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Content Boxes
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This section presents conceptual and procedural information about building and creating content boxes.
What Is a Content Box
A content box is an area of an email where you can insert text, links, images, and tables. You can build and edit content by managing content boxes in an email. Content boxes are based on a standard template or an HTML paste template. You design the layout and input the content of each individual content box.
Content boxes apear automatically in the email editor if you use one of the provided email layouts for your template, but you can also include them in your HTML paste templates. Content boxes do not automatically appear in the email editor if you are making an HTML paste email.
You can also create content areas independent of an email in the my contents folder under the Content Tab. This allows you to retrieve that content when creating an email and using it across multiple emails. If you're creating dynamic content, it's recommended you create content areas in the 'my contents' folder. See How to Create Content Areas.
Note: As an Enterprise administrator, you have the option of locking down content boxes before publishing them to your Lock & Publish accounts, so that users will not be able to modify the content box.
Note: If you use a Lock and Publish account, emails published by your Enterprise administrator (the emails in your Global Emails folder) may contain locked content boxes that you cannot edit.
A content box can contain one of two types of content:
With content boxes, you can:
What Is Static Content Static content is content that remains the same for every user in every email that you send. Unless you add personalization or AMPscript to your text, the content of every content box appears identical to everyone in your list, group, or data extension. For instructions on accessing your email and opening it in HTML mode, see Modifying and Deleting Emails. You build the content of a static content box in one of the following ways: - Create new content using the WYSIWYG editor or by pasting in HTML. You can control the orientation, background color, and border design of the content box.
- Retrieve a stored content box. You can then adjust the retrieved content to fit the specific needs of your email.
Note: If you're using a Lock and Publish account, the Global Contents folder (and its subfolders) is where you'll find content boxes that your Enterprise administrator has stored. You can also clear out the content of a content box. Any content boxes that you leave empty don't appear in the email that's delivered to subscribers. (You cannot add content boxes or change the layout of the content boxes, however.) Locking a Content Box (Enterprise Accounts) Administrators As with static content boxes, you can lock down dynamic content boxes that will be published to your Lock & Publish channel members so that channel members cannot edit them. After you've completed the content for a content box, click the  button in the content box's upper-left corner to lock the content box against further modifications. The button changes to a locked padlock to indicate the status of the content box. As an administrator, you can click the  button to unlock the content box for edits. However, your Lock & Publish channel members will not be able to unlock the content box. Lock and Publish If you're using a Lock and Publish account and the icon appears in the upper-left corner of the content box, your Enterprise administrator has locked the content box, and you cannot make edits. If you want to remove the dynamic content box but retain the rules for future use, you can store the dynamic content box for later retrieval. Why Use Static Content Use static content to include text or images in your email. Because this text and email will appear the same for each person who receives the email, this content can provide consistency and reinforce your brand image. Using Quick Preview You also have the option to see a quick preview of the entire email from the content area creation screen. You can make changes to a content area and see how those changes look in the context of the entire email message.
Why Use a Content Box
Use a content box when you want to add content (images, text, links, and tables) to your email.
Scenario
Northern Trail Outfitters is ready to send out an email advertising a new sale, but they're faced with a blank email.
To add content, they click in a content box. The highlighted content box displays the create and retrieve buttons.
Northern Trail Outfitters wants to create new content, so they click create to display the Content-Building Wizard. Because they want to place their logo in the upper left content box, they select Image Only on the Select Orientation page. They follow the prompts through the rest of the Content-Building Wizard. At the end of the wizard they click Save, and the image appears in the content box.
They repeat this process, choosing the appropriate orientations (Text Only, Image Right, etc.) until their email is complete.
How to Insert Text Into a Content Box
To insert text into your content box, follow these steps:
- When you're in the email editor workspace, hover your mouse over an empty content box into which you wish to place text.
The create and retrieve buttons appear. - Click create.
The Content-Building Wizard appears.
The first page of the content-building wizard is the Select Orientation page. Select Text Only.
Note: You can insert text and images into the same content box by choosing Image Top, Image Bottom, Image Left, and Image Right.
To continue from this point, see the Content-Building Wizard topic.
How to Insert Images Into a Content Box
To insert images into your content box, follow these steps:
- When you're in the email editor workspace, hover your mouse over an empty content box into which you wish to place an image.
