Configure a Message node
Open the flow editor, write the customer-facing text in the Message node, insert dynamic fields and stay under the 4096-character counter.
A Message node sends one WhatsApp text to the customer. You write it in the property panel on the right. A variable such as {{customer_name}} gets its value only if an earlier step in the flow filled it; an unfilled variable stays empty. The system variables {{__phone}}, {{__chat_id}}, {{__instance_id}} and {{__timestamp}} fill by themselves on every WhatsApp turn; a flow started by the Webhook trigger gets none of them. {{__timestamp}} is Türkiye time in YYYY-AA-GG SS:DD form. {{__customer_name}} stays empty in live chats. The counter warns you past 4096 characters. Leave a blank line inside the text and the engine splits it into separate bubbles, so the customer receives two messages in a row.
Before you start
- The Flow Builder feature enabled on your plan; if the screen does not load the flow list, contact Chatinbox support
- A saved flow that you opened for editing
- An earlier step that fills any variable you plan to use in the text
Step by step
These screens sit inside the Intent AI section. Sign in, open Intent AI; the menu names below are in that section's left menu.
Open the flow in the editor
Open Flow Builder from the left menu. Double-click the flow row, or click the pencil button on that row.
Set the text and the reply behaviour
Drag the Message node onto the canvas. Fill the Mesaj Metni field in the panel on the right. If you use a variable, place the step that fills it before this node; for example, an Intent Algılama node with "Müşteri ismini sor" ticked fills {{customer_name}}. Tick Kullanıcı yanıtını bekle when you need a reply.
See the message arrive in the test window
Save with Ctrl+S, then press the test button. The message arrives as one bubble. If you left a blank line in the text, every part shows as its own bubble. In live chats those parts reach the customer as separate messages. System variables carry sample values here; {{__customer_name}} reads Örnek Müşteri but stays empty in live chats. If any other variable shows up empty, the step that fills it did not run before this node.
Result checkIf it did not work
Check these
- A red ring and an empty-text warning on the node mean the field is blank; fill it in, because the server refuses to activate the flow.
- When the counter turns red and reports the limit, shorten the text: WhatsApp rejects anything longer than 4096 characters.
- If the test button is disabled and asks you to save first, press Ctrl+S and try again.
- Customer fields inserted with the dynamic field picker are not filled in flow messages at the moment and reach the customer empty. Use the {{customer_name}} variable to print the customer's name. For the phone number, {{__phone}} fills on every turn; it stays empty when no number is found.
Does this step look different in your panel?
We can review the screen and exact error text together.
This guide was checked against the product UI and code inventory on 4 October 2026.
