Email Templates

[jbakic]

Is there a way to just insert the first name of a contact into an email template? I don't like having to send an email that says: Dear Jane Doe, instead of just Dear Jane. It's too formal and not the way people send emails.

Perhaps somones knows a modifier I can use in the insert field to strip the last name, sort of like using the search() function on a text field in Excel.

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide on this.

[Support Team]

Re: Email Templates

jebakic,

The Contact field holds both the first and last names.

What you can do is store only the first name in the Contact field, and store the last name in the LName field (right to the Dear field).

That being said, we usually don't recommend storing data in this way because in different places, like Contact selection, only the Contact name appears. If you're OK with this, then it may work for you. In that case we also recommend adding the Last Name field as a column in the Accounts list (right click the Account table > Table Options > Add/Remove Columns > Last Name.

HTH,
Neta

[AN-Tech]

Re: Email Templates

This is something I ran into recently as well. Can you guys add a First Name field in the next version? It would be nice to be able to have the First Name and Last Name field generate the Contact field. It would give us a lot more flexibility in sending out emails, reports, etc.

Also along those line can you add a setting someplace so that the File as field would give an additional option to file by Last Name, First Name? Even better would be an option to default to that format for accounts that do not have a company name listed. We keep all residential clients filed in this way and frequently it gets missed by the person creating the account. Then we also run into issues because the linked account in Quickbooks will get created with First Name Last Name instead of Last Name, First name like all the rest.

It becomes confusing because you have to constantly search for 2 different names and duplicate accounts get created. Would solve a few issues we have if the above was implemented. Hope that all made sense.

Thanks in advance

[mundycomputers]

Re: Email Templates

Add my vote, first name field really helps with email templates, this is something AutoTask currently does better.

[PowerOn]

Re: Email Templates

+1 For First Name only field.

[Support Team]

Re: Email Templates

Feedback noted.

@ascendnet - When the company name is not entered the File As field does contain the Contact name automatically. The Contact name is meant to include first name and only then last name though.
As for searching, you can also select to search exactly by Contact name, or by Last Name. In any case we plan to add some more power to the Accounts Keyword search soon.

Besides, following this thread we evaluate whether there's an option to add a stand alone the first name field (or more correctly phrased - the first word if the Contact field) into the list of Account fields available for email templates.

Thanks,
Neta

[AN-Tech]

Re: Email Templates

Being able to set the File as field to Last Name, First Name is important because that is how things get filed either physically or folder structure wise on a computer. Also when working with Quickbooks the accounts are displayed by Last Name, First name. So if the account doesn't exist in Quickbooks when you sync them CommitCRM will create the account but if the Filed as field in CommitCRM is First Name Last Name then it creates the account wrong in Quickbooks.

The searching part is really only for Quickbooks because we end up with some accounts being created by CommitCRM in one format and other account in another format. If we could have CommitCRM always use Last Name, First Name they would never be created wrong.

[Support Team]

Re: Email Templates

@ascendnet - thanks for your feedback.

Please note that selecting a value from the drop down menu for the File As... field is optional (Last Name, First Name, in this order are not in the drop down currently).

The File As... field is a free text field. You can type anything you like there, including the Last Name, First Name.

Thanks,
Neta

[AN-Tech]

Re: Email Templates

I understand that this format is not currently on the list. I was asking that there be a way for accounts without a company name to default to a last name, first name format. If there was an option for this format we wouldn't have to worry about someone not changing the format, it would always be correct.

Thanks

[lpopejoy]

Re: Email Templates

That's the way mine defaults... Maybe there's an option somewhere?

[AN-Tech]

Re: Email Templates

Not sure how it could default to that format when it doesn't have a first name field. Did you mean that yours is defaulting to Firstname Lastname (John Smith) or Lastname, Firstname (Smith, John)?

[lpopejoy]

Re: Email Templates

Uhh, ok I'm an idiot. Sorry, mine DOESN'T default to Lastname, Firstname. I've become so used to typing it that way that I forgot it didn't default that way. LOL!

[AN-Tech]

Re: Email Templates

LOL, well I suppose if we could all default to typing it that way I wouldn't have to put in a feature request :-)

[itognet]

Re: Email Templates

+1 for the first name.

It is damn easy to program and implement.
Create an non-db Field <CRDCONTACT_Firstname> which triggers a function returning only the first word from <CMTLBLDATA_FLDTKTCONTACTID_FLDCRDCONTACT>

Done.

[Support Team]

Re: Email Templates

Well... this was ALREADY implemented in RangerMSP 5.5 and is already available for you to use :-)

When designing the email templates for Tickets the field is already in the field selection menu (for example to get the first name of the selected secondary contact for the Ticket select 'Contact' > 'Contact First name (first word)'.

Anyway please find are the relevant tokens (again, can also be added when the field is selected from the menu):

When designing Email templates for Tickets -

To get the first name of the main (Account) Contact use the following token:
<CMTLBLDATA_FLDTKTCARDID_FLDCRDCLCCONTACTFIRSTNAME >

To get the first name of the selected secondary contact for the Ticket use the following token:
<CMTLBLDATA_FLDTKTCONTACTID_FLDCRDCLCCONTACTFIRSTN AME>

I hope this helps.
Dina