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.

Creating the 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 adding them to the Word document, type merge. before the name of each field (example - [merge.first_name].
3. The first merge field in the document must have the following code entered after the name of the field: ;block=tbs:page
   Example: [merge.first_name;block=tbs:page]
4. Add a page break before the first page of the template. This will ensure that each letter prints on its own page.
5. To add in the current date, use this tag: [onshow..now;frm='mmmm dd, yyyy']
6. 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']
7. 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
8. For advanced tips and information, read about the system we use to generate the Word Templates here.
9. 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.

Upload the Template

Once the Word Template has been created, upload it to ShulCloud.

1. Navigate to Go to Admin > My Lists > Word Templates.
2. If uploading a brand new template, select Add New.
3. If updating an already existing template, select the name of the template.
4. Type in the name of the template, and then select Choose File to browse the computer and select the file to upload.
5. Templates can be restricted to only one mailing list (or leave it as all) and click add. If updating an already existing template, select Choose File and then Save.

Using the Template

1. To use the template, Navigate to Communication > Legacy Mail.
2. Select Create New Mail and select Paper Mail.
3. In Step 3, in the Use Word Template drop down, select the name of the template created in My Lists.
   
4. Once a template is chosen, select Continue, which will redirect to Step 6.
5. Select Download.
6. The file will be created and emailed to the address indicated in Step 3 under Send Completed Document to this address.

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] [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).