This topic provides field-by-field information on the Aptify Messaging form, which is used in the process of configuring bulk messages, This form is accessible either from selecting Messaging from the Context Menu on a view, or by clicking the Messaging icon on services where Messaging has been implemented.

File Menu

Load Template

A saved template can be selected from the Load Template dialog by selecting Load Template from the menu.

Schedule Message...

Loads the Schedule Message wizard. See Scheduling Recurring Messages for details.

Save Template

A template can be saved by selecting Save Template from the menu.

Save Template As

A template can be saved under a new name by selecting Save Template As from the menu.

Save Part

This option is reserved for future use.

Save Part As

Select this option to save the current message contents as a new Message Part.

Send Messages

A message can be sent to the specified recipients by selecting Send Messages from the menu.

Close

A message can be closed by selecting Close from the menu.

Top Level

Send Messages Button

Once the message is configured, it may be sent by clicking the Send Messages button.

High Priority Button

The High Priority button, designated by the red exclamation point icon, sets the bulk messages to highest priority (for Outlook messages only).

Low Priority Button

The Low Priority button, designated by the blue downward arrow, sets the bulk messages to lowest priority (for Outlook messages only).

Subject

The subject line for the messages is entered into the Subject field.

Attachments Tab

Attachments to be sent out with messages configured in the Aptify Messaging form are listed on the Attachments tab.

HTML Message Tab

HTML formatted messages are composed on the HTML Message tab.

Insert Field Button

Fields are inserted into the message text by clicking the Insert Field button and selecting fields from the displayed list.

Insert Parts Button

Pre-defined message parts are inserted into the message text by clicking the Insert Parts button and selecting parts from the displayed list.

Part Quick Select

Pre-defined message parts are inserted into the message text by entering the message part into the Part Quick Select field and click Insert. A new Message Part record can be opened by clicking the hyperlink.

HTML Sub-Tab

HTML formatting is defined for the message on the HTML sub-tab of the HTML Message tab. The HTML sub-tab can be used to edit the HTML code of the message.

Preview Sub-Tab

The text of the message is defined on the Preview sub-tab of the HTML Message tab. The Preview sub-tab includes a toolbar that can be used to edit or reformat the message.

The toolbar includes the following icons (from left to right):

Open

An HTML file can be added to the form by clicking the Open icon and selecting a file from the dialog.

Save

The message entered on the form is saved by clicking the Save icon.

Cut

Portions of the message are cut out and added to the clipboard for pasting by highlighting them and clicking the Cut icon.

Copy

Portions of the message are copied to the clipboard for pasting by highlighting them and clicking the Copy icon.

Paste

Clipboard contents are pasted into the message by clicking the Paste icon.

Undo

Changes to the message are undone by clicking the Undo icon.

Redo

Changes to message that were undone are reapplied by clicking the Redo icon.

Font

Changes to the message text fonts are made by clicking the Font icon and selecting new fonts.

Bold

The message text is changed to bold by highlighting the text and clicking the Bold icon.

Italic

The message text is italicized by highlighting the text and clicking the Italic icon.

Underline

The message text is underlined by highlighting the text and clicking the Underline icon.

Hyperlink

A hyperlink is added to the message by clicking the Hyperlink icon and entering a URL on the dialog.

Picture

An image is added to the message by clicking the Picture icon and entering the Internet URL where the image is located in the dialog.

Align Left

The message text is aligned to the left by clicking the Align Left icon.

Center

The message text is aligned to the center by clicking the Center icon.

Align Right

The message text is aligned to the right by clicking the Align Right icon.

Increase Indent

The message text is indented by placing the cursor on a line of text and clicking the Increase Indent icon.

Decrease Indent

The indentation of the message text is decreased by placing the cursor on an indented line and clicking the Decrease Indent icon.

Numbering

The message text is numbered by placing the cursor on a line of text and clicking the Numbering icon.

Bullets

The message text is bulleted by placing the cursor on a line of text and clicking the Bullets icon.

Options Tab

All options for Addressing and Delivery of the messages are set on the two sub-tabs of the Options tab.

Addressing Sub-Tab

Options for determining the To, From, CC, and BCC values for the messages are configured on the Addressing sub-tab.

