Script a mass message

Can I use the API and a tool to send a pre-configured message to a network? I see there is a built in alert option for sending to techs… is there one for the messages that can be sent from the gear tab?

Currently I use this toolbox, I have not tried to use the API yet, but that’s next on y list.

I actually use a Powershell script. It doesn’t look like the message is being sent from the owner’s computer. It can have a proper title. The script just looks like this:

$wshell = New-Object -ComObject Wscript.Shell
$wshell.Popup(“PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER TURNED ON TONIGHT FOR MAINTENANCE.
If you have any questions please call xxxx on 03333 xxxxxx”,0,“MESSAGE FROM xxxxx”,0x1)

It produces a result like this:

2020-03-02_15-29-34

1 Like

That works! Thank you.

Hi Ian,

Is there anything else needs added to get it working. I have the following (before being edited) in the tool box and selecting “Run a script” then Powershell. Then adding your script. Is that all? Cant get it to run

$wshell = New-Object -ComObject Wscript.Shell
$wshell.Popup(“PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER TURNED ON TONIGHT FOR MAINTENANCE.
If you have any questions please call xxxx on 03333 xxxxxx”,0,“MESSAGE FROM xxxxx”,0x1)

I get the following error

At C:\Windows\TEMP\toolbox6594124000132396966run\Please20leave20your20computer2
0on20when20you20leave20today-1585816632896.ps1:2 char:15

  • $wshell.Popup (�?oPLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER TURNED ON TONIGHT FOR MA …
  •           ~
    

Unexpected token ‘(’ in expression or statement.
At C:\Windows\TEMP\toolbox6594124000132396966run\Please20leave20your20computer2
0on20when20you20leave20today-1585816632896.ps1:2 char:80

  • … pup (�?oPLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER TURNED ON TONIGHT FOR MAINTENANCE.
  •                                                                      ~
    

Missing closing ‘)’ in expression.
At C:\Windows\TEMP\toolbox6594124000132396966run\Please20leave20your20computer2
0on20when20you20leave20today-1585816632896.ps1:3 char:1

  • If you have any questions please call xxxx on 03333 xxxxxx�??,0,�?oME …
  • ~~
    Unexpected token ‘If’ in expression or statement.
    At C:\Windows\TEMP\toolbox6594124000132396966run\Please20leave20your20computer2
    0on20when20you20leave20today-1585816632896.ps1:3 char:3
  • If you have any questions please call xxxx on 03333 xxxxxx�??,0,�?oME …
  • ~
    Missing ‘(’ after ‘If’ in if statement.
    At C:\Windows\TEMP\toolbox6594124000132396966run\Please20leave20your20computer2
    0on20when20you20leave20today-1585816632896.ps1:3 char:93
  • … s please call xxxx on 03333 xxxxxx�??,0,�?oMESSAGE FROM xxxxx�??,0x1)
  •                                                                     ~
    

Unexpected token ‘)’ in expression or statement.
+ CategoryInfo : ParserError: (:slight_smile: [], ParentContainsErrorRecordEx
ception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnexpectedToken

Any ideas?
Still looking to get this setup

I’ve noticed that sometimes with copy and paste will copy “ - and ‘ as weird characters. You have to do a search and replace on them with the correct characters. Hope that helps.

Finally got one to work and displays it correctly on the remote machine. The only issue I can now is Simple help not reporting the running of the tool a success. It still says its running.

Any ideas?

I’m a tiny business and deal with residentials.

For this, I’d use NirCmd (nirsoft.net). I looked into using MSG but it’s not consistent across machines (even Win10 machines). NirCmd has a feature to popup a message window and I push it to all PCs with a simple toolbox dropping it in the Windows directory so there. Plus, I can then use it in the terminal window if I need it. It’s got a ton of features and worth a peek.

nircmd infobox “Please leave your workstation on.” "From the IT Department"

I Tried the powershell script but it did not work for me. did i create it wrong?

Imgur

Did you by chance copy and paste your script into simplehelp?
If you did, there is a common issue where the dash “-” is a non-standard char.
Try manually replacing all dashes and quotes then try your Powershell script.