# Messages

Summary: Send feedback to users.

## Available Commands

### dialog

Use the dialog CLI to display a message.

- `height` (int): The height of the dialog box. Default: `15`
- `title` (str): An optional title to display as part of the dialog box. Default: `Message`.
- `width` (int): The width of the dialog box. Default: `100`

```ini
[send some feedback]
dialog: "This is a message."
```

!!! warning

    The dialog command line utility must be installed.

### explain

Provide an explanation. When generating code this is added as a comment. When documentation is generated, it is output as text.

```ini
[introduction]
explain: "These steps will set up a Radicale CalDav/CardDav server."
header: Introduction
```

The `header` option is not used in comments, but makes documentation more readable and facilitates the creation of tutorials or install guides that re-use the defined steps.

### echo

Display a simple message.

```ini
[send some feedback]
echo: "This is a message."
```

### mattermost

Send a message via Mattermost.

- `url` (str): Required. The URL to which the message should be sent.

```ini
[send some feedback]
mattermost: "This is a message."
url: https://mattermostdomain.com/path/to/your/channel/webhook
```

Using the mattermost command requires setup from your Mattermost admin. The procedure will be something like the following:

**1.** Click on Integrations from the admin menu.

![integrations menu](images/mattermost-1.png)

**2.** Click Incoming Webhooks and then Add New Webhook.

![add new webhook](images/mattermost-2.png)

**3.** Fill in the information and click Save.

![webhook form](images/mattermost-3.png)

**4.** Copy and past the webhook URL to your configuration.

### slack

Send a message via Slack.

- `url` (str): Required. The URL to which the message should be sent.

```ini
[send some feedback]
slack: "This is a message."
url: https://subdomain.slack.com/path/to/your/integration
```

!!! note
    You could easily define a variable for the Slack URL and set ``url: {{ slack_url }}`` to save some typing. See [variables](../topics/variables.md).

Using the slack command requires setup from your Slack admin. The procedure will be something like the following:

**1.** Log in to Slack and go to [Your Apps](https://api.slack.com/apps).

**2.** Create a new Slack app.

**3.** On the next page, select Incoming Webhooks and then toggle activation.

![toggle activation](images/slack-1.jpg)

**4.** Next click Add new Webhook to Workspace and select the channel to which the message will be posted.

![incoming webhooks](images/slack-2.jpg)

![select channel](images/slack-3.jpg)

**5.** Copy the URL for the new webhook to use as the ``url`` parameter for the Slack command.

### screenshot

Like `explain` above, a screenshot adds detail to comments or documentation, but does not produce a command statement.

- `caption` (str): An optional caption for the image.
- `css` (str): CSS class(es) to be apply to the image.
- `height` (int | str): The height of the image in pixels or as a percentage.
- `width` (int | str): The width of the image in pixels or as a percentage.

```ini
[login screenshot after successful install]
screenshot: images/login.png
caption: Login Page
height: 50%
width: 50%
```

The value of `screenshot` may be relative to the command file or a full URL to the image. If `caption` is omitted the comment is used.

### twist

Send a message via [Twist](https://twist.com).

- `title` (str): The title of the message. Default: `Notice`
- `url` (str): Required. The URL to which the message should be sent.

```ini
[send some feedback]
twist: "This is a message."
url: https://subdomain.twist.com/path/to/your/integration
```

!!! note

    As with Slack, you could easily define a variable for the Twist URL and set ``url: {{ twist_url }}``. See [variables](../topics/variables.md).

Using the twist command requires setup on your Twist account. The procedure will be something like the following:

**1.** Log in to Twist and from the profile menu go to Add Integrations. Then click on Build and "Add a new integration".

**2.** Provide the requested info.

![provide info about your integration](images/twist-1.png)

**3.** After submitting this info, go to Installation. Select a channel and who to notify. Then click "Install integration".

![install integration](images/twist-2.png)

**4.** Copy the "Post content manually" URL for use in your configuration file.