Contact, From User, and Data Fields
- You can include Contact Fields in your Message. With these merge fields, you can personalize a Message. For example, using the [Nickname] field automatically adds the individual's nickname to their Message.
- The From User drop-down list is similar to the Contact Fields drop-down list, but it merges fields related to the Sender rather than Recipient. The Sender is the current authenticated User or the selected User for whom they delegate.
- Use Data Fields to add Page-specific data to your Message. Data Fields are available on every Page except Contacts, so the Message sends through the selected records rather than directly to Contacts. The options in the Data Fields drop-down list depend on the Default Field List of the All Records view of the page or subpage you are sending from. If needed, a SPoC can add any additional fields you want to use.
Initial Setup
In the Domain record, configure the list of fields for Contact Merge Fields and From User Merge Fields. They don't have to be from the Contacts record, but you may use a string generated by the Advanced Search Tool from the Contacts page.
Take care when you edit these fields. You may want to edit in HTML view to avoid adding extraneous characters to the list.
If needed, a SPoC can contact Support for assistance. Your church might also engage Professional Services to edit these fields for you.
Insert Fields into a Message
Personalize your Message with Contact Fields, From User fields, or Data Fields.
Once sent, the field you inserted in the Message displays the Recipient's information (for Contact Fields), the Sender's information (for From User Fields), or the Page-specific information (for Data Fields).
Add a Missing Data Field
If the Data Field you need isn't currently in the drop-down list, a SPoC can add a field to the Default Field list on a Page.
If you add a Default Field to a Page, the field becomes available in the New Message Tool. For our example, we want to add the Statement Method's Description field to the Donors page.
The field is now available in the Data Fields drop-down list for that Page.
Specify Recipients for Other Pages
Data Fields always associate with a Page other than Contacts. So, start on a page other than Contacts to select the Recipients to send to. The Contact ID Field on the Page's record determines the Recipients.
For example, you want to use Data Fields from the Opportunities page. When you select the Opportunities and launch the New Message Tool, then the recipients are the Primary Contacts of each Opportunity. This is specified in the Contact ID field in the specified Page:
If needed, you can add or change the value (SQL string) as long as it ends in "Contact_ID". This way, you can attach the Contacts associated with the selected records to the Messages.