# Manual payload shape

## Introduction

You can use the **manual payload** shape to define a static payload to be used for onward processing. For example, you might define an email template that gets pushed into an email connection, or you might want to test a process flow for a connector that's currently being [built](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/connector-builder) by your development team.

## Need to know

* The maximum number of characters for a single payload is 100k. Anything larger than this may cause the process flow to fail.
* Any text-based data format is supported (JSON, XML, CSV, plain)) however, keep in mind that subsequent shapes in the flow may only support JSON and XML.

## Accessing manual payload shape settings

To view/update the settings for an existing **manual payload** shape, click the associated 'cog' icon:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2F7jxLuCEohFIhLlgdRNZW%2Fmanual%20payload%201.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d62f2e3b-59c7-4871-ac6b-122374825cb4" alt="" width="338"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

This opens the [options panel](#configuring-settings-for-a-new-manual-payload-shape) - for example: &#x20;

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2FE04qJpwYuWiSYnw7PGWg%2Fmanual%20payload%202a.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e79bc0a0-7007-4838-8800-6d2060b1305c" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Configuring settings for a new manual payload shape

<details>

<summary><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2FpLMO12yvTCxi9PorCt53%2Ficons8-film.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=e59864bc-2d97-4f98-966c-a083c18e60db" alt="" data-size="line"> Show me</summary>

![](https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2F3YxFgGJzuzG855fVzqbV%2Fdemo%20manual%20payload.gif?alt=media\&token=c34f3ca5-a8e7-406d-ae22-3c64e9b7f7f5)

</details>

To configure a **manual payload** shape, all you need to do is paste the required payload and save the shape for example:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2Fx98QQ0SD5c6bpLKJ2sqU%2Fmanual%20payload%203.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c08b724d-7416-461f-8582-7165573dc609" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
A **manual payload** shape can only be saved if a payload is present. If you add a **manual payload** shape  but don't have the required payload immediately to hand, you can just enter {`}`and save.&#x20;
{% endhint %}