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

# Messages and the Message Builder

> Plain messages, embeds and layout messages.

Sending messages is the thing bots do most. DogeBot gives you a few ways.

## The message blocks

| Block | What it sends | Good for |
| - | - | - |
| **Reply** | A plain text answer. | Quick answers like "Pong!" |
| **Reply with a card** | An **embed**: a box with a title, text, fields, pictures and a footer. | Nice-looking info, like rules or a profile. |
| **Message** | A message with optional **buttons** and **select menus**, that can also edit messages. | Panels people interact with. |
| **Layout message** | Discord's newest style. You stack parts: text, pictures, galleries, separators, buttons and menus. | Big, beautiful panels, like a help centre or a shop. |

There are also blocks to send a message **to a channel**, send a **direct message**, send a **random** answer from a list, and to **edit**, **delete**, **pin**, **publish** and **react to** messages. Search the block list for those words.

## Response type

In a message block, the **Response type** says how the bot answers:

* In commands: **Reply to the command**.
* After a button or menu: **Reply to the command or button/menu interaction**. This only appears when the message comes **after** a button or menu block.

## Pictures in messages

Every picture box in a message has **Upload image** and **Your uploads**. You can upload PNG, JPG, GIF or WebP pictures up to **8 MB** each. In a Layout message, a **Media Gallery** takes up to **10** pictures at once. Uploads count toward your bot's storage.

Want a picture made just for this person, like a welcome card with their name? Use **Card Studio** and `{card}`. See [Send a card from your bot](/card-studio/send-a-card-from-your-bot).

## Building a Layout message

The Layout message builder has four parts:

1. **The parts list** on the left: text, sections, pictures, galleries, separators, buttons and menus.
2. **Your message** in the middle. Type straight into a text part; each shows up to 5 lines.
3. **Settings** for the part you picked, with the character count and **Insert a variable**.
4. **Live preview** on the right, so you see what Discord will show.

## The Message Builder page

The **Message Builder** page (under **Build**) lets you design messages and **save** them, so you can use the same message in many commands and events.

## Import JSON

Made a message somewhere else? Press **Import JSON**, then paste it or drop in a .json file. DogeBot checks it and tells you clearly if something is wrong.

## Putting values in messages

Any text box can show values like the person's name. Press { } **Variables** (or **Insert a variable**), or type them in curly brackets, like `{user_name}`. See [Show a variable in a message](/variables/show-a-variable-in-a-message).

## Editing a message later

When you edit a message the bot sent before, the editor starts from the original message, so you only change what you need. Use **Buttons and menus** to change buttons. See [Buttons and menus](/the-builders/buttons-and-menus).


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