How to create email templates in the content designer
Perform the following actions to create an email template using the content designer:
•Define the properties of the template
•Set up the pre-header (in bpm’online marketing and CRM-bundles)
•Add the required blocks from the library
•Place the blocks in the correct order
•Edit the content elements
•Add tabs with localized templates if needed
Note
These actions can be performed in arbitrary order. For example, you can modify the width of the template page after the content is completed.
How to define email template properties
You can set the width of a template, its location on the page and the background color using the content designer.
To do this, use the 
button menu that is displayed in the top right corner of the working area (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Defining the email template color
To set the width of the template, enter the width value in pixels in the [px] field.
To select the template location on the page, use the corresponding buttons.
How to set up pre-headers for bulk and trigger emails
The functionality is available in bpm’online marketing and CRM-bundles.
You can specify custom preview text (a.k.a. “pre-header”) for your bulk and trigger emails. The preview text is displayed in most email clients and services after the email subject and is normally an extract of first phrases from the email body.
To customize email pre-header, simply enter the text that will be displayed as email preview in the [Pre-header] field of the content designer (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Specifying bulk email pre-header text
Use the 
button to add macros, such as recipient’s name.
Note
More information on email pre-headers is available in a separate article. Read more >>>
How to manage the email template blocks
To add a content block to an email template, select the required block from the library and then drag it into the working area of the content designer by pressing and holding the left mouse button (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3 Adding a block to the email template
As a result a new block will be added to the email template.
Note
To copy a block that was added to a template, click on the block and then click the 
button in the element manager menu.
To modify the position of a block on the template page:
1.Click the block in the working area of the designer.
2.In the element manager menu that is displayed to the right, click the 
button and then drag it to the position you need on the template page by pressing and holding the left mouse button.
As a result, the block will be placed in the required position.
To delete a block from a template page:
1.Click the block in the working area of the designer.
2.In the block manager menu that appears on the right, click the 
button.
As a result, the block will be deleted from the template page.
How to manage the base elements content
Each content designer element has a toolbar that helps to mange its content. To display the toolbar, click on the element.
How to edit text
Use the toolbar of an element (Fig. 4) to format text, for example, to change the font size or color, make words bold, insert a hyperlink etc.
If required, you can use the advanced edit mode to work with the text HTML code.
How to add macros
Macros are added directly to the email text.
Note
In emails with localized templates, macros display data taking into account contact’s preferred language.
You can add a pre-configured macro, such as contact's title or job title. To do this:
1.Click 
and choose the [Select macro] command.
2.Select a macro to add.
You can also add the value of a certain system object column to the email template text.
To do this:
1.On the template page, select an object in the [Macro source] field, then click the [Edit] button to open the content designer.
2.In the 
button menu, select the [Select column] command.
3.In the opened window, select the needed column.
Note
The window contains the columns of he object specified in the [Macro source] field.
How to work with the images
To add a new image or change an existing one, click the 
button of the toolbar and select a file from your computer.
If you want to redirect the user to a particular page while clicking on an image, for example, if the image is an advertising banner, click the 
button and specify the link of the required page in the opened window.
Note
In bpm’online marketing and CRM bundles, you can set up automatic field population with data (e.g., name, email, phone number) for the existing bpm’online contacts – addressees of your bulk email when you add a link to the landing page with the so called “data collection form” (a landing web-form). This will make the registration process easier, help to avoid errors when filling out the web form fields manually and prevent duplicate lead or contact records from appearing in the system. More information about the setup is available in a separate article.
How to work with the HTML elements
You can add the content of an element from an HTML file that has been prepared beforehand. To do this, click the 
button of the toolbar and select the required HTML file from your computer. As a result, the HTML element will display the added email template.
To edit the content of an HTML element directly in the working area of the designer, click the 
button of the element toolbar and edit the required changes in the opened window.
To clear the content of an HTML element, select the required html element and click the 
button in the toolbar that opens.
Note
You need to follow the adaptive layout recommendations when using html-elements in message templates. It will ensure the correct displaying of your created email message in your customers’ email clients.
Note
The [HTML element] block is a means of implementing custom HTML code in your templates. It is intended for use by HTML-savvy users who are familiar with web design and can code their custom designs in HTML. Please note, that your custom code will be directly added to the template (without any automatic debugging, warnings etc). When using the [HTML element] block, please make sure that you test results outside the content designer preview, for example, by sending a test email. If you are unfamiliar with HTML formatting, please use ready-made blocks for best results.
How to add localizations to email templates
You can “localize” an email template by adding its versions in different languages. Each localized version is added as a new tab. To add a localization tab:
1.Click 
on the right side of the content designer working area. A menu with a list of languages will open. Select a template language you want to add.
The list of email template languages is stored in the [Customer languages] lookup. The menu displays active languages only (the ones, where the [Is used] checkbox is selected in the lookup). If there are no active languages in bpm’online yet or you want to add a tab with the language that has not been activated, select the [Add language] menu option (Fig. 5), then select a new language from the lookup. The [Is used] checkbox for this language will be selected automatically.
Fig. 5 Adding languages to the template
2.After you select a language, bpm’online will prompt you to copy the content of an existing template to the new tab. Copying existing template will help you save time on creating the layout of the localized template. As a result, a new tab will appear in the content designer working area.
If you need to add several languages to a template, repeat steps 1 and 2 for each language.
3.Use the content designer to add or modify the localized content on each new tab.
4.Save the changes.
See also
