Send a File Message

In this code snippet you learn how to send a WhatsApp file message using the Messages API. For WhatsApp the maximum outbound media size is 64MB.

IMPORTANT: If a customer has not messaged you first, then the first time you send a message to a user, WhatsApp requires that the message contains a template. This is explained in more detail in the Understanding WhatsApp topic.

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`.
`WHATSAPP_NUMBER`	The WhatsApp number that has been allocated to you by Nexmo. For sandbox testing the number is `14157386170`.
`TO_NUMBER`	The phone number you are sending the message to.
`FILE_URL`	The URL of the file to send.
`FILE_CAPTION`	The text describing the file being sent.

NOTE: Don't use a leading + or 00 when entering a phone number, start with the country code, for example, 447700900000.

Prerequisites

Create an application

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:

Copy to Clipboard

curl -X POST $MESSAGES_API_URL \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer '$JWT \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json' \
  -d $'{
    "from": { "type": "whatsapp", "number": "'$WHATSAPP_NUMBER'" },
    "to": { "type": "whatsapp", "number": "'$TO_NUMBER'" },
    "message": {
      "content": {
        "type": "file",
        "file": { 
          "url": "'$FILE_URL'",
          "caption": "'$FILE_CAPTION'"
        }
      }
    }
  }'

View full source

Run your code

Save this file to your machine and run it:

bash send-file.sh

Prerequisites

Create an application

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

Install dependencies

npm install nexmo@beta

Write the code

Add the following to send-file.js:

Copy to Clipboard

const Nexmo = require('nexmo');

const nexmo = new Nexmo(
    {
        apiKey: NEXMO_API_KEY,
        apiSecret: NEXMO_API_SECRET,
        applicationId: NEXMO_APPLICATION_ID,
        privateKey: NEXMO_APPLICATION_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH,
    },
    {
        apiHost: BASE_URL,
    }
);

nexmo.channel.send(
    { type: 'whatsapp', number: TO_NUMBER },
    { type: 'whatsapp', number: WHATSAPP_NUMBER },
    {
        content: {
            type: 'file',
            file: {
                url: FILE_URL,
                caption: FILE_CAPTION,
            },
        },
    },
    (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 WhatsApp file message is sent to the destination number.