Settings-Confirmation E-mail

quikSlip can send a custom e-mail to the customer with shipping information once the shipment is processed.  quikSlip additionally provides the powerful capability to send "multi-part" e-mails, meaning both the HTML formatted and Text formatted e-mails are sent in one e-mail.  The recipients e-mail system will determine which one it can display to the reader, ensuring customers don't receive an unreadable e-mail.  E-mail is DISABLED by default allowing you to configure the custom templates and test prior to setting the e-mail to be sent when processing shipments in quikSlip.  E-mails are also sent on a "background thread" meaning they will be sent when the server can send them and not hold you up in processing additional information in quikSlip.

Figure 1.  E-mail preferences

1. Send E-Mail on Shipping Status Change:  If checked, e-mails will be sent on Shipment Status changes (to Shipped from Pending)

2. Mail Server:  The mail server for sending e-mails.  quikSlip will pull the default StoreFront mail server as configured for your store

3. Requires SMTP Authentication:  If your mail server requires the use of a username/password to send e-mails, check this box

4. SMTP Username:  If your mail server requires a username/password, enter the username here

5. SMTP Password:  If your mail server requires a username/password, enter the password here.  Only enter it again if changing the password, otherwise this field will remain blank

6. Send Method:  The default is to send both a HTML and Text multi-part e-mail.  This is ONE e-mail that is sent with both formats embedded.  The mail reader will choose which it can use.  If you only wish to configure one template such as HTML only, be sure to set the mail format to send ONLY the HTML version.

7. Mail-From Name:  The Name such as "NC Software, Inc." the e-mail recipient will see in the e-mail address for the sender (you)

8. Mail-From Address:  The e-mail address the recipient will see the e-mail coming from

9. Reply-To Address:  (optional)  If the e-mail recipient hits reply, this address is where their e-mail will be sent

10. E-Mail Subject:  Subject line for shipment confirmations (can use any of the replacement variables as shown in Figure 1 above)

11. BCC:  If an e-mail address is used, this recipient will get "private" copies of all the e-mails going out.  The recipient will not see this address on their e-mail and is a good system for ensuring mail sent is as you desire.

Figure 2.  HTML E-Mail WYSIWYG Editor

As shown in Figure 2 above, you can use the included WYSIWYG editor to design HTML templated e-mails.  You can also use the HTML editor of your choosing and paste in the HTML code by clicking the View Source checkbox, paste the HTML source code, then uncheck the View Source checkbox to view the output.   Use the Insert menu to include replacement variables where the mouse cursor resides.  Links are commonly used links that may be easily included into an HTML e-mail.  To reset to the default e-mail, clear the contents then click Save Settings.  quikSlip will reset to the default automatically if no content exists.

Warning:  Be sure prior to saving the settings the View Source checkbox is NOT checked

Figure 3.  TEXT E-Mail Editor

The Non-HTML (Text) editor is where you can design the text portion of the e-mail for e-mail readers that cannot read HTML e-mail.  Copy and Paste the replacement variables as desired (Figure 4 below) and quikSlip will replace these values with the values from the corresponding order.

Figure 4.  Replacement Variables for E-mail Creation

Replacement variables are unique words within [ ] brackets.  quikSlip will process the e-mail for each order prior to sending replacing the replacement variables with the actual values.  Replacement variables are intuitive as shown above with the exception of [BillingContact] and [ShippingContact].  These two replacement variables will assemble the address (either billing or shipping, as specified) in the following format:

FirstName LastName
Company (if exists)
Address Line 1
Address Line 2 (if exists)
City, State  Zip

Figure 5.  E-Mail Test Utility

After designing your e-mail templates, you can send a test to the address specified as shown in Figure 5 above (using your e-mail address for the value).  Click Send Test and quikSlip will replace replacement variables with random information so you can check the format of your e-mails.

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Questions you may have:

When are e-mails sent (assuming the e-mail system is enabled)?

1. If manually changing a shipping status from Pending to Shipped and clicking the Save Changes button

2. Entering shipping information in the far right column of quikSlip (carrier, tracking number, shipdate).  Clicking the Save Changes will detect the changes, commit them and send the shipping confirmation e-mails.

3. When using the Import CSV functionality

How can I see what the recipients are seeing to ensure the templates are working as designed?

1. First and foremost, use the Send Test button at the bottom of the e-mail designers to see how they will appear

2. If the "BCC" field has an e-mail address filled in, all e-mails sent will be "Blind Carbon Copied" to this address.  It is recommended to enter your e-mail address to monitor the outgoing e-mail for the first few sends.  After you are sure all is as desired and you no longer wish to receive copies of the shipment confirmation e-mails, clear the BCC address.