Powerful Outlook Add-ins

can you explain how to use this new feature in templates?

_________________
DBB

Hello,

Thank you for the interest in our products.

The Parameters function works like this:
If you have a template that you regularly send to different people, you can define customizable fields. Thus, you will not have to search through the message to write that person's name, for example - when you insert the template a pop-up window appears and lets you insert all of the customizable fields easily.

So, create a new template. If you want to make reference to the company your recipient is working for, type "company" in the Parameters field, then click on Insert. When you will insert the template in an email, the pop-up window will display that the customizable field is "company". Write the company's name and it will be put in place by Bells&Whistles.

Unfortunately, I believe there's a little bug with this feature at the moment. I will speak with the dev team in the morning and inform you of my findings or just provide you with the new version's download link.


Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
www.EmailAddressManager.com
Email Productivity Blog: blog.EmailAddressManager.com
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Email: support@EmailAddressManager.com

_________________
Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
http://www.outlook-apps.com
Email Productivity Blog
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@outlook-apps.com

thanks Andrew.
(there is no mention of this feature in the help file)
i think you are right - there is a bug - as i can't get this to work sensibly - or in a way to save me time

should there be a list of available parameters? (from the outlook contact form?)
or if you do 'create your own parameter' then it asks for a value.


i really like this product, but this upgrade really is disappointing after 3 years in the making.

_________________
DBB

We will update the Help file very soon, sorry for this.

Please download the latest version from http://www.emailaddressmanager.com/scripts/Download.ashx?prefix=bw&name=BW-4.0.250 and install it on your system. The parameters feature now works correctly.

You have to insert your own parameters, and then B&W asks you with what text to replace it.


Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
www.EmailAddressManager.com
Email Productivity Blog: blog.EmailAddressManager.com
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@EmailAddressManager.com

_________________
Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
http://www.outlook-apps.com
Email Productivity Blog
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@outlook-apps.com

ok - i have now done this and clearly i am to stupid to get this to work or save time in any way.


(behaviour has not changed after update. i have checked that the updated version installed and is running.

_________________
DBB

Well... what is the behavior then? The issue yesterday was that your defined parameters were not replaced with the text you entered in the pop-up window, but I have tested it myself and it works now.

Is there anything else going wrong?

I don't really know why you are stating that it doesn't save time... for example, I use it like this:
Sometimes, we award a coupon for one of our products to certain customers. The shortcut key for this template is Ctrl+Alt+A. Because the coupon text is identical every time I send it, but the discounted product is different, then I just press Ctrl+Alt+A, enter "Bells&Whistles" - for example - in the pop-up window and then press Enter. Without the defined parameter, I would have to read the coupon text every time, click on the place where I have to enter the product's name, write it and so on...


Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
www.EmailAddressManager.com
Email Productivity Blog: blog.EmailAddressManager.com
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@EmailAddressManager.com

_________________
Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
http://www.outlook-apps.com
Email Productivity Blog
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@outlook-apps.com

Hi Andrew,
thanks for the example. that's very helpful. i think it would be valuble to share other template ideas that users have that exploit the functionality of B&W.
i was understanding the functionality a little different. i was thinking that this would work like a merge. ie if i sent the email to multiple people, then the parameter would get information from each contact. eg the parameter value would be different for each addressee (that's how i thought it would save time)

here is what i am experiencing

i created the template
at the appropriate point i inserted a parameter. i called it name. (i see ^name^ appear in the template)

i open a new email
i insert the template
a dialogue box appears (titled: email template parameter values)
i enter a value at the cursor which is flashing in the value column
press OK
and i get an error dialogue box. "there are parameters without values. do you want to continue? " choices Yes or No
i only created 1 parameter in the template, so i select yes.
returned to the new email and it is empty where the parameter should have been inserted.

hopefully this explains how it is not working for me.

_________________
DBB

Oh, after writing the parameter you have to press Enter, that's all!
Then, you can either click on OK or press Enter again and your parameter will be inserted correctly...


Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
www.EmailAddressManager.com
Email Productivity Blog: blog.EmailAddressManager.com
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@EmailAddressManager.com

_________________
Best Regards,
Andrew Smith
Service Support Dept., DS Development
http://www.outlook-apps.com
Email Productivity Blog
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook Fan Page
Email: support@outlook-apps.com