Custom Merge Fields Overview + FAQ

For: District Admins, School Admins, and Teachers of AFC+, School Engagement, and District Engagement partners

Custom Merge Fields let you send one message that still feels personal to every family. Instead of writing "Your balance is $12.50" over and over, you upload a simple file with each student's information, and TalkingPoints fills in the right details for each family automatically.

This article covers what the feature is, who can use it, and answers to common questions. Ready to build your file? Check out Formatting Your CSV for Custom Merge Fields next.

You may already know about standard merge fields, like [student_name]. These pull information TalkingPoints already has.

Custom merge fields work the same way, but you decide what they are. A few examples:

You define these fields yourself by uploading a CSV file (a simple spreadsheet) when you write your message. TalkingPoints then sends each family a version of the message with their student's own information filled in.

Good to know: A custom merge field only exists for one message. If you want to send another message with the same kind of information later, you'll upload the file again.

You can use Custom Merge Fields if:

If you don't see this option when composing a message, ask your admin to check that the feature is turned on for your school.

[SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Partner Insight admin view showing where the feature is enabled — see "image.png" in source doc]

Can I reuse the same file for more than one message?

No. Your file is attached to one specific message. If you want to send another message with similar information, upload the file again.

What characters can I use for a field name?

Only letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and underscores ( _ ). No spaces or special characters.

What's the difference between a standard merge field and a custom one?

Standard merge fields, like [student_name], are built into TalkingPoints and always pull from student data we already have. Custom merge fields are ones you create yourself in your file, for one message. Both use the same single-bracket format.

Can I use this from the Attendance inbox?

Yes. You can use Custom Merge Fields from any inbox. The one exception is the Attendance Dashboard, since sending from there already creates its own special group of recipients.

What happens if a student in my file doesn't attend my school?

That student is skipped. They will not receive the message.

How many custom fields can I use in one file?

Up to 10.

Where can I see a message I sent with custom merge fields?

In your Inbox, All Messages, and Scheduled Messages, you'll see the field name in brackets, like [balance_owed]. Open an individual student's thread to see the actual message each family received.

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