The Nobix Alert Messaging Interface may be used to send a message to desktop clients. This interface is also used to configure the software, which includes all of it options and any recipients and distribution lists you may define.

To be able to send messages, the Nobix Alert Service must be in a running state. This is automatically checked every time you start the Messaging Interface.

To start the Messaging Interface, from the Windows Start menu:

Select All Programs → Nobix Alert → Nobix Alert Messaging

1. Select a recipient or distribution list from the drop-down list at the top of the display.
2. Select  the appropriate message display options.
3. Enter the message text in the HTML edit box.
4. Press the Send Now button.
5. When the message is received by the Alert service, a message tracking number appears on the form.
6. The message is immediately sent by the Alert service.

The message body may be HTML or plain text. The message display dialog on the desktop alert pop-up is a controlled web browser window. If plain text is sent, it is formatted using HTML rules, i.e. no line breaks, and one space between words.

HTML text is formatted by the dialog's browser logic. It must be noted that the initial display data of the pop-up on the desktop user's display is not sent by a web server. However, the HTML content may link to a webserver, and access data, images, other objects from an actual web server.

Also note that there is no address or navigation capability in the desktop pop-up display other than what may be embedded into the message that is sent. This means that the user cannot navigate away from the displayed content other than to links that you may supply in the initial view.

The Display Design View button may be used to preview the alert pop-up.  Pressing the Display Design View button presents a read-only web browser dialog that is updated as the HTML Message edit box is changed.

Generation of an HTML document may be expedited by using an HTML editor (FrontPage or others), and then copying the HTML source and pasting it into the HTML Message edit box.

Right-clicking in the message edit box displays a context menu allowing stored text (see Stored Message Text) to be inserted into the edit box.  This allows common header or footer text to be quickly inserted from previously being stored.