To Type

The value selected in the To Type field indicates whether the To field on the message is static- or field-driven. Standard options are:

• Static: Static value for all messages.
• Field: Allows selection of a field to designate the value of the To field on the message. Defaults to the Email field from the Message Sources record.

To

The value in the To field determines the address of the persons to whom the message is sent. This is either a field from the message source (such as Email1, Email2, or Email3 from the Persons entity) or a static value, depending on the option selected in the To Type field.

From Name

The value in the From Name field indicates the name of the person or organization who sent the message. (This field is not applicable for Outlook Mail.)

From Email

The From Email is the email address of the From person. (This field is not applicable for Outlook Mail.)

Reply To

Reply To contains the reply-to email address for the messages.

CC Type

CC Type indicates how the message is carbon copied. Standard options are:

• None: Selected by default. No CC is added to each message.
• Static: A static CC person is added to all messages.
• Field: A specified field is used for the CC on each message.

CC

This is either the field name that contains the CC address or a static CC value, depending on the options selected in the CC Type field.

BCC Type

BCC Type indicates how the message is blind carbon copied. Standard options are:

• None: Selected by default. No BCC is added to each message.
• Static: A static BCC person is added to all messages.
• Field: A specified field is used for the BCC on each message.

BCC Value

This is either the field name that contains the BCC address or the static BCC value, depending on the option selected in the BCC Type field.

Delivery Sub-Tab

The delivery sub-tab of the Options tab contains information about when and how the messages are to be delivered.

Message System

The message system defines where the messages will be sent from. For example, the message system may be set to Microsoft Outlook or another email service. By default, Aptify includes three message systems: Dot Net SMTP Client, Dot Net Mail, and Microsoft Outlook. Contact your system administrator for details.

Message Source

The message source defines where data used in the message is located. Message sources are views or services.

Start Delivery At

The Start Delivery At field displays the date and time when the message is sent. The field is only available if the selected Message System supports the Scheduling functionality to specify a future delivery time for a message. The Start Delivery At field is grayed out if this option is not available. See Scheduling Messages for Future Delivery for information on how to enable scheduling.

Plain Text Message Tab

Messages formatted as plain text are composed on the Plain Text Message tab.

If the message's Message System supports HTML, you enter the text of the message on the HTML Message tab, but you can also specify a plain text version of the message on the Plain Text Message tab to use as a fall-back option. When you specify the message on both tabs, a recipient receives the HTML version unless his or her email program does not support HTML. In that case, the recipient receives the plain text version.

If the message's Message System does not support HTML, the HTML Message tab is unavailable; enter the text of the message in the Plain Text Message tab.

Insert Field Button

Fields are inserted into the message text by clicking the Insert Field button and selecting fields from the displayed list.

Insert Part Button

Pre-defined message parts are inserted into the message text by clicking the Insert Part button and selecting parts from the displayed list.

Part Quick Select

Pre-defined message parts are inserted into the message text by entering the message part into the Part Quick Select field and click Insert. A new Message Part record can be opened by clicking the hyperlink.

Preview Tab

Completed messages can be previewed on the Preview tab prior to being sent. Both the HTML and the Text versions of the message may be previewed on this tab. Please note that the message cannot be modified from the Preview tab.

Top Level

Scrolling Arrows

The arrow buttons are used to scroll through and preview all messages in the bulk message set generated.

To

The email address of the person to whom the message is to be sent is listed in the To field.

CC

Any CC email addresses, if applicable, appear in the CC field as configured on the Options tab.

BCC

Any BCC email addresses, if applicable, appear in the BCC field as configured on the Options tab.

Subject

This field contains the subject of the message, as defined in the Subject field on the Top Level of the Aptify Messaging form.

HTML Sub-Tab

If the message is formatted as HTML, it displays on the HTML sub-tab.

Text Sub-Tab

If the message is formatted as plain text, it displays on the Text sub-tab.

Actions Tab

Once the message is sent, Aptify can automatically fire a process flow to automate actions that need to take place after the message is sent. For example, if you want to create a contact log for each bulk message recipient, you could define an action that creates and links Contact Logs records to a corresponding Persons record automatically. The Actions tab contains information about these actions. See Configuring Message Actions for more information about creating Message Actions records.