Mail Export Letters

Clara Lind

Hi, Blackbaud colleagues! 


I'm running into an issue wtih the mail module, where I can't figure out how to update the mail letters we send out through the word mail wizard- and we're currently updating all of our donor acknowledgement letters. How do you update these documents to send out to donors? 


Thanks!

Clara 

JoAnn Strommen

I tend to cheat and just edit an existing letter and save with new name if needed. Open existing letter and click "Send to Word merge wizard" at the top center of the window. Click through to get to Edit Word merge, go to the Word file, edit, click Add-In tab and "Save and return to RE&".


I this what you're wanting to do? You're using Mail, not Export function, correct.

Clara Lind

JoAnn Strommen:

I tend to cheat and just edit an existing letter and save with new name if needed. Open existing letter and click "Send to Word merge wizard" at the top center of the window. Click through to get to Edit Word merge, go to the Word file, edit, click Add-In tab and "Save and return to RE&".


I this what you're wanting to do? You're using Mail, not Export function, correct.

Yes, I'm using the mail function. I guess another follow-up question would be-- where do the existing letters exist? I can't find them anywhere! 

JoAnn Strommen

When you go to Mail > Donor Acknowledgment Letters all the letters appear in right pane. If you didn't create the letters you're looking for be sure to uncheck the box at the bottom of the pane "Only show my mailngs".

John Heizer

Clara Lind:

 

JoAnn Strommen:

I tend to cheat and just edit an existing letter and save with new name if needed. Open existing letter and click "Send to Word merge wizard" at the top center of the window. Click through to get to Edit Word merge, go to the Word file, edit, click Add-In tab and "Save and return to RE&".


I this what you're wanting to do? You're using Mail, not Export function, correct.

Yes, I'm using the mail function. I guess another follow-up question would be-- where do the existing letters exist? I can't find them anywhere! 

 

They don't exist as a regular Word file outside RE.  They are stored within RE.  As you work through the steps in the merge wizard you'll come to the point where you can edit the letter templates.

Crystal Bruce

Clara Lind:

Hi, Blackbaud colleagues! 


I'm running into an issue wtih the mail module, where I can't figure out how to update the mail letters we send out through the word mail wizard- and we're currently updating all of our donor acknowledgement letters. How do you update these documents to send out to donors? 


Thanks!

Clara 

Hi Clara, moved this discussion to the RE forum. Thanks!

James Kew

One other item of note here is that you will not have access to your letter templates unless you currently have at least one gift marked Not Acknowledged.  Without at least one such gift, after clicking "Send to Word merge wizard" and the "Next" button, you will receive the message, "No records meet specified criteria."  Go back and temporarily mark a gift "Not Acknowledged," and the templates will suddenly become reachable.

Susan Chomsky

Clara Lind:

Hi, Blackbaud colleagues! 


I'm running into an issue wtih the mail module, where I can't figure out how to update the mail letters we send out through the word mail wizard- and we're currently updating all of our donor acknowledgement letters. How do you update these documents to send out to donors? 


Thanks!

Clara 

Hi Clara, I have found this to be confusing also. There are several ways to create and edit letters in RE. I found this helpful http://www.blackbaud.com/kb/index?page=content&id=BB97661 

 

Sharon Yokelson

James Kew:

One other item of note here is that you will not have access to your letter templates unless you currently have at least one gift marked Not Acknowledged.  Without at least one such gift, after clicking "Send to Word merge wizard" and the "Next" button, you will receive the message, "No records meet specified criteria."  Go back and temporarily mark a gift "Not Acknowledged," and the templates will suddenly become reachable.

That's EXACTLY what I have learned to do. It's very complicated and should be easier to edit, but it's BB so it's not!