Message Editor - Create Newsletter Mailing

Arclab® MailList Controller

edit  Basics

The message editor can be used to create personalized messages in multi-part MIME format with a text and HTML part.
MailList Controller also supports file attachments and inline attachments (embedded images).

 

Click on "Message Drafts" to open a list of saved messages, create a new message or use one of the included message templates:

 

message drafts

 

 

message editor

 

settings  List:

The list contains the message recipients. List messages will be sent to contacts with status "Subscriber" only.

 

settings  From:

The "From" line contains the sender of the message. The value defined as "Friendly Name" in the list properties (not the list name) will be used as sender. The sender email address is the list email address. Sample: "Friendly Name" <Email>

 

settings  To:

The "To" line contains the recipient's email address and name. You can add additional fields for personalization here - [EMAIL] is added automatically.

Important: Do NOT enter any email addresses here.
The program will insert the contact’s email address [Email] during the mailing.

 

settings  Subject:

The "Subject" line contains the message subject. You can add additional fields for personalization here, e.g. "Hello [First_Name]".

 

settings  Description:

You can use this field to add a private comment to the message. The description is private and not used inside the message.

 

settings  Personalization (Fields):

You can insert placeholders into the message for personalization. The placeholder will be replaced with a value (from the list) during the mailing.
Placeholders have the format [...]. You can use any field from your list here, e.g. [Name], [Address], [EMAIL] ...

 

edit  Plain-Text Message

A plain-text message does not have the format options of a HTML message.
We recommend to create a "HTML Message" instead (see below).

 

A plain text message has a text part only. To create a plain text message, leave the HTML part empty.
Enter plain text in the "Plain Text" section.

 

  • "Insert Field in Content" can be used to insert personalized fields into the message.
  • You can preview the message in the "Text Preview" section.
  • Click on the "File Open" icon to import a text file and the "Disk Icon" to save the content to a text file on your local HD.
  • The "New Document" icon will delete the text part.

 

The "Plain Text" part will be created automatically when creating a HTML message.
Leave the "Plain Text" part empty when sending a HTML message!

edit  Rich Text - HTML Message

Most todays email programs can receive HTML/MIME messages. The section "Rich Text - HTML" contains a WYSIWYG HTML editor.
The HTML sourcecode is shown in the "HTML Sourcecode" section of the editor.

Leave the "Plain Text" part empty when sending a HTML message!
The "Plain-Text" part will be created automatically when sending a HTML message.

 

Enter the text in the section "Rich Text - HTML":

 

Rich-text HTML message

 

  • "Insert Field in Content" can be used to personalize the message.
  • You can preview the message in the "HTML Preview" section.
  • Click on the "File Open" icon to import a HTML file and the "Disk Icon" to save the content to a HTML file.
  • The "New Document" icon will delete the HTML content.

 

Don't copy and paste HTML formatted text directly into the editor!
Use "Import" > "HTML File" instead if you want to import an external HTML file.

 

A HTML message contains a HTML part and an alternate text part.
The alternate text part is shown only, if the email client is not capable of viewing HTML messages.

Select the text or an image and click on the "Add Hyperlink" icon in the editor:

 

add hyperlink

 

Samples:

http://www.arclab.com

https://www.arclab.com/en/amlc

mailto:support@arclab.com

 

Personalized Links:

It's also possible to personalize a link, e.g. include the [EMAIL].
You can include all available fields, e.g.

http://www.yourdomain.tld/custom.php?email=[EMAIL]&name=[Name]

 

See also: Add a Link to Unsubscribe (Remove) to your Newsletter

To test a link go to "HTML Preview" and click on the link:

 

test link

 

A messagebox shows the link URI (URL). Use the left and right arrows to select a different record to preview.

edit  HTML Source and "Source Mode"

The section "HTML Source" contains the source code of the message.

 

  • Use "Import" > "HTML File" or the "Import HTML File" icon to import a HTML File.
  • Check "Source Mode" to disable the "Rich Text (HTML)" WYSIWYG editor.
    If the WYSIWYG editor is disabled the HTML code will not be reformatted by the editor.

 

The internal WYSIWYG HTML editor includes basic editing functions.
If you want to create a more complex email use an external HTML editor, like e.g. the the free MS Expression Web instead and import the HTML code.

edit  Attachments

The section "Attachments" contains a list of all file attachments and embedded (linked) images:

 

attachments

 

Add File Attachment

Please click on the icon "Add Attachment" and select the file to attach. You can attach all file types, e.g. a PDF document.
The program will switch to section "Attachments" where you can see all your file attachments.

Make sure the file exists and is not opened (locked) by another application - otherwise you will get an error! (AMSG2MIME failed)
If you still get the AMSG2MIME failed error, reboot your computer to reset all file locks.

Don't add file attachments of the types: .exe, .zip, .rar. These file-types are blocked by most mail clients for security reasons.

 

Add HTML Content

Click on "Add HTML Content" to add special HTML content attachments like css files, images or other files. All you have to do is to replace the local filenames with the "HTML Content ID" in the message source (HTML Source). The "Content-ID" is auto assigned from the filename.

 

Sample:

Replace

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="arclab/style/arclab.css">

with

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="cid:arclab.css">

(after you clicked on "Add HTML Content")