11.20 Condition: Message Matches

Needs the Automation Advanced plan feature. It is the core of every auto-reply.

What it checks: the text of the inbound message that started this run. It works even when the run has no contact yet.

Settings:

• Match mode:
  • Equals: the whole message is exactly the value. Best for commands and buttons, for example /website, 1, price list.
  • Not Equals: anything except that value.
  • Contains: the value appears anywhere in the message.
  • Contains any of: enter keywords in the Keywords field, pressing Enter or comma after each one (for example price, cost, how much, قیمت). TRUE when any keyword appears. One condition covers a topic in several wordings and languages. Click a keyword to edit it, or its × to remove it.
  • Starts with: the message begins with the value, for example /order matches /order 1234.
  • Not Contains: the value does not appear.
• Value: the text to compare (or the keywords for Contains any of).
• Ignore case (on by default): PRICE matches price.

Spaces at the start and end of the message are ignored. Other spelling and spacing must match exactly.

Paths: output 1 = TRUE (matched), output 2 = FALSE. An unconnected FALSE output ends the run.

Pitfalls:

• Contains with a long sentence rarely matches. "How much does a website cost?" does not match "how much is a website?" or "website price". Use Contains any of with short, distinctive keywords ("price, cost, how much, قیمت").
• Order matters. Conditions are checked in the order you chain them, and the first TRUE wins. Put the most specific check first.
• Only meaningful on Message Received via WhatsApp or Message Received via Email. On any other trigger it is always FALSE.
• To check several topics, chain conditions: connect each condition’s FALSE output to the next condition (11.25). For several words for the same topic, one Contains any of condition is enough.
• A tap on a template’s quick-reply button arrives as the button’s label, so Equals with that label reacts to the button.