Send a File Message

In this code snippet you learn how to send a file message through Facebook Messenger using the Messages API.

For a step-by-step guide to this topic, you can read our tutorial Sending Facebook Messenger messages with the Messages API.

Example

Ensure the following variables are set to your required values using any convenient method:

Key	Description
`BASE_URL`	For production use the base URL is `https://api.nexmo.com/`. For sandbox testing the base URL is `https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/`.
`MESSAGES_API_URL`	For production use the Messages API endpoint is `https://api.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages`. For sandbox testing the Messages API endpoint is `https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages`.
`FB_SENDER_ID`	Your Page ID. The `FB_SENDER_ID` is the same as the `to.id` value you received in the inbound messenger event on your Inbound Message Webhook URL. For sandbox testing this is `107083064136738`.
`FB_RECIPIENT_ID`	The PSID of the user you want to reply to. The `FB_RECIPIENT_ID` is the PSID of the Facebook User you are messaging. This value is the `from.id` value you received in the inbound messenger event on your Inbound Message Webhook URL.
`FILE_URL`	The link to the file to send. Can be ZIP, CSV, PDF or any other type supported by Messenger.

Prerequisites

If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks.

Write the code

Add the following to send-file.sh:

curl -X POST $MESSAGES_API_URL \
     -H 'Authorization: Bearer '$JWT \
     -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     -d $'{
  "to": {
    "type": "messenger",
    "id": "$FB_RECIPIENT_ID"
  },
  "message": {
    "content": {
      "type": "file",
      "file": {
        "url": "$FILE_URL"
      }
    }
  },
  "from": {
    "type": "messenger",
    "id": "$FB_SENDER_ID"
  }
}'

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Run your code

Save this file to your machine and run it:

bash send-file.sh

Prerequisites

If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks.

npm install @vonage/server-sdk@beta

Write the code

Add the following to send-file.js:

const Vonage = require('@vonage/server-sdk');

const vonage = new Vonage(
    {
        apiKey: VONAGE_API_KEY,
        apiSecret: VONAGE_API_SECRET,
        applicationId: VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID,
        privateKey: VONAGE_APPLICATION_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH,
    },
    {
        apiHost: BASE_URL,
    }
);

vonage.channel.send(
    { type: 'messenger', id: FB_RECIPIENT_ID },
    { type: 'messenger', id: FB_SENDER_ID },
    {
        content: {
            type: 'file',
            file: {
                url: FILE_URL,
            },
        },
    },
    (err, data) => {
        if (err) {
            console.error(err);
        } else {
            console.log(data.message_uuid);
        }
    }
);

View full source

Run your code

Save this file to your machine and run it:

node send-file.js

Try it out

When you run the code a file message is sent to the Messenger recipient.

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