Approximate time required to install, configure, and test: 15 - 25 minutes
Configure FrontlineCloud
- Sign up for an at https://cloud.frontlinesms.com or Sign if you have an account setup already.
- Note that you’ll probably need a ‘Pro’ subscription of $25 per month for when your project goes live but you can set up and prototype the system through the free 1-month trial.
- Create a connection. This is how you get your SMS into FrontlineCloud. Most users use a local Android phone running the free FrontlineSync app. This syncs FrontlineCloud to the phone’s in and outbound SMS. There are other web-based aggregator alternatives such as Nexmo, Twilio and others.
- Set up a ‘Forward to a URL’ Activity and point it at your Ushahidi address. You then enter the stub Upload URL and the key/value parameters that you need. There are normal 3 variables expected in pushing SMS to Ushahidi, 1 hard-coded key and 2 dynamic variables that change every time depending on the SMS content:
- key = hard-coded to whatever your Ushahidi instance expects
- s=${trigger.sourceNumber}
- m=${trigger.text}
The Frontline interface has a ‘Magic Wand’ helper to auto-input these values. You can read more about the instructions from FrontlineCloud's wiki at https://frontlinecloud.zendesk.com/entries/23572331-How-can-I-integrate-FrontlineSMS-with-Ushahidi-
Configure FrontlineCloud Ushahidi Plugin
- Download and install the Ushahidi FrontlineCloud from https://github.com/eyedol/ushahidi-plugin-frontlinecloud
- Enable the plugin and go to its admin page and follow the instructions there. The instruction compliments the one above.