Using Word Templates

Paper mail created through ShulCloud is generated in a PDF file. If you would like to generate the letters in a Word document, you need to create a Word Template.

To create a Word Template, the document must be set up with the following:

1. The document must be in a .docx format.
2. Copy the fields listed below.  When you add them to the Word document, you must type merge. before the name of each field (example - [merge.first_name].
3. The first merge field in your document must have the following code entered after the name of the field: ;block=tbs:page
4. (example: [merge.first_name;block=tbs:page]).
5. You will need to add a page break before the first page of your template.  This will ensure that each letter prints on its own page.
6. To add in the current date, use this tag: [onshow..now;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy']
7. To display an English date in full format, you can add ;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy' to the end of the tag.
   For example: [parsha_date;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy']
8. When copy/pasting merge tags, always use the 'paste as plain text' option.  Otherwise, some formatting code might be carried over in the letter, which could interfere with the tags. Also please make sure the tags are the same font types and sizes. 
9. For advanced tips and information, you can read about the system we use to generate the Word Templates here.
10. For a sample Yahrzeit Paper Mail Letter click here, for a sample Yahrzeit Rich Text Email click here, a sample Yahrzeit Mailbuilder Email click here.

Once you have created your Word Template, you need to upload it to your site. Go to Admin Menu - My Lists and select "Word Templates" from the drop down menu. If you are uploading a brand new template, click on "Add New." If you are updating an already existing template, you can just click on the name of the template.

Type in the name of the template, and then click "Choose File" to select the file to upload. You can also restrict the template to only one mailing list (or leave it as all) and click add. If you are updating an already existing template, click "Choose File" and then Save.

To use the template, create a new mail and select "Paper Mail." When you get to step 3, you'll see the option to choose a Word Template:

Once you select a template and click continue, you will get taken directly to step 6 and you can click "download," The file will be created and emailed to you.

Available Merge Fields

Lifecycles Mailing List

Person Tags  [title] [first_name] [last_name] [middle_name] [nickname_else_first_name] Mail Tags [address1+2] [address1] [address2] [city] [state] [zip] [country] Field Templates [combined_name]  [mail_name]  [mail_name_informal]  [statement_name]  [account_name]

Lifecycle Tags [parsha] - the Parsha of the Shabbat before the yahrzeit  [parsha_date] - the date of the Shabbat before the yahrzeit  [parsha_date_friday] - the date of the Friday before the yahrzeit  [parsha_after] - the Parsha of the Shabbat after the yahrzeit [parsha_after_date] - the date of the Shabbat after the yahrzeit  [parsha_after_friday_date] -  the date of the Friday after the yahrzeit  [lifecycle_english_date] -  the english date of the yahrzeit  [lifecycle_english_date_night_before] - the night before the yahrzeit  [lifecycle_hebrew_date] - for example, 9 Sivan 5705 If  the yahrzeit is set to English Observance, it will pull the English date  - for example, 12/31/1969 Adding ;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy' will not work on this token [lifecycle_day] [occurence_number] [occurrence_ordinal] [occurrence_number_text] [yahrzeit_deceased] [mourner_to_deceased_relationship] [yahrzeit_observance_type] [lifecycle_hebrew_name] [day_of_week] [day_eng] [date_of_death_date] [date_of_death_day_of_week] [date_of_death_month_eng] [date_of_death_month_full_eng] [date_of_death_day_eng] [date_of_death_day_eng_ordinal] [date_of_death_year_eng] [day_eng_ordinal] - for example th or nd (to be used with day_eng to produce 4th or 2nd) [month_eng] - For example, Mar or Oct [month_full_eng] - For example, March or October [year_eng] [night_before_day_of_week] [night_before_day_eng] [night_before_day_eng_ordinal] [night_before_month_eng] [night_before_month_full_eng] [night_before_year_eng]

[day_heb] - the Hebrew day of the first lifecycle occurrence [day_heb_ordinal] [month_heb] [year_heb] - the Hebrew year of the first lifecycle occurrence [observance_day_heb] - the Hebrew day that the lifecycle is observed this year observance_day_heb_ordinal] [observance_month_heb] [observance_year_heb] - the Hebrew year that the lifecycle is observed on [parsha_day_of_week] [parsha_day_eng] [parsha_day_eng_ordinal] [parsha_month_eng] [parsha_month_full_eng] [parsha_year_eng] [parsha_friday_day_of_week] [parsha_friday_day_eng] [parsha_friday_day_eng_ordinal] [parsha_friday_month_eng] [parsha_friday_month_full_eng] [parsha_friday_year_eng] [parsha_after_day_of_week] [parsha_after_day_eng] [parsha_after_day_eng_ordinal] [parsha_after_month_eng] [parsha_after_month_full_eng] [parsha_after_year_eng] [parsha_after_friday_day_of_week] [parsha_after_friday_day_eng] [parsha_after_friday_day_eng_ordinal] [parsha_after_friday_month_eng] [parsha_after_friday_month_full_eng] [parsha_after_friday_year_eng] [shabbat_of_observance_shacharit_times] [night_of_observance_maariv_times] [day_of_observance_shacharit_times] [day_of_observance_mincha_times] [chiyuv_extra_paragraph] Other Tags [personal_message] [current_date] - will not work on a Word template. instead, use  [onshow..now;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy']

Dedications Mailing List

Dedication Tags [shul_name] [amount] [charge_type] [currency_symbol] [dedication_type] - for example "in honor of" [dedication_message] - for example "your mother Sarah Wallerstein" [dedication_id] [date] [donor_address1+2] [recipient_salutation] - name of person who is being notified of the dedication [recipient_email] [recipient_address1] [recipient_address2] [recipient_city] [recipient_state] [recipient_zip] [recipient_country] [recipient_address1+2]

[donor_display_name] [donor_account_id] [donor_email] [donor_phone] [donor_address] [donor_address2] [donor_city] [donor_state] [donor_zip] [donor_country] [donor_mail_name] [donor_mail_name_informal] [donor_statement_name] [donor_account_name] [admin_donor_family_link] [admin_online_payment_link] [admin_dedications_screen_link] Other Tags [personal_message] [current_date] - will not work on a Word template. instead, use  [onshow..now;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy']

High Holiday Mailing List

Please note that the seat_assignments tag will not work in a Word Template.  That tag can only be added to an email or to a PDF paper mail (when selecting 'no, send PDF') under "word template" on Step 3 of the mailing)