With the WinSMS desktop client, you can add up to eight additional fields. Additional fields are used for storing important information and can be merged into your SMS message.
Open up the WinSMS desktop client software.
Click on "File" then "Preferences"
Click on the "Contact Additional Info" tab and select how many additional fields you want and give these fields a relevant name. For this example, I will be using two additional fields called "Product" and Price"
Click "OK" when you are done. You will now notice these fields are part of your contact tab. When you add a new contact these additional fields will be available.
You can import information into these additional fields during the WinSMS desktop client import process. For more information on how to import information into the WinSMS desktop client please go
here Using additional fields
For this tip, we are going to add a contact, type, and send an SMS message using merge fields. Please make sure you are logged into the WinSMS desktop client. Click on the new contact button along the top.
Please fill out your details as we are going to be sending this SMS message to ourselves. Once you are done filling out the information please click on "OK"
![](https://zasupport.winsms.co.za/galleryDocuments/edbsn8299469f8b87c245fe721cade7ffff78137db00e2a60cc04c07f0f3b324932ec03ff456ecf61e76d886f545b194e4ad5?inline=true)
Now we are going to select this contact to send an SMS message to by putting a tick in the check box before their first name.
![](https://zasupport.winsms.co.za/galleryDocuments/edbsn8bc37618a6c644fead14becd11b838100226e6f62ddf2306b0a1c2a5a813b379534a574baec5c088f2869ae42fdeba60?inline=true)
Click in the message box along the bottom of the WinSMS desktop client.
![](https://zasupport.winsms.co.za/galleryDocuments/edbsnfc83249bb6e7893ac49bbb93fa465ddf939b1253d0818eb18d48a647e85198916e594d6ff0c341aafeb978e41c398772?inline=true)
During typing this message we are going to be using the "Merge" button above the message box. Please remember to put spaces before and/or after your merged field. So we are going to type "Hi 'Click on Merge - First Name', we have new stock of 'Click on Merge - Product' for 'Click on Merge - Price' available, please visit us in-store or contact us on 0xx xxxx xxxx"
The SMS message should look like this:
"Hi , we have new stock of for available, please visit us in-store or contact us on 0xx xxxx xxxx"
Click on the send button. You should have an SMS message on your cell phone that displays the correct merge fields.
The message we used in this example will look like this:
"Hi Joe, we have new stock of Beef Biltong for R125.00 per KG available, please visit us in-store or contact us on 0xx xxxx xxxx"
The possibilities of using additional fields with the merge option are endless.
Tip: You can use merge fields in your message templates,