Method General Q & A

Re: customizing a thank you letter

Method_Ben — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 17:31:53 GMT

Hi Katie,

Merge fields are a way of connecting data contained within your Method Database to your Reports and emails. There really isnt an imposed limit on which fields are 'Merge fields' per se, just about everything can be used as a merge field! If you were looking for a complete list of All the Tables and Fields in Method, you can do this by navigating to your Preferences Screen, (found by clicking on the Gear icon in the top right hand corner of your Method Account, and clicking on Preferences) and then Tables / Fields. The fields relevant to what you are asking about are going to be found in the SalesReceipt table.

We would like to show the date we received the donation

For the Date you received the donation, you would want to use the field Salesreceipt.TxnDate on your template. This should show up on your Letter in the format '05 April 2016'

I do not want to print the receipt, just the letter. How can I do that?

The Reciept is actually attached to The Donation Letter on the Template itself, so while it is certainly possible to remove it, you would need to customize the template in the Report Designer itself.

I need to address the letter to an informal name - like first name or for churches I will use "Friends". Is that possible without customization? I didn't see a place for that in the contact area

Are you wanting this to be context specific? Like some people are 'Friends' and others go by the name? This can be done, but it would need either some manual intervential on your part, or would require customization. If you were happy with one or the other (ie. just FirstName, or just 'Friends') you could update the template using the method I outlined in my last post to change the template to reflect this. for the First name, you would use the field SalesReceipt.FirstName

Is there any option to add images through this tool without using Report Designer?

For PDF templates, like the letter, you will need to use the Report deisgner in order to Insert any Images/Logos. For Email templates however, you can do this directly on the Textbox itself.

Thanks Katie.

Regards,

Ben

Re: customizing a thank you letter

TheLeaves — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 19:00:44 GMT

Hi Ben, thanks, I had used that but it did not allow me to add a logo and I was not clear how to add all the fields I need. I am not familiar with how to get to table/fields you are referring to...which is why I was hoping to get a list of merge fields. If you can refer me to the table/fields I think that will help. As far as the logo, I don't want to use Report Designer, so if I cannot add the logo here, I will just print that on my paper separately.

Here is what I do need:

- a way to see the merge fields I can use.....or table/fields

- We would like to show the date we received the donation

- I do not want to print the receipt, just the letter. How can I do that?

- I need to address the letter to an informal name - like first name or for churches I will use "Friends". Is that possible without customization? I didn't see a place for that in the contact area.

- Is there any option to add images through this tool without using Report Designer?

Thanks, Katie

Re: customizing a thank you letter

Method_Ben — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 20:49:30 GMT

Hi there TheLeaves,

Merge fields can be a tricky one, but once you have the hang of it youll be customizing Print Templates in Method in no time!

Firstly, while you certainly can customize the template through the report designer or create a new one from scratch, everything you are describing can all be done through the standard Thankyou letter preferences in the Donor App. To get to these preferences, first click on the elipsis button in the top right hand corner of the Tonor App tile on your Dashboard

From this screen, Youll want to expand on 'Reciept, Thank You Letter (PDF) and Email Preferences'

Underneath your Thank You Letter(PDF) preferences, youll utilize Merge fields to enter the data you are refering to.

The Merge fields follow the format 'Table.Field' so for the Total amount on the donation for example, you would use SalesReceipt.TotalAmount

Ive done up a quick example of the pre-merged fields here;

After navigating to your Donation, and selecting 'Print Letter and Reciept', The above template will auto fill these merge fields, and you should see something resembling;

Hopefully this clears things up! Let me know if you have any further questions

-Ben

customizing a thank you letter

TheLeaves — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 18:27:36 GMT

Where can I find the most succinct set of instructions for customizing a thank you letter to send to my donors?

I need to add my logo, add mail merge fields (donor name, address, amount, payment type, check number, in memory of, etc.) The send a recipt options comes close but then it shows fields that I don't want my donor to see.

After searching for this in the help menus and forum, I'm having to watch the entire set of Report Designer videos. Is this the quickest way to learn how to customize a thank you letter?

Thank you, Katie