Default messages are the text magnews displays when someone fills out a form or its actions are executed. For example, they indicate a required field left blank, an invalid response, or a signup that has already been completed.
They are used in forms on landing pages, service pages, on site messages, and signup forms.
You can always customize them in the main language and, if you have enabled multilingual support in your account, in the other available languages too.
Choose which message to edit
You can make changes at two levels:
- Account default message: edit the text used in forms that reference that message, unless a custom message is set for a specific element
- Message for a specific field or action: customize the text for that element only, without changing the account default message
For example, you can change the required-field message across your account or use specific text for a single survey question.
Edit account default messages
Go to Journey Lab > Settings and, in the Languages section, open the default message customization options.
Messages are organized into two sections:
- Form controls, for messages related to field completion, such as a missing, invalid, or overly long response
- Form actions, for messages related to action execution, such as a contact who is already subscribed or an error during an operation
Each message has a description that helps you understand where it is used.
Select the language, edit the text, and save. If multilingual support is not enabled, you can only edit messages in the main language.
The change applies to all forms that use that default message, including forms in different assets. Custom messages set for individual fields or actions retain their own text.
Restore a default message
After editing an account default message, you can restore the original text by clicking the icon in the upper-right corner above the text field.
This restores the default message in the selected language. It does not change custom text set for individual fields or actions.
Edit a default message from the designer
You can also access default messages while working in the designer.
When a field or action uses a default message, an icon appears next to the label for that text. Click it to open the default message editing dialog, with tabs for the available languages.
Even when you access it from the designer, you are editing the account default message, not just the message for the selected element.
To view the full list, enable View all messages.
Customize a field or action message
If you want different text for just one element, edit its message directly in the field or action panel, where available.
For example, for a question asking visitors to choose a topic, you can replace the generic required-field message with “Choose a topic to continue”.
The custom text is used only for that element and overrides the account default message.
Not all messages can be customized for individual elements. Where this option is unavailable, you can edit the account default message.
Manage messages in multiple languages
If multilingual support is enabled in your account, you can edit default messages in the tabs for the different languages. Each change affects only the text in the selected language.
If you keep a default message, magnews uses the version matching the asset’s display language. You do not need to translate it separately for each field that uses it.
If you customize a message for a specific field or action:
- Select the main language in the designer and edit the text
- Complete the translations into the additional languages using the translation controls below the field
Custom messages for individual elements are not translated automatically. If you write a message in Italian without adding translations, that text also appears in the other language versions.
For example, if you customize a question’s message with “Scegli un argomento per continuare”, translate it as “Choose a topic to continue” for the English version of the form.