Dear Max,

@20-Jun-2004, 10:21 +0200 (20-Jun 09:21 UK time) Max Rydahl Andersen
[MRA] in mid:[EMAIL PROTECTED] said to MAU:

M>> Select the folder, right click on it and select Properties and you can
M>> set a Template for new messages, replies and forward. Then use the %TO
M>> macro in your template(s).

MRA> I don't follow ;)

MRA> The templates just insert texts into the body of messsage - i
MRA> can't see a way to SET the To: field ?

Ooops! You missed a major part of TB's grace and power - Template
Macros!

,------/ example \------
Dear Fred,
%to=''%to='Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>'
The text......
`------\ End /------

Look up "Macros" in the help. You can do one heck of a lot from
templates.

MRA> Secondly if that works, if I change the template for the folder
MRA> then when I change my default template than I have to go update
MRA> all my mailinglist folders ;(

***WARNING***

<megaphone>
Step away from the folder properties and take your hands off the
keyboard.
</megaphone>

<stock lecture>
I have a pet hate in TB. That pet hate is named "Folder Templates". In
150 folders I have two and only two that have folder templates. They
are for two specific lists which don't set the reply address properly.

There is nothing else for which folder templates can be used that
can't be covered and even improved upon using Address Book templates.
There are "dangers" in using Folder Templates that are not there when
you use AB templates.

The dangers are all complacency based and are at their worst in
templates which use the "%TO=" macro. If, at the instant you start a
new message you happen to be focused on the wrong folder, the message
gets given the wrong address. This happens when you click a mailto
without changing folders. The results vary from embarrassing to
excruciating depending upon the content of the misdirected mail.

BTW - another mistake in such templates is to use the construct
%TO="[EMAIL PROTECTED]" without a "%TO=''" before it. So any
pre-existing addresses are retained.

Back to the lecture: every time I say this, someone takes exception to
something I've said with comments like "'danger' is a bit harsh" or
"I've used Folder templates for ages and it's never gone wrong for
me".

Here's a fact for you: it goes wrong.

It works exactly as designed and that design has a fundamental flaw.
The flaw is that it places too much responsibility on the user to make
sure that the addresses given on a new message are those intended.

With address book templates, there is never a mistake of this kind.
Replies are perfectly directed. New messages are "a bit trickier".
Instead of clicking to the folder then clicking for a new message, you
have to click to the right of the new message button and select the
list address from the favourites (having denoted that the address *is*
a favourite in the address book).
</stock lecture>

Use address book templates. Use Quick Templates.

Make your main templates from a bunch of %QINCLUDE='QTName' macros.
Then, when you change the component bits in the Quick Template
editor, the account templates and the address book templates will
keep up with the changes. So will the folder templates (if you have
any).


-- 
Cheers -- 
://.arck: D Pearlstone -- List moderator and fellow end user
TB! v2.12 Beta/1 on Windows XP 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1
'

Attachment: pgpxthn3LDuaR.pgp
Description: PGP signature

________________________________________________
Current version is 2.11.02 | 'Using TBUDL' information:
http://www.silverstones.com/thebat/TBUDLInfo.html

Reply via email to