Create new templates using the drag-and-drop editor in the Templates tab

This article explains how to build drag-and-drop email templates in Messages XR Enterprise from the Templates tab, including working with rows, content blocks, and template settings.

Create a new template

Navigate to the Messages area of Messages XR Enterprise and click to open the Templates tab. In the top right corner, click the Create Template button to get started. 

• Template Name: Give your template a name that will be easily understood. This is an internal name, not anything that will appear in messaging going out to your community.
• Guides: Turning on guides will display gridlines assisting you in aligning content.

Start building your template

There are two primary sections in your drag-and-drop template builder: 

• Main panel: Drag content from the side panel into the main panel to start building.
• Side panel: A variety of elements are available to you, giving you full creative license to make an engaging template that is laid out exactly how you want it to be. There are three tabs to toggle between: Content, Rows, and Settings

Follow this step-by-step process for template-building: 

• Step 1: Add Rows
• Step 2: Add Content elements
• Step 3: Configure your Settings tab
• Step 4: Continue to build your template and preview when finished
• Next: Managing template permissions in Messages XR Enterprise

Step 1: Add Rows

Rows are foundational to your design as they serve as the container for content blocks and are crucial for mobile responsiveness. Any content block that you drag and drop onto the builder stage is placed into a row.

• Unlike fixed-width layouts, rows in this builder automatically adjust to the screen size of the device on which they are displayed.
• The builder provides various settings for rows (see Row Properties), which allow you to apply design elements to multiple content blocks at once.

Structure blocks can break sections of an email up into multiple vertical columns. You can stack different structure blocks together to create emails with a visually engaging look. 

As you are becoming familiar with adding structure with rows, remember you can configure settings in Row Properties. Clicking on each row will open up Row Properties in the side panel. 

Learn more about these options in the section, "Configure your Row Properties." 

Step 2: Add Content elements

The Content tab contains content blocks that can be in the form of Text formatted a certain way, Images, or Videos. Other options include clickable Buttons that guide readers to the next step, Dividers, or Social blocks. For enhanced accessibility, choose Title, List, or Table blocks for your message.

After setting up structural elements, begin dragging Content Elements into each structural panel. Drop the element when the Drag it here line appears in the desired content area.

• Clicking on each element will open it up for editing.
• Content properties will appear in the side panel.

Content Elements library 

• Title: This content block allows you to set the hierarchy (H1/H2/H3) within your design using header tags without the need for custom HTML.
• Paragraph: Use this block to add, format, and manage larger sections of text for your email, offering control over font styles, sizes, alignment, text direction, and spacing between lines and paragraphs.
• List: With the new List block, you'll find some enhanced content properties specific to list content. The options are List type and List style type:
  • List type allows you to choose an ordered or unordered list.
  • List style type enables you to select some basic styling options.
• Image: Add an image block to be able to drag and drop an image. Browse to be directed to Messages XR Enterprise file manager storage area. Upload new media as needed. Learn more in the section, "Configure your Image Properties."
• Button: Add a customizable button to link your readers elsewhere.
• Table: Inserting this block allows you to add tables to your messages. It includes very extensive customizable options for your tables.
• Divider: A customizable divider creates a break between rows.
• Spacer: Add customizable chunks of space to make certain areas of your newsletter more easily digestible.
• Social: Insert your social icons so readers can easily find your social channels.
• Video: Add a block for a link to a video to be inserted into messages. Learn more about how this works in the section, "Insert a video link into an email."
• Icons: Use small images and text together in a single content block to provide more flexibility in your designs. Use the pre-loaded icon or Change image to select another one.
• Text: A basic text editor will open up allowing you to format text, place links, and add so much more into your message.  

Step 3: Configure your Settings tab

The Settings tab provides a centralized location for setting up configurations that apply across your entire design. Click on the third tab in the side panel to configure your Settings.

To learn more, check out the section, "Configure your Settings tab."

Step 4: Continue to build your template and preview when finished

As you configure your settings and add new Content elements, you'll start to see your email newsletter template come together.

Ready to preview?  

• Toggle off the Guides option in the top left corner to get a better idea of what your newsletter will look like to your recipients.
• Click the Preview button to go into Preview mode.

Once in Preview mode you can: 

• See how this template will appear on different device sizes.
• Scroll down and adjust the frame to see all parts of your template.

• Go back into Edit mode should you wish to make more edits. 

Next: Managing template permissions in Messages XR Enterprise

Now that you've built your design, check out the article, "Managing template permissions in Messages XR Enterprise"to learn how to control who can access and use this template. Setting permissions ensures your branding remains consistent across different teams.