# 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](/product-documentation/developer-hub/connector-builder.md) 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="/files/veQzdrl3Jkh3bGo7KqjK" 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="/files/CaJgawpf4DWhLEZq7brR" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Configuring settings for a new manual payload shape

<details>

<summary><img src="/files/JOYoP4EdSu7WJ3CMdAAS" alt="" data-size="line"> Show me</summary>

![](/files/LdBgMfc2gxBZ9b70h4Ic)

</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="/files/RL4lxDyj3mdzBzjy1lAK" 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 %}


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