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Program validation errors and how to fix them
Program validation errors and how to fix them

Identify, understand, and fix any validation errors in your program.

Gareth Burroughes avatar
Written by Gareth Burroughes
Updated over a week ago

While building a program, the Validation indicator continuously updates to let you know about any validation errors. While you can save an in-progress program with validation errors, you must fix all errors before you can activate and use the program successfully.


View validation errors

In the program editor, we show any validation errors in the validation alert box at the top of the editor. When there is a validation error, the alert box shows the number of errors, and the word validation turns red.

To view your validation errors:

  1. Expand the VALIDATION drop-down menu.

  2. Select an error from the error list to highlight the invalid node in yellow.
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  3. If you're unsure about the error, use the Validation error reference section to identify your error.

Validation error reference

Here's a list of all our validation errors, their meanings, and how to fix them:

Error Message

Description

Define start criteria for program

You must set up the start rules for the program. Select the error to highlight the start node, then select the start node to enter the start rules for the program.

Add at least one action to the program

All programs must include at least one action. An action is either a messaging node such as a campaign node, an action node such as an update contact node, or a program extension node. To add one, drag it onto the canvas from the left-side menu, and then configure it.

Ensure all program routes terminate with an end step

All routes through the program should begin with a start node and terminate with an end node. Make sure that end nodes are present and that the nodes are connected together. Select the error message to highlight any nodes that do not connect through to an end node.

Select campaign to be sent

There is a campaign send node without a campaign selected. Select the error message to find the campaign node, then select the campaign node to select a campaign.

Campaign is incomplete and not ready for sending

One of the campaigns in the program isn't ready to be sent yet. Select the error message to highlight the campaign node. The common cause for this is because the campaign was created using the Create campaign option within the program builder, without there being any actual content for the campaign yet. Find the campaign under Automation > Triggered emails or Triggered SMS and then select Edit to complete the campaign's content before sending.

Invalid contact label

There is an update contact node without a valid contact data field selected and configured. Select the error message to highlight the update contact node, then select the update contact node to choose a valid contact data field to update.

List is not valid

There is a subscription node without a valid list or program selected. Select the error message to find the subscription node, then select the subscription node to select a valid list or program.

Define decision criteria for element

There is a program decision node with no rules set. Select the error message to find the decision node, then select the decision node to configure the rules for this decision.

The specified date will never come

There is a program node set with a date that is in the past. Select the error message to find the node and reset the date to be in the future.

Please insert your message content

There is a program node (Messenger or Push notification) that does not contain a message to send.

Please select an ad account

There is a program node (Google Ads) that is not set up with an ad account to send from.

Please select a Google Ads audience

There is a program node (Google Ads) that is not set up with an audience to send to.

Please select a Facebook audience

There is a program node (Facebook Audience) that is not set up with an audience to send to.

Connect program elements together

All routes through the program should begin with a start node and terminate with an end node. Make sure that end nodes are present and that the nodes are connected together. Select the error message to find any nodes not connected to the main body of the program.

Provider is not valid

There is an extension node that hasn't been configured with an action yet. Select the error message to highlight the extension node, then select the node to configure the action for the program extension.

Program contains too many delays

A program can contain a maximum of 10 delay nodes. You must delete some delay nodes to activate your program.

Program contains too many decisions

A program can contain a maximum of 20 two-way decision nodes. You can remove decisions to activate your program or replace them with multi-decision nodes for more advanced decision-making capabilities.

Program contains too many extension nodes

A program can contain a maximum of 10 extension nodes. You must delete some extension nodes to activate your program.

Program contains too many elements

A program can contain a maximum of 50 nodes. You must delete some nodes to activate your program.

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