Displaying User Email in Welcome Email

[kdays]

I'd only worked around it for the HTML emails by putting the text inside the /email/email_template_welcome.html file together with the $EMAIL_TO_ADDRESS tag. But I would prefer to keep the contents of the email all together rather than the different sections of the email having to be updated in different files.

I hope I understand this now. The $email_text is the sections and the order that they appear in the text email. and the $html_msg is the sections and the order that they appear for the html message. And both are built from the /includes/modules/create_account.php file.

In the e-start book it has

So how do you get plain-text emails since only HTML email layout templates are available? Well, the answer is Zen Cart retains all the values from template tags and just strips away all HTML and CSS codes from an email layout template before sending out the relevant plain-text emails.

But this doesn't seem quite right as the contents of the two types of emails can be quite different. For example adding my change to the html template (Your login is: $EMAIL_TO_ADDRESS.) doesn't mean that this also appears in the plain text email.

And so, I have been trying to put this information in at the source of the email build (rather than the email template) but have still been unable to do this. I have been concentrating on getting the HTML email correct first but I will go back and check the text version re $email_address.

I can't believe how long I've spent on one email but this welcome email is the first chance you have of making an impression.

Thanks for all your help.

K

[DrByte]

I'd only worked around it for the HTML emails by putting the text inside the /email/email_template_welcome.html file together with the $EMAIL_TO_ADDRESS tag.

Correct approach for HTML emails.

But I would prefer to keep the contents of the email all together rather than the different sections of the email having to be updated in different files.

Not possible in this version of Zen Cart. (see comment below about a future version)

I hope I understand this now. The $email_text is the sections and the order that they appear in the text email. and the $html_msg is the sections and the order that they appear for the html message. And both are built from the /includes/modules/create_account.php file.

Almost correct. Clarification: The $html_msg builds the keys that are output in the html message inside the $EMAIL_SOMETHING placeholders, regardless what order they appear in the email template .html files.

... the contents of the two types of emails can be quite different. For example adding my change to the html template (Your login is: $EMAIL_TO_ADDRESS.) doesn't mean that this also appears in the plain text email.

Correct. They are edited separately. You do have easier control over html emails.

And so, I have been trying to put this information in at the source of the email build (rather than the email template) but have still been unable to do this.

That is the best strategy.

I have been concentrating on getting the HTML email correct first but I will go back and check the text version re $email_address.

You do need to treat them separately, since the text-only content is built and used separately from the html content.


In Zen Cart v2.0 the whole email infrastructure has been redone to make all of this way easier. No more language file edits for email messages. All emails are done via email templates. Still separate versions for HTML and TEXT content, but all use clear english with the $EMAIL_SOMETHING$ placeholders ... in both HTML and TEXT messages, making all the edits a lot more straightforward. So, there's something to look forward to down the road when it's released.

In the meantime, you simply need to add the $email_address into the $email_text variable before the email is sent. (In the desired order/placement, of course, since the text message is built in a specific order.)

[kdays]

Hi DrByte

Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for your patience and the information that, together with a break and fresh files, worked a treat first time!

Thanks again
K