To access the Direct Mail Plugin
Click 'Plugins' in the Typo3 column
then in the Navigation Column (second colum) click on 'Direct Mail Module'.
access direct mail you have created beforehand
create a direct mail newsletter
link to a webpage with the information you want in your direct mail.
Here you
Set Default Values for Direct Mails
Configure Technichal Options
Create Categories
These settings can also be changed in the TScript of the 'Direct Mail Module' Sysfolder in Setup.
SET DEFAULT VALUES FOR DIRECT MAILS:
'From' email
Enter the sender email address. (Required)
Example: john.do@nothing.test
'From' name
Enter the sender name. (Required)
Example: Your Name
'Reply To' email
Enter the email address to which replys are sent. If none, the 'From' email is used. (Optional)
'Reply To' name
Enter the name of the 'Reply To' email address. If none, the 'From' name is used. (Optional)
'Return Path'
Enter the return path email address here. This is the address to which non-deliverable mails will be returned to. If you put in the marker ###XID### it'll be substituted with the unique id of the mail/recipient.
Organisation name
(Optional)
Example: Company Name
Default Format options
Select the format of the mail content. If in doubt, set it to 'Plain and HTML'. The recipients are normally able to select their preferences anyway.
Enter the additional URL parameters used to fetch the HTML content. If in doubt, leave it blank.
Plain Text parameters
Enter the additional URL parameters used to fetch the plain text content. If in doubt, set it to '&type=99' which is standard.
Use: &type99
Long link RDCT url
If you enter a http://../ url here it should point to the index.php script of typo3 without any query-string. Then the parameter ?RDCT=[md5hash] will be appended and the whole url used as substitute for long urls in plain text mails. This configuration determines how QuickMails are handled and further sets the default setting for DirectMails.
Not only links longer than 76 chars but ALL links
Option for the RDCT-url feature above.
Encoding for quick mails
Select the encoding you want to sending of quick-mails.
CONFIGURE TECHNICAL OPTIONS
Allow Plain Text emails
Set this if you want to allow plain text emails to be fetched. If in doubt, check this option.
Place a checkmark in this box
Allow HTML emails
Set this if you want to allow HTML emails to be fetched. If in doubt, check this option
Place a checkmark in this box
HTTP username
If the mail content is protected by a HTTP authentication, enter the username here. The username and password is used to fetch the mail content. They are NOT sent in the mail!
If you don't enter a username and password and the newsletter pages happens to be protected, an error will occur and no mail content is fetched.
HTTP password
... and enter the password here.
List of UID numbers of test-recipients
Before sending mails you should test the mail content by sending testmails to one or more test recipients. The available recipients for testing are determined by the list of UID numbers, you enter here. So first, find out the UID-numbers of the recipients you wish to use for testing, then enter them here in a comma-separated list.
List of UID numbers of test dmail_groups
Alternatively to sending test-mails to individuals, you can choose to send to a whole group. List the group ids available for this action here:
AVAILABLE CATEGORIES
Category 0
Example: Food
Category 1
Example: Books
Category 2
Example: Sport
Category 3
Example: Religion
Category 4
Category 5
Category 6
Category 7
Category 8
Category 9
(You can use categories from 0-30 inclusive. However this interface shows only 10 categories for your convenience.)
From the drop down menu select 'Recipient List'
If there are no Mail Groups listed go to chose 'Create new?'
Once you have chosen either to create a new mail group or clicked on the pencil icon next to an existing group you will see the screen below.
By default it opens to 'From Page' Type.
From Pages Type
The 'From Pages Type' uses address that are found on pages in the website. You select a starting point which in the example is the 'Direct Mail Module' File. The reason I chose this starting point is that all subscription addresses are stored with that file.
To see all the addresses you click on Page in the Typo3 column --> then on Direct Mail Module in the Navigation column --> and in the work area you will see page header and page content information and addresses. For a screen shot go to Editing DMM Content.
