This article is a walkthrough of the key tasks you'll encounter when creating, customizing, and sending polished, media-rich messages using Messages XR Enterprise's drag-and-drop editor.
Don't yet see the drag-and-drop editor option?
We are slowly rolling out the drag-and-drop editor to Messages XR Enterprise clients. There are two areas where you may already be able to access this option:
- the Additional Email templates button in the Email channel
- the Templates tab in the Messages area
This article exists to provide All users with everything they need to understand how to perform essential tasks and manage the Messages XR Enterprise platform for communicating with district and school families.
In this article, you'll learn how to:
- Browse, search, and filter existing templates
- Follow best practices for sharing templates across teams
- Clone and modify both Custom and System templates
- Prepare your message in the Email channel
- Save a sent message as a reusable template
Need to start fresh with a new template?
Check out the article, "Create new templates using the drag-and-drop editor in the Templates tab."
Step 1: Browse existing templates in the Templates tab
Once you have landed in the Templates tab, you can first go on a quick tour of all of your existing template options.
- Search template name: Looking for a specific template? This is a quick way to find it by searching by name.
- Filter by All, Custom, System: By default, all existing templates will populate in the Templates tab.
- Custom: Check the radio button next to Custom to filter only those templates that you and your team have created.
- System: Select System to browse through only the provided templates.
Important Note about System templates
System templates in Messages XR Enterprise are automatically wireframed and come with strict limitations:
- They cannot be deleted.
- They cannot be edited directly.
- To make any adjustments, you must clone the template first, then customize the copy as needed.
Step 2: Understand template roles and permissions
A permission model applied to the use of templates ensures brand consistency across your district while protecting private work. Your ability to view, edit, or delete a template depends on your organization role, the template type, and specific sharing permissions.
Learn more in the article, "Managing template permissions in Messages XR Enterprise."
Step 3: Clone and modify templates
To update a template without affecting the original:
- Hover and click the Clone icon.
- Rename the template using team naming conventions.
- Add content, preview, and send.
Important Note on system templates
System templates must be cloned before use. They cannot be edited directly.
Step 4: Prepare your message content
To use a template to add your content and send out to recipients, follow these steps:
- Enter Title and Select recipients.
- Navigate to the Messages area in left navigation. In the Create message tab, click the Email icon.
- Before moving on further, have you learned how to Choose your delivery methods when sending out messaging?
- In the Content area below, locate and click the Additional Email Templates button.
- In the window that appears, select the name of the template from the template picker.
- You will be directed to the drag-and-drop editor window to add your content and edit your message as needed.
Option: Save a message as a template
While working on creating a message, you may decide this one is worth saving! You can save a message as a template so that it will be available for you and others to use again in the future.
- After you have selected your template and return to the Create message > Email channel, you will see some options next to your newsletter thumbnail.
- Select Save as template where you will be asked to give a new, unique name for this new template.
Next: Add your content, preview, and send
To learn more about how to add your new content into an existing template, check out the article, "Customize your content in a selected drag-and-drop template."