Messenger node by clicking outside the node or selecting Back to canvas.
  6. Select Test Workflow. SMS-iT Workflow runs the workflow.

The complete workflow should look like this:

View workflow file

Next steps#