Snippets

A brief overview about Snippets in MinistryPlatform.

Snippets are pre-written HTML text that automatically log Message Recipients in so they can quickly access their accounts.

Note: A Snippet is only valid if it matches a Contact when you send a Message.
There are several predefined Snippets in your system. Customize these or add your own Snippets! See Create and Edit Snippets.
You can insert Snippets into Messages using the New Message Tool.
Once sent, the Snippet includes information specific to each Recipient. As such, do not copy Snippets from sent emails. For more information, see Snippet Best Practices.
You can use Snippets in Notification Messages if the Notification supports the [Domain_GUID] and [Contact_GUID] Merge Fields. See articles specific to each Notification for more details.

Predefined Snippets

There are some predefined Snippets included with your MinistryPlatform instance.

If your church does not have some of these available, contact Support to get them added to your system.
Before you can use them, you must edit each Snippet to use your domain address.

*Event Sign Up: Requires an Event ID each time you use it. Add the Event ID using the source view. For more details and steps, see Insert an Event-Specific Snippet.
*Group Sign Up: Requires a Group ID each time you use it. Add the Group ID using the source view.
*GroupLife Login: Requires a Group ID each time you use it. Add the Group ID using the source view.
*CareLife Login: Takes the User to the Care Life Dashboard.
*Opportunity Sign Up: Requires an Opportunity ID each time you use it. Add the Opportunity ID using the source view.
User Account: Logs in and displays My User Account.
Event Registrations: Logs in and displays the Event Calendar with the Registrations filter.
Event Calendar: Logs in and displays the Event Calendar.
Give Online: Logs in and displays the Online Giving page.
Support A Mission Trip: Logs in and displays the Mission Trip Giving page.
Group Finder: Logs in and displays the Group Finder page.
Group Finder (by survey): Logs in and displays the Group Finder (Survey) page.
Opportunity Finder: Logs in and displays the Opportunity Finder page.
Opportunity Finder (by survey): Logs in and displays the Opportunity Finder (Survey) page.
My Groups: Logs in and displays the My Groups page.
My Mission Trips: Logs in and displays My Mission Trips page.
My Survey: Logs in and displays My Survey page.
My Purchase History: Logs in and displays Purchase History page. This is only available on the Invoices and Participants pages.
My Subscriptions: Logs in and displays Subscriptions page.
Church Directory: Logs in and displays the Church Directory page.
Contribution Statement: Logs in and displays Contribution Statement page. This is only available on the Donors page.
Giving History: Logs in and displays Giving History page. This is only available on the Donors page.
Cancel Recurring Gifts: Logs in and displays Giving History page. This is only available on the Donors page.

Create and Edit Snippets

To create and edit Snippets, go to Communications > Communication Snippets.

To include links in your Snippets, go to the appropriate Page in the Platform and copy the URL.

Note: When you view groups, the URL includes the Group ID. So, you want to create individual Snippets for each Group link.

To restrict which Pages have the Snippet, add the Page to the Pertains To field of the Communication Snippets record. If you want to make the Snippet available on any Page, leave this field blank.

Example of the Snippet record for My Contribution Statement

Insert Snippets into a Message

Important: Snippets are a unique link for each Recipient. To avoid sharing someone's personal link with all Recipients, do not copy a personalized Snippet from a previous Message. Always insert a Snippet into your Message as described here.

Launch the New Message Tool.
Place your cursor in your Message text where you want to add the Snippet.
Click Insert > Snippets, and select the Snippet you want.
Send your message as usual.

Insert an Event-Specific Snippet

You can send a Message that includes the Event Sign Up Snippet so people can quickly get to the Event Registration page.

You'll need the Event ID number. To find this, open the Event record and look at the title. For example, "Summer Conference (ID: 101)".

Launch the New Message Tool.
Prepare your Message.
Click Insert > Snippets, and select *Event Sign Up.
Click the View HTML Source button.
Look for the long string of characters ending with "id=0".
Change the "0" to your Event ID.
101
Click the View HTML Source button again.
Make any final edits to your Message.
When you're ready, click Send > Send.

When a User clicks this Snippet in the Message, the Snippet logs the Recipient in to their account and directs them to the Event Registration page.

Auto-login Links

Aside from what already exists in your system, you can create additional auto-login Snippets.

Note: Widgets don't support auto-logins.

Portal Auto-login Snippet

When you use correct values, the following link automatically logs a specific User into the Portal and onto a specific page.

https://{your church domain}/portal/login.aspx?dg=[Domain_GUID]&cg=[Contact_GUID]&ReturnUrl=/portal/<return-page>

Custom Form Auto-login

The Custom Form auto-login link automatically logs a specific User into your website and displays a Custom Form. So assemble your church's information and get ready to copy and paste! You'll need:

Your Domain (this is your church's website)
Custom Form GUID (you can find this on the Form record)

When configured, the auto-login link should look like the code below. To make it easier on yourself, copy this text and update it with your domain and Custom Form GUID. Be sure to replace "[Form GUID]" with the GUID from the form you want to link to.

https://{your church domain}/portal/login.aspx?dg=[Domain_GUID]&;cg=[Contact_GUID]&;ReturnUrl=/portal/get_form.aspx?id=[Form GUID]

Note: Alternatively, you can use a simple link. People can access any Custom Form using a link in the following format:

https://{your domain}/portal/get_form.aspx?id=[form_guid]

In this format, {your domain} is your church's base website (for example, example-church.com) and [form_guid] is the GUID created when you initially save the Form record. To get this value, open a Form record and look for the Form GUID field.

Snippet Best Practices

There are a few things to keep in mind when you use auto-login Snippets.

If a person forwards an email with an auto-login Snippet to someone else, they've essentially given that person access to log in to their account. Remind people not to share the Message. They might do it anyway, but at least you can sleep well at night knowing you warned them.

We recommend you include a note at the bottom of any message sent with a Snippet stating something like "The link included in this email is unique to you. Please do not forward this message". In fact, you can include this warning in the Snippet itself. That way, you won't forget it!

For example, one popular Snippet is a personalized event registration link:

https://{your church domain}/portal/login.aspx?dg=[Domain_GUID]&cg=[Contact_GUID]&ReturnUrl=/portal/event_signup.aspx?id=[event_ID]

And here's the source code for the Event Sign Up Snippet, with the warning included:

<a href="https://{your church domain}/portal/login.aspx?dg=[Domain_GUID]&cg=[Contact_GUID]&ReturnUrl=/portal/event_signup.aspx?id=0">Event Sign Up</a>. This is a personalized link. Please do not forward this email.

What if someone accidentally shares the link?

If someone shares a personal link, anyone who clicks that link can access that person's account and see their information. If this happens, you can reset that User's GUID and break the link using the Reset User Security Tool.

What would you like to know more about?