Generating Email output

The Email context outputs HTML email with embedded formatting to an email client through the use of an email server. The HTML generated by this context is meant to be compatible with as many clients and as many devices as possible.

Email Output can be generated in two different ways: from the Designer or via Workflow. In both cases, email is sent in a single batch for the whole record set.

To test a template, you can send a test email first.

Output, generated from an Email template, can have the following attachments:

  • The contents of the Print context, in the form of a single PDF attachment.
  • The output of the Web context, as an integral HTML file.
  • Other files, an image or a PDF leaflet for example.
  • Attaching the Print context and/or the Web context is one of the options in the Send (Test) Email dialog.

    • To learn how to attach other files, see Email attachments.

    Before generating Email output
    • Decide on the use of an Email Service Provider; see Using an ESP with PlanetPress Connect.
    • Make sure that a data set is loaded, that any necessary files, such as images and attachments, are in place, and that the correct settings are selected (see below).
    • You may want to rasterize certain elements, such as <div> elements, business graphics, or headings with a special font type. Rasterizing converts the element to a JPG or PNG image. This is very useful to support as many clients as possible. For example, some email clients may not support SVG, so converting a resource to JPG instead would ensure that most email clients would actually see the output.
      To rasterize an element, right-click it and select Rasterize options. For a JPG image you can set the quality of the resulting image in a percentage.

    Email output settings in the Email context and sections

    The following settings for the Email context and Email sections have an impact on how the actual emails are sent.

    • An Email To Script must be available in the template and refer to a valid email address; see Email header settings. If any record does not have a valid email, this record is skipped automatically when generating email output.

      When you send a test email, the Email To Script will not be used; instead, the email will be sent to the address that you specify in the Send Test Email dialog.

    • The subject of the email is a property of an email section. See Subject.
    • The sender(s), recipient(s) and the subject can be set using Script Wizards; see Email header settings.
    • Default SMTP settings can be set in the preferences; see Email header settings.
    • If there are multiple Email sections, only one of them can be merged with each record. Make sure that the correct section has been set as the default; see Setting a default Email template for output.

      To dynamically select a section for output, use a Control Script; see Control Scripts.

    • PDF attachments can be compressed to make the files smaller; see Compressing PDF attachments.

    Generating Email output from Connect Designer

    To generate Email output from the Designer:

    1. Open a template with an Email context.
    2. Load a data file or database compatible with this template, or open a Data Mapping Configuration. See Loading data.

      If you have an open Data Mapping Configuration and open another data file, the current Data Mapping Configuration will try to retrieve data from the file or database using its own Data Model and extraction logic.

      When generating output with just an open Data Mapping Configuration, the template is merged with the complete sample data file that is part of the Data Mapping Configuration. The output is not limited to the number of records shown in the Data Model pane (which is one of the settings in the DataMapper).
    3. On the File menu, click Send Email or Send Test Email. In the dialog that appears you can, among other things, attach the Print context or the Web context to the email. See Send Email or Send Test Email for a description of all the options. Finally, click OK.
      About testing emails

      When you send a test email, the Email To Script will not be used; instead, the email will be sent to the address that you specify in the Send Test Email dialog. If you have a Litmus account, you can enter your Litmus test address. To make the test address appear by default, you can set the default test address in the Email Preferences: select Window > Preferences, click the arrow next to Email, click General and type the test address next to Email Test address.

      For a description of how to test your email for different email clients, see this how-to: Test your emails with Litmus. For more information on Litmus, please see http://litmus.com/

    For a detailed description of how to use Mandrill with Connect to send and track emails, see the following how-to: Using Mandrill.

    Generating Email output from Workflow

    1. Open a template with an Email context.
    2. Send the template to PlanetPress Workflow; see Sending files to Workflow.
    3. Create a process in PlanetPress Workflow containing at least the following steps:
      • Any input that will capture a job file that is compatible with the data mapping configuration that is used.
      • An Execute Data Mapping task to generate a valid record set (see Workflow Help: Execute DataMapping Task).
      • A Create Email Content task with the appropriate settings (see Workflow Help: Create Email Content).
    		  
    • Last Topic Update: 24/01/2017 09:32
    • Last Published: 7/6/2017 : 9:49 AM