The create and retrieve buttons appear. - Click create.
The Content-Building Wizard appears. - The first page of the content-building wizard is the Select Orientation page. Select Image Only.
To continue from this point, see the Content-Building Wizard topic.
How to Reposition Images in a Content Box
Though the initial orientation of your content area may have been Image Top, Image Left, Image Right or Image Bottom, you can reposition the location of the image within the Edit Content window.
- Make active the image you want to move.
- Hold down your cursor.
- Drag the image to the new location.
- Release your cursor.
How to Manage Image Properties
Once you have inserted an image into a content area, you can manipulate the properties by right clicking on the image and accessing the Image Properties dialog box. The following are the properties you can access and manage.
General Tab
| Image Property | Description | | File | This is the file name as it is stored in the application. To change the image, click on the Browse button to launch the Change Image dialog box.
| | Tooltip | The text you provide appears when a subscriber hovers their mouse over the image. | | Current Size | These values represent the current size of the image, in pixels. Resize the image by increasing/decreasing the height or width pixels. To maintain the current proportion of width to height of the image, click the Maintain aspect ratio checkbox prior to modifying the pixels. You can also resize the image using the image handles.
| | Original Size | These values represent the original size of the image, in pixels. To restore the image used in your content area to the size it is stored at, click the Restore Original Size button.
| | Border Thickness | From the drop down, select the size of the border you want applied to the image. | | Border Color | Type the HTML color code into the Border Color field or select a color from the drop down box to the right of the field. |
Layout Tab
| Image Property | Description | | Left Aligned/Right Aligned | Designate if you want the neighboring text to align to the left or right of the image by clicking the appropriate thumbnail. | | Padding | You can specify how much space (in pixels) appears between the image and the surrounding text or images. Enter the number of pixels in the appropriate Padding fields. |
Link Properties Tab
Refer to the Inserting and Removing Hyperlinks section on this page to understand each of the fields on this tab.
You can also make the image a hyperlink by selecting the image and clicking on  in the content toolbox at the top of the Edit Content window. This opens the Insert Link window.
How to Insert a Table
A table is made up of rows and columns that enable you to display text and images in side-by-side formats.
Note: If you selected one of the Smart Orientations, you cannot insert a table in your content area. If you would like to insert a table, change the orientation of your content area to Free Form.
Follow these steps to insert a table:
- In the workspace, place your cursor where you want to insert the table.
- In the content toolbox at the top of the Edit Content window, click the Insert Table button. A flyout screen appears.
- Select the number of rows and columns you want in the table initially by highlighting the appropriate number of cells. Click your mouse when you have highlighted the desired number of cells.
A blank table appears in the content area.
Note: You can insert any combination of text and images in a cell.
Note: To move from one cell to another, use the arrow keys on your computer.
You can change properties for an entire table or make changes for individual cells, rows, and columns.
- Cells are formed by the intersection of rows and columns, and each cell contains its own set of data. You can change a cell's vertical spacing (aligning text within the cell), change the cell spacing, and add borders and shading.
- Rows appear horizontally across the topic page. You can insert/remove rows and change a row's height.
- Columns appear vertically down the topic page. You can insert/remove columns and change a column's width.
Managing Table Properties
To format the properties of your table, right click on the table and click on Table Properties.
| Table Property | Description | | Size: Width | Defines the width of the table Full width sizes the width of the table to fit the full width of the content area. Size to content sizes the width of all columns to fit the content of each column. Pixels set the width of the table to a fixed size, based on the pixel definition you provide. Percent sets the width of the table as a percentage of the total width of the content area. 100% is the equivalent of Full width. Note: You can resize the entire table using the table handles. | | Size: Height | Defines the height of the table Full height sizes the height of the table to fit the full height of the content area. Size to content sizes the height of all rows to fit the content of each row. Pixels set the height of the table to a fixed size, based on the pixel definition you provide. Percent sets the height of the table as a percentage of the total height of the content area. 100% is the equivalent of Full height. Note: You can resize the entire table using the table handles.
| | Layout: Padding | Defines the margins around the outside of the table | | Layout: Spacing | Changes the cell spacing inside all cells in a table | | Distribute Columns Equally | Makes the width of each column equal, based on the width definition of the table | | Border: Size | Defines the table's outside borders and borders for cell | | Border: Color | Defines the color for the table border | | Background | Defines the background color for the entire table |
Managing Cell Properties
To format the properties of a specific cell, right click on the table and click on Cell Properties.
