Advanced Features

Email Templates may be extended and customized by scripting. Two types of languages are supported; Microsoft VBScript and Tcl (Tool Command Language).

VBScript

VBScript is a versitile scripting language based on Microsoft Visual Basic. VBScript gives you access to many powerful functions for task automation data storage and retreival. Email Templates allows you to use VBScript directly in your message templates giving you access to a full range of powerful features.

Using VBScript within Email Templates also allows you to incorporate native VBScript Objects as well as ActiveX objects. For example, you could create a template that automatically logs email addresses to an external database with database objects. You could have templates that automatically send file information by using the File System Object within your scripts. VBScript also has powerful string parsing features allowing you to easily customize automated replies.

For more information on VBScript visit the Microsoft Windows Script Technologies page or the Programming with VBScript section of the Microsoft Online Library.

Email Templates introduces a new VBScript command named 'ET'. The 'ET' command allows you to interface with Email Templates and Outlook. The interface for the 'ET' command includes the following options.

Tcl

Tcl is a powerful, portable, cross-platform, Rapid Application Development scripting language. Tcl programs do not need to be recompiled after each change, so scripts can be developed very quickly.

Tcl is also free. You may learn more about Tcl at dev.scriptics.com. On this website you can find information on Tcl, recent versions of Tcl, a quick primer for Tcl, and even a handy tutor for Tcl. Or, pick up one of many books on the subject. We would suggest the following:

Programmers already familiar with Tcl should have no problems implementing the code within their templates. Experienced programmers will find Tcl easy to learn and quite powerful, especially with trickier tasks like parsing data and string manipulation. Inexperienced programmers will find Tcl a good language to start with. Tcl communities are lauded for being tight knit and very helpful.

Email Templates introduces a new Tcl command named 'et'. The 'et' command allows you to interface with Email Templates and Outlook. The interface for the 'et' command includes the following options.

Programming

Email Templates uses scripting in two ways: Inline Scripting and Email Templates Extensions. Inline scripting involves writing VBScript or Tcl code within existing or newly created Email Templates. This is the core process in the creation of more complex templates. Email Templates extensions are scripts of new procedures and new elements that can be called upon in your templates. Extensions allow you to create your own library of information and techniques for the regular use of Email Templates.