---
title: "Sending a Test or Ad-Hoc Deliver Message"
slug: "deliver-send-ad-hoc"
description: "Learn how to preview a Deliver mailing and send an ad-hoc or test message, including its effect on future sends and analytics."
status: "update"
updated: 2026-11-10T15:20:00Z
published: 2026-11-10T15:20:00Z
canonical: "knowledge.technolutions.net/deliver-send-ad-hoc"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sending a Test or Ad-Hoc Deliver Message

In Deliver, you can send **test** or **ad-hoc** messages from a mailing.

You can also **preview** the message to see it as if it were being read by a given record.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Deliver - Preview & Send Message(1).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-15T00%3A20%3A28Z&se=2026-11-15T01%3A20%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=i%2FH9fCj6fi9jOYE87xrdLSAxKJAnJJ0jRJKShAhQi4A%3D)

The **Deliver Send** permission grants access to send mailings. Access to a mailing also depends on your Deliver permissions and the realm assigned to the mailing. For details, see [Deliver Permissions](https://knowledge.technolutions.net/docs/deliver-related-permissions).

Use an ad-hoc message to send to a previewed record. For a mailing to a group, use a [recipient list](/v1/docs/adding-a-recipient-list) and the configured delivery settings.

## Previewing a message

To preview a message:

1. Go to **Deliver** and select a mailing.
2. Select **Preview Message.**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(595).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-15T00%3A20%3A28Z&se=2026-11-15T01%3A20%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=i%2FH9fCj6fi9jOYE87xrdLSAxKJAnJJ0jRJKShAhQi4A%3D)
3. Select a recipient list.
4. Enter the intended recipient's name in the **Record** field. Suggested matches appear. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(594).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-15T00%3A20%3A28Z&se=2026-11-15T01%3A20%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=i%2FH9fCj6fi9jOYE87xrdLSAxKJAnJJ0jRJKShAhQi4A%3D)
5. Select a record. Slate checks the record against the filters in your recipient list. The record does not need to meet the criteria already set for the Deliver message.![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image(596).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-15T00%3A20%3A28Z&se=2026-11-15T01%3A20%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=i%2FH9fCj6fi9jOYE87xrdLSAxKJAnJJ0jRJKShAhQi4A%3D)
6. Select **Preview.**

The mailing appears in the preview window as if the selected record were viewing it.

## Send an ad-hoc or test Deliver mailing

You can send any Deliver mailing as an **ad-hoc message** to a given recipient. You can also send the message as a test.

1. Select **Send Test / Ad-Hoc**.
2. Configure the following settings:
  - **Type:** Select one of the following:
    - **Send Ad-Hoc:** Sends the message to the previewed record.
    - **Send Test:** Send a test message to an address you provide.
  - **Recipient:**
    - **Send Ad-Hoc**: The record selected in *Preview Record*.
    - **Test**: Defaults to the current user’s contact information. Can be updated.
  - **Subject:** For email messages:
    - **Send Ad-Hoc:** Update subject line, if desired.
    - **Test**: Same as above, but prepended by default with `[Test]`.
  - **Message body:** Edit the message body as needed.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Deliver Send with Edit.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-15T00%3A20%3A28Z&se=2026-11-15T01%3A20%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=i%2FH9fCj6fi9jOYE87xrdLSAxKJAnJJ0jRJKShAhQi4A%3D)
3. Select **Send**. Slate sends the message to the selected recipient.

### How do ad-hoc messages affect future sends?

When you send an ad-hoc message to a record before that record meets the recipient list criteria, the record is still added to a saved query run. These query runs show "adhoc" in the memo column.

Because the record already received a message, deduping can affect future runs. If the mailing's deduping is set to “Send only one message/recipient,” the recipient will not receive the message again when they later meet the criteria.

Mailing analytics include both ad-hoc sends and records that met the broader recipient list criteria.

For information about email open and click tracking, including when an open may not be recorded, see [Email Open and Click Tracking](https://knowledge.technolutions.net/docs/email-open-and-click-tracking).