# Orbit WhatsApp channels

## Setting up an Orbit WhatsApp channel

To set up an Orbit channel:

1. With an Orbit user with the necessary permissions, select the **profile icon** and select **Application settings**.
2. Select **Campaigning Channel Editor**.

   If necessary, create a folder for the WhatsApp channels. To create a new WhatsApp Channel, select **\+Item**, then:

   - For **Create A New**, select **Meta WhatsApp Channel** from the dropdown list
   - Name the channel
   - Select the **Parent Folder**
3. Select **Create**.

   The first tab is **Basic Details**. Fill in each mandatory field.

   | Field Name | Details |
   | --- | --- |
   | Channel Name | Name of the channel that will appear in Campaigns channel list |
   | Username | The username of the Apteco user that will control this channel. For WhatsApp this should be the user that generated the Meta token |
   | App | Apteco unless using own Meta API App |
   | Meta Business | Meta business name as it appears in Meta |
   | WhatsApp Business | WhatsApp Business name as it appears in Meta |
   | SMS Variable | Select the system's SMS variable |
   | SMS Variable Description Override | If you want to change the SMS variable description for this channel, add the new variable description here |
4. **Parameter Settings**: the Auto Exclude Opt-Out parameter defaults to `True` and you can't change it.
5. **Output Settings**.

   | Field Name | Details |
   | --- | --- |
   | Allow In Transactional Output | Setting that lets you use the channel on lower transactional campaigns. Default is No |
   | Output Type | WhatsApp |
   | Response File Key Type | Choose the Response File Key. Options are SMS, SMS With Run, SMS With Broadcast Id. Default is SMS With Broadcast Id |
6. **File Settings**: leave as defaults.
7. **Additional Variables**: add any variables from the system that you want to include with every delivery.
8. Select **Save All Changes** to commit the new channel.