Email Templates and Editing HTML

Version 11.5 added the ability to save and load email templates, along with the ability to view and edit the HTML code in the email body. This lets you use much more complex email layouts, such as those purchased from sites like ThemeForest or other providers. In writing this article, we thought it would be appropriate to use the template for the PowerChurch Software newsletter, which was purchased from ThemeForest.

You can send bulk emails from various areas of the Membership menu in Version 11.5 (and even more places in Version 12), but for this example, we're just working in Personal Profiles. So to start, go to Membership > Personal Profiles > Send Email Message to a Group. Make any necessary changes on the Selection Criteria screen and click OK, then choose what you would like to do with profiles that don't have email addresses.



The next step is where the actual email subject and body is composed. Choose HTML formatting at the top right. This will display the formatting toolbar, where you can change the fonts, colors, add links, etc.



If you have HTML code you would like to work with directly, such as you would get with a purchased template, click the View Source button, and then copy and paste your code into the email body.



When finished editing the HTML code, click the Preview button to see the fruits of your labor. You can click View Source again to switch back into the HTML code, make some changes, and then click Preview to verify the changes you made.



When you are happy with the layout, click Save Template, assign it a title and click OK.



Next time you want to send an email, come back into the Send Email Message to a Group screen, change it to HTML, and click Load Template. Choose your saved template and click OK.