# Create a distribution

Create a survey distribution in Pristo CX step by step: choose the questionnaire, audience, channels, message, schedule and sending rules.

In Pristo CX, you create a distribution in **Management** > **Distributions**. The editor has three tabs, **Main**, **Samples** and **Wording**, and you activate the distribution from the list when it is ready.

## Before you start

- Role: account admin or program admin. See [roles and permissions](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/users/roles-and-permissions).
- Plan: the **Distributions** page appears under **Management** on the Pro plan.
- Setup: a questionnaire with a published form (see [publish and versions](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/form-builder/publish-and-versions)) and contacts in the population (see [Import contacts](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/populations/import-contacts)).
- For email: an account admin must first set up a verified sending domain under **Distribution channels**. See [Send email from your own domain](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/account/email-domain).

## Steps

![Sketch of the distributions list. Marker 1 is on the button that creates a new distribution, at the top right. Marker 10 is on the option that activates an inactive distribution, in the open menu at the end of its row.](https://docs.pristo.io/_astro/distributions-list.C_gcfUnf.webp)

1. Open **Management** > **Distributions** and select **New distribution**.

2. Choose the questionnaire and select **Continue**.

3. On the **Main** tab, enter a **Description**, choose the **Distribution Type** and fill in the settings for that type: [one-time delivery](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/one-time-delivery) or [event-based](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/event-based).

4. Choose the **Anonymity Level** and select **Next**. The levels are explained in the [distributions overview](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/overview#anonymity-levels).

5. On the **Samples** tab, under **Sampling Segmentation**, optionally add conditions on contact attributes, for example only contacts whose city is Haifa. Without conditions, every contact can receive the questionnaire.

6. Under **Distribution Rules**, choose when the link expires and how many days must pass between sends, then select **Next**.

7. On the **Wording** tab, choose **SMS** or **Email** under **Distribution Channel & Type**.

8. Write the **Message content**. Use **Add variable** to insert the contact's name or an attribute. For email, also fill in the **Subject** and the **Button label**. Check the **Preview**.

9. Optionally add follow-up messages under **Reminders**, as described in [Send survey reminders](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/reminders), then select **Next** to save. You return to the list, where the distribution is **Inactive**.

10. Open the menu at the end of the distribution's row, select **Activate** and confirm.

To check the message on a real phone or inbox first, select **Send test** in the same menu and choose a contact. The test goes to a contact in the population, so add yourself as a contact first.

## Result

The distribution's status changes to **Waiting to send** for a one-time delivery or **Active** for an event-based one. The status meanings are in the [distributions overview](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/overview#statuses).

## Limits

- SMS message: up to 500 characters, before the link and unsubscribe text that Pristo CX adds. Every 200 characters are billed as an additional SMS message.
- Email subject: up to 200 characters. Button label: up to 60 characters.
- The email message editor shows no character limit, but a distribution with an email message over 1,000 characters cannot be saved. The limit also counts the formatting, such as bold text and links, not just the visible text.
- Segmentation: up to 5 conditions, and a contact must match all of them. See [Choose who receives a distribution](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/sampling-and-rules).
- Send spacing: 0, 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 30, 60, 90 or 180 days. With 0, an event-based distribution still keeps sends to the same contact at least 10 minutes apart.
- Link expiry: from 5 minutes to 1 year, or no expiry.
- Reminders: up to 3, each a whole number of hours after the previous message. Reminders go only to contacts who have not answered, and are not available with **Fully Anonymous Questionnaire**. See [Send survey reminders](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/reminders).

## Troubleshooting

**The distribution will not save because the email message is too long.** Shorten the message and remove unnecessary formatting, then try saving again. The 1,000-character limit also counts the formatting, so the visible text can be under 1,000 characters and still exceed the limit.

**The questionnaire is not in the list.** Only questionnaires with a published form appear. Publish the form and try again.

**I cannot select Email.** Email needs a verified sending domain and a sending address for the account. An account admin sets them up under **Distribution channels**, as described in [Send email from your own domain](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/account/email-domain).

**I cannot edit a distribution.** A one-time delivery that has started sending is read-only. Create a new distribution instead.

**I cannot add a reminder.** The link expiry may be too short for another reminder. Choose a longer expiry under **Distribution Rules**.

## Related

- [Distributions overview](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/overview)
- [Send a one-time distribution](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/one-time-delivery)
- [Send surveys after events](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/distributions/event-based)
- [Import contacts](https://docs.pristo.io/cx/populations/import-contacts)