TitleGive your group a title that is descriptive
DescriptionFill in the description field
Startingpoint Select the starting point by clicking on the ' Browse for records' button and select the file you want as starting point for collecting your address for this group.
RecursiveI haven't quite figured out yet what this does exactly
TablesI haven't quite figured out yet what this does exactly
Must Attend CategoriesIf you create lists with subscribers to specific categories you can set that category here. Now all the people on this list will only get the information destined for that particular category.
Save the group.
Plain List Type
The Plain List Type does exactly what it says. It will send only plain text mail, no HTML. In this type you have to add your addresses manually in the Recipients box.
TitleGive your group a title that is descriptive
Description Fill in the description field
RecipientsThe emails have to be entered in a specific way for the list to work. There are 2 choices:[a] email space comma and then press the enter key for a new line[b] CSV [name],[email] - I have not been able to get this to work and can't tell you what the format is.
Save the group
Static Group Type
In the 'Static Group Type' email addresses have to be manually added to the group.
TitleGive your group a title that is descriptive
DescriptionFill in the description field
RecipientsClick on the ' Browse for records' button and select the email from the address options that are given.
Save the group
After you have selected an existing newsletter file as the base for your direct mail you will get the screen below.
To see how your newsletter looks online in the browser click on ' View Page' - To make changes to your newsletter click on ' Edit Page'
Hold on a minute and don't press the create button just yet!
In the bottom half of the workarea is an other area which needs your attention.
When people subscribe to your newsletter their are asked which categoies they are interested in by selecting the check box. The reason behind this is that now you can create newsletters with information for all categories, but you only want to send it to subscribers to 'Books' for example. By selecting the 'Books check box your newsletter subscriber will only see the information you created for the 'Books' section.
When you're done click on 'Update category setting'.
Now you can create your direct mailing
When you are satisfied that everything is ok you click on ' Create new direct mail based on this page'.- Now you will see the popup window below. As I was testing I kept on creating new direct mails based on the same newsletter and as you can see the program kept track of my attempts.
This is the screen you see after you have pressed ' Create new direct mail based on this page'. The screen shot below shows the top half of the information.
Mail Page is the ID of the newsletter you are sending.
Parameter, Plain text: &type=99 makes the newsletter is ledgeable in plain text.
Parameters, HTML is ok to be empty to work.
Below Edit you have again the option to have another look at your newsletter. Clicking the yellow folder or on the file name will take you back to your previous screen.
At the bottom of the work area is now the 'OPTIONS:' Menu.
Once the URL is read you will back to the screen at the top of this page.
NoteOnce the newsletter is read it stays in the memory until it is sent, even if it is the next day and you have turned off Typo3 and your computer in the meantime.
After the URL is read, you scroll back down to OPTIONS and there will be 2 more added
Send a testmail and
Mass-send mail.
'Select a mail group' to send the mail to
'Send Mail - List of Emails'
Select a Mail Group
From the drop down menu select the Mail Group you want to use for this mailing
Click on the 'Send to all subscribers in mail group' button.
Now you will see the screen below
Click on the Back button and follow the instructions on the next page 'Send Direct Mail'
Send Mail - List of Emails
If you have list of email you want to use for your mailing select this Option.
So that there is no overlap or unwanted emails being sent I created a Recipient list of the Static Group Type, but left the Recipients box empty.
To use this option
prepare you mailing as usual,
after the URL has been read
scroll down to the second option 'Send Mail - List of Emails' and place the emails in the box and
hit send button.
With this option the mails are sent immediately, there is no need to start the mailer. engine.
Your screen will now look like the one below.
Now you select from the drop down menu 'Mailer engine status'.
A newsletter is scheduled to be sent.
Start your Mailer engine by clicking on the text 'Invoke Mailer Engine'
Now things move quite quickly.
The status of the Mailer engine is indicated and a log given of what transpired.
- The time it was started
- The name of the newsletter that was sent- How many copies were sent and which address used (tt_address)- How long it took to send the mail
Under the Mail Engine Status you now can see that your newsletter has been delivered and 2 copies sent.
