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Send a File Message

In this code snippet you will see how to send a WhatsApp file message using the Messages API.

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
`NEXMO_APPLICATION_ID`	The ID of the application that you created.
`WHATSAPP_NUMBER`	The WhatsApp number that has been allocated to you by Nexmo.
`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:

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curl -X POST https://api.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages \
  -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

Try it out

When you run the code a WhatsApp file message is sent to the destination number.