Using Oracle Email Marketing On Demand > Designing the Email Message Body >
Using the Email Marketing Editor
You create the HTML email using all the features of the editor, described in the following topics, including merge fields, conditional content, response fields, graphics, and links to documents.
To make changes using the HTML Editor, enter your changes in the workspace. Use the editing toolbar at the top of the HTML Editor to format and work with text. Most of the buttons on the toolbar are the same buttons that appear in standard text editing applications.
You can also right-click highlighted text and make selections from the menu to perform some of the same tasks that you perform using the editing toolbar.
NOTE: When you create HTML content from the HTML Edit tab, the use of the Enter key displays a single spaced line. However, when you view the same content from the HTML Preview tab, a double spaced line appears, because the Enter key creates a <P> (paragraph) tag in the underlying HTML. In HTML, <P> tags render as double spacing. If you need single spacing, press and hold the Shift key and then press the Enter key to create the underlying <BR> (break) tag.
For information about more advanced features of the editor, see:
Using an Existing HTML Template
If your company has established standard email templates, or you want to reuse a previous email design for your current campaign, you can select an existing template from the Email Marketing Library. Using an existing template shortens the process of creating email content.
To insert an email template
- From the HTML email editor, click the Find an Email Template button.
The select an email template pop up window appears, with the recently used templates listed first. You can sort the templates or search for a specific file.
- To preview the content, click the View link.
- To select a template, click the name.
The template is inserted into your email.
CAUTION: Selecting an existing template with this option overwrites any existing content in the email editor.
NOTE: Each email campaign is automatically saved as a template under the Campaign Name. For example, if your Campaign Name is November 2011 Newsletter, the template is added to the Email Marketing Library under the same name.
You can add a template from an external location, such as the desktop.
To insert a template from an external file
- On the Edit HTML tab, click the Find an Email Template button.
The Select an email template pop up window appears.
- Click the New button in the template library.
- Click Browse, navigate to the HTML file you want, and select it.
- Apply the appropriate encoding from the Character Set list, then click Submit.
The HTML content appears in the body of your email.
Copying Information from Other Applications
You can copy information from most other Windows applications into Oracle Email Marketing On Demand and retain the formatting from the original application.
To copy formatted HTML content from another source
- Sign on to the application in which the information resides.
- Select the information to be copied and press CTRL+C.
- Go to the Oracle Email Marketing On Demand HTML editor window and press CTRL+V to paste the selected information into the workspace.
- You can then click the HTML Preview tab to see how your content appears when a recipient views your email.
You can copy unformatted HTML source code from another source, such as a text editor.
To copy HTML source code from another source
- Sign on to the application in which the information resides.
- Select the information to be copied and press CTRL+C.
- Go to the Oracle Email Marketing On Demand HTML editor window and click the Source button.
- Press CTRL+V to paste the selected information into the Oracle Email Marketing On Demand HTML editor workspace.
- You can then click the HTML Preview tab to see the HTML layout of your content.
Experiment by copying from different sources to test the results.
Editing in Microsoft Word
If your computer has Microsoft Word 2000 or later, you can edit content within Microsoft Word. You might prefer to do this if you are familiar with the Microsoft Word user interface, and want to use additional functionality available in Microsoft Word.
NOTE: It is not a best practice to use Word to generate HTML email content, because some Microsoft Word formatting might be incompatible with HTML and therefore cannot be transferred to the Oracle Email Marketing On Demand HTML editor.
To edit with Microsoft Word
- In Microsoft Word, select the information to be copied and press CTRL+C.
- From the HTML Edit tab in the editor, click the Paste from Microsoft Word toolbar button.
- In the dialog box, press CTRL+V to paste the selected information, then click OK.
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