Message parts can be configured for text-based or html-based messages, or both. Message parts can be based on a formatted series of fields from the message source. They can also be based on a Visual Basic script written to extract and format data from other sources.
This section describes how administrators can create several types of Message Parts from within the Message Parts service. Users can also create simple Message Parts directly within the Aptify Messaging form using the Save Part As... menu option. See the Creating a New Message Part section in the "Messaging" chapter of the Aptify User Guide for details.
Follow these general steps to create a new message part from the Message Parts service:
- Open a new record from the Message Parts service.
- Enter a Name and Description for the message part.
- Select the Type of Message Part.
- Standard — This option is selected by default. Standard message parts are based on fields that exist only in the current message source. For example, a message part for the Persons service could display the person's default address.
- Script — Message parts that include information derived from outside the current message source can be set up using a Visual Basic.NET script. For example, a message part for the Persons service could display the order history for that person as a formatted list.
- Component — This option specifies that the message part uses the object specified on the Component tab.
- Enter the category for the Message Part in the Category field.
- Message Parts Record
- Configure the Message Part as necessary, based on the type of part you are creating.
- For a Standard Part, see "Creating a Standard Part" on page 454.
- For a Script Part, see "Creating a Script Part" on page 455.
- For a Component Part, see "Creating a Component Part" on page 457.
- For a Generic Base Part, see "Creating a Generic Base Part" on page 458.
- For a Derived Part, see "Creating a Derived Part" on page 459.
See the sample Message Parts records included with Aptify for an example of a scripted Generic Base Part (Data Table) and of a derived part (Other People at Same Company Table).
- Configure the part's security settings.
- If you want this part to be visible to all users in the Messaging dialog's Select Part window and in the Part Quick Select link box, leave the Allow Everyone box checked.
- To limit access to this part to specific users and/or groups, follow these steps:
- Remove the check mark from the Allow Everyone box.
- Add the users and groups who should have access to this part under the Group Permissions and User Permissions tabs. Any user or group that has a sub-type record under one of these tabs will be able to add the part to a message.
- Configure the part's availability settings.
- If you want this part to be available system wide, select Global from the Availability drop-down menu.
- You can limit access to this part to a set of Message Sources by selecting MessageSource and defining Message Source records on the Message Source tab.
- When selecting a Message Part in the Messaging dialog, a part will only be available if its Availability is Global or if its Availability is MessageSource and the current message source is specified on the part record's Message Sources tab.
- Also note that a user's ability to select a particular part in the Messaging dialog depends upon the part's availability as well as on the user's access permissions.
The Read, Edit, and Delete check boxes on the permissions form are reserved for future use.
- Enter any relevant details on the Comments tab.
- Save and close the record.