Email templates are extremely useful for Sales, Support and SE or any one who constantly sends out the same email on a regular basis. This Zimlet allows users to quickly insert any earlier emails as templates to New, Reply, Forwarded emails & also to Calendar-invites.
Setting up Templates
Step 1: Create Templates:
This Zimlet uses existing emails(nothing special) as templates. Also, it brings the power of html editor for you to use & design. So, to create templates, simply send few emails yourself.
You can use generic names technique to replace common words. And just before inserting the template Zimlet will alert you to replace them.
For example: You could have hi ${firstName} in the body or in the subject
An example Template email:
Step 2: Setup a folder to keep all your Templates
1. After you have created few template emails, move all these emails to some central folder, say “Sales Templates”.
2. Set this folder as your templates repository by going to Preferences > “Set Templates Folder” button
3. Refresh browser
Using Templates
Step 1: Select a template from the menu:
With two clicks you can insert a Template of your choice. You can insert in three formats. 1. Just the body of the template, 2. both body & subject and 3. Body, Subject & Participants.
Step2: Replace Generic texts(if need be):
If you have any general texts in your templates, replace them with valid ones.
Resulting email
You can see that ${user}, ${firstName} & also attachments are inserted.
Other uses
1. Templates in Calendar:
You can use any of these templates in Calendar as well. For example, you can create a template with Conference-call details. You don’t have to search for those details anymore, Isn’t that cool?
2. Sharing Templates with others in the team:
Simply share your templates folder and ask your team members to point the Zimlets to this shared folder.
Download
Please download the Zimlet from here: http://gallery.zimbra.com/type/zimlet/email-templates
Yet another fantastic Zimlet!
Behavior question, in the “Replace Template Data” dialogue box I am unable to use the [tab] key to navigate between input fields. With all the advanced keyboard shortcuts built into Zimbra this would be a welcome function, allowing the user to avoid using the mouse.
This behavior repeats in both Firefox and Chrome via OS X.
Using the mouse is a small price to pay for such a great tool.
Thank you,
John
xmission.com
xjohn zimbra forums
Thanks. Ver 0.7 of the Zimlet addresses this tab-order issue. http://gallery.zimbra.com/type/zimlet/email-templates
Worth mentioning in the configuration text that in order for the ‘Set Template Folder’ button to work the ‘Always compose in new window’ box in Zinbra>Preferences>Mail>Composing must be un-ticked.
Thanks
Clarification for step 2. It’s not clear in the instructions above, but you have to open a new message or reply to an existing one to see the Templates button. It took me awhile to find that Templates Preferences option.
Very Good Tool.
Very good Zimlet,
possible improvemenet for next version: auto-insert date or time
I find this zimlet unstable when used in Zimbra Desktop, we constantly have to restart zimbra desktop (after 3 – 4 uses of the templates) in order to get it to work again.
Any suggestions on combating this?
Hi,
I’m using ZCS NE 7.1.3, and it works for email, but I do not see the Templates menu on new calendar events. I’d like to use this to create new events. I’ve tried Firefox 10.0 ESR and Chrome.
I love this little zimlet and use it all of the time. We have also implemented it for other users in other departments and hopefully it will help streamline the mundane task of creating form emails.
I agree with others that the ability to edit templates would simply things, as well as a pulldown menu to create new template (automatically storing it in your template folder). I look forward to new updates when they are added.