Search Patterns Section:

What is a Search Pattern?

A search pattern can be almost anything... any letter or combination of letters or numbers, email addresses, a name, phrase or word that you enter into MM in order to search for usernames. You either type them in individually or load them if you have a previously saved csv file (like as through MS Excel). Some samples are: John, John Smith, golf, yoga, money.

Pattern (Min 1 character):

Enter a Search Pattern of 1 character or more and click the Add button. This will add the Search Pattern to the window above the button. You can add as many Search Patterns as you want. You can also add the same pattern as many times as you want. Please review the Advanced Users Guide to see more discussion on why you would want to add the same pattern multiple times (if you are using Skype v3.8 - this does not work with Skype v4.xx).

Please not that Skype 4.x returns a maximum of 100 users per search pattern. The reason for that is twofold: so their servers don't get overloaded and so that your system doesn't crash and burn. Imagine if you entered the name John and they returned every Skype user that was named John. Obviously that would be useless and simply isn't going to happen (no matter how much we would like it!!!)

Save Patterns:

If you have a list of patterns in the Search Patterns window, you can save that list in a file. Just click the Save Patterns button and choose what to name it. We have some really good training on what to name files and why so please be sure to go through the materials in the Resource Center located at http://www.messagemagic.net/resources.htm

Load Patterns:

If you have a .csv file containing rows of Search Patterns, click Load Patterns to bring those Search Patterns in the window. The file should be a standard text containing one pattern per row and just one column. There is no need for commas.

Save Profiles:

After you have done a Search you can save the information contained on their Skype profile into a csv file. This will give you the ability to target your intended audience more effectively. If you have entered multiple Search Patterns then the profile data will be saved into a folder called mmtemp which is located in your installation folder. The data will remain there until you perform a new search. Please note that Skype 4.1 returns less information than Skype v3.8

Clear:

If you want to clear loaded patterns, press Clear to clear the window to start over.

Notes On Searches:

No matter what version of Skype you are using Skype limits the number of users it will give you for any particular pattern. The reason they do this is twofold. 1) So their servers don't get overloaded, and 2) so your computer doesn't crash and burn. Think of it this way. If you searched for Mary, if Skype were to give you every Skype user named Mary you would have millions of users to browse through. Obviously they aren't going to do that.

Search:

After entering or loading one or more Search Patterns, press Search for the software to look for users that match your Search Patterns. If/when it finds matches, the usernames will be displayed in the Users' window. Once you have pressed the Search button it will change to Stop. This gives you a way to interrupt the current search if the need arises.

Advanced Search (Skype 3.8 users):

After entering or loading one or more Search Patterns, press Advanced Search and then pick whatever criteria you want for narrowing the search results.

Advanced Search (Skype 4.x users):

The Advanced Search function for Skype 4.x users works exactly like the Skype Search function (because that is what it is) except it brings the returned users in to the Message Magic Users window. Please note that in any one given session Skype will return a maximum of 100 unique users per pattern. We have a very clean solution for you to get more than 100 per search pattern but be advised there are extra steps and some work on your part.

Users Section:

Load Users:

If you have a .csv file containing rows of Skype Usernames, click Load Users to bring those Users in to the Users' window. The file should be a standard text file containing one username per row and just one column. There is no need for commas.

Save Users:

If you have a list of Users showing up in the Users' window, you can save that list in a file. Just click the Save Users button and choose what to name it. You may have done a search for a particular keyword(s) and want to save the resulting list of Users that you can load at a later time. Use of this option combined with Load Contacts gives you a handy way to back up your Skype contacts by group.

Load Contacts:

This function loads all your personal Skype contacts in to the Users' window so you can select the ones to whom you want to send a broadcast message. If you have your Skype Contact Groups enabled, you will be asked which groups you want to include. Just put a checkmark beside each group you want to send to (this is key so please set up your groups correctly).



There is also an option to select all your contacts.



There is also an option to only load your Authorized Contacts, i.e. they have also added you as a contact. This is very useful because you don't want to be spamming people, do you?



You'll also notice a drop down box allowing you to pick the language of the contacts you want to send your message to, so if you only want to send a message to Russian contacts then select Russian from the drop down menu.



By using the Load Contacts button, this will enable the Send Message button. The reason it is set up this way is to prevent accidental spamming.

Load Numbers:

This function allows you to load a previously saved list of mobile phone numbers that you want to send an SMS message to. The format of the file must be like this:


Name,+CCnumber (cc is the country code)
Name,+CCnumber (cc is the country code)
Name,+CCnumber (cc is the country code)
Etc.



Here is an example spelled out more clearly:
Bob,+12223334444
Sue,+13334445555

Select All:

This button will put a check mark beside all Users. This is very useful if you want to either add the selected Users as contacts or broadcast a message to them.

Select Online:

This button will select the Users that are currently online. This is useful if you want to restrict your broadcast to people currently online, but please note that the only way you know if a contact is online or not is if that particular user has added you as a contact. This is a privacy issue.

Unselect All:

This button simply removes the checkmark beside all Users.

Send SMS:

You can send text messages to mobile phones just like you can send text messages to Skype users. After loading your list of mobile phone numbers from a previously saved csv file, selecting them and entering a text message, click the Send SMS button and the message will be sent to the mobile phones specified. Be aware though, you will be using a paid feature of Skype, so ensure your account is topped up with a little money before you start. This feature is only available after you have loaded numbers via the Load Numbers button.

Here are Skype's current rates: http://www.skype.com/prices/smsrates

Message Text:

This is the message you want to broadcast. There are two ways to broadcast a message: 1) When you Add Contacts and 2) by clicking the Send Message button. If you have paid for your license, and therefore have an Unlimited license, you are able to use the {firstname} tag which will be replaced by your contact's first name while the message is being sent.

Auto Translate:

This option allows you to create your message in your language and it will be delivered to the recipient in their language. This works with Add Contacts and Send Message.

Translate To:

This is a quick way for you to translate your message to whatever language you need. This is probably most useful to translate and then copy to your outside email or chat session.

Add Contacts:

This is one of the two most important and powerful features of Message Magic. Once you have a list of Users showing up in the Users' window, with a checkmark beside the ones you want to target and an introductory message in the Message Text window, press Add Contacts. This will add them as pending contacts, they will show up in your main Skype Contact list with a ? to the left of their name AND they will get your custom broadcast message. Once they confirm your request, they become a new authentic contact of yours. Add them to the appropriate contact group. The key here is that you have a good introductory message they find interesting or compelling enough to add you as a contact. If you do it this way, DO NOT send them a broadcast message!

Send Message:

After you have a list of users which came from the Load Contacts feature, put a check mark beside some or all of them and some text in the Message Text window, click the Send Message button to broadcast your message out to the list. That's it. You're done! Easy, wasn't it? If you just added a list of contacts, there is no need to send them a broadcast message because they got the message you used when you added them as a contact. By the way, just so you know, if a person has their privacy setting checked to NOT receive messages from people not on their contact list, they will never get your message. This is the cleanest and simplest form of SPAM filtering available on the internet.