| Cell Property | Description | | Alignment | Positions text and images at the top, center, or bottom of the cell | | Size: Width | Changes the width of the selected cell Full width maximizes the width of the cell, within the context of neighboring cells and overall table properties. Size to content sets the width of the cell to fit the content of the cell. Pixels set the width of the cell to a fixed size, based on the pixel definition you provide. Percent set the width of the cell as a percentage of the total width of the table. 100% is the equivalent of Full width. Note: You can resize the entire table using the table handles.
| | Size: Height | Changes the height of the selected cell Full width maximizes the height of the cell, within the context of neighboring cells and overall table properties. Size to content sets the height of the cell to fit the content of the cell. Pixels set the height of the cell to a fixed size, based on the pixel definition you provide. Percent sets the height of the cell as a percentage of the total width of the table. 100% is the equivalent of Full height. Note: You can resize the entire table using the table handles.
| | Border: Size | Adds a border to the selected cell. Any defined borders sit inside table borders | | Border: Color | Defines the border color for the cell | | Background: Color | Defines the background color for the cell Note: A background color in a cell overrides a previously defined background color for the entire table.
| | Additional: No Wrapping | The text doesn't wrap within the cell |
Managing Rows and Columns
Right clicking on a table gives you one click access to a number of commands to manage rows and cells. The following table summarizes each of these commands:
| Command | Resulting Action | | Insert Row Above | Inserts one row above the currently selected row | | Insert Row Below | Inserts one row below the currently selected row | | Delete Row | Deletes the currently selected row | | Insert Column On Left | Inserts a column to the left of the currently selected column | | Insert Column On Right | Inserts a column to the right of the currently selected column | | Delete Column | Deletes the currently selected column | | Merge Cells Right | Merges the currently selected cell and the cell to the right The resulting cell combines any content from the previously unmerged cells. | | Merge Cells Down | Merges the currently selected cell and the cell to the bottom The resulting cell combines any content from the previously unmerged cells. | | Split Cells | Splits previously merged cells into two cells Note: This command is only active when the cursor is in a cell formed by previously merging two cells. Note: Splitting the cells inserts a blank cell to the bottom. | | Show/Hide Border | Turns on/off the light gray lines that display the borders of your table while working in Edit Mode |
How to Resize a Table Using Table Handles
To resize a table using the table handles, follow these steps.
- Make the table active by holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard and clicking anywhere in the table. Table handles appear around the handle.
- With your mouse, click and hold the handle in the lower right corner and drag the table to the desired size.
- Release the mouse once you have reached the desired size.
How to Insert a Bookmark
If you want to provide the subscriber with a means of jumping to a specific location in the email (for example, in a table of contents for a newsletter), insert a bookmark at each location to which you want to hyperlink. Follow these steps:
- Highlight the text where you want the bookmark to be created in the workspace. (You may want to create the bookmark in the middle of a word, to help prevent it from being accidentally deleted during future editing.)
- In the content toolbox at the top of the Edit Content window, click the
 button. The Bookmark Information Edit Content window appears. - Type the name of the bookmark in the Bookmark Name field.
- Click OK, and the bookmark is created. The text appears underlined and blue.
- Now create the hyperlink that jumps to the bookmark by following the steps for inserting hyperlinks.
To remove a bookmark, right click on the bookmark and click Remove Bookmark.
How to Store a Content Box for Future Use
You can either save a content box from an email that you create or you can create a content area completely independent of an email.
Note: If you're using a Lock and Publish account, you cannot add content to the Global Contents folder unless you'er an Enterprise administrator.
If you created an email and wish to save a content box for future use, follow these instructions:
- Hover your mouse over the content box you wish to save, and click store.
The Store Content dialog box appears. - Name the content box, and click Browse to choose a save location.
- Click Save.
If you'd like to create a content area before creating an email, follow these steps:
- Click the Content tab.
- Click the my contents folder.
- Click Create Content (you can also click Create Dynamic Content to create a dynamic content area).
- Name the content area, select the save location, and click Next.
- Choose the content area orientation and click Next.
- Follow the rest of the Content Creation Wizard and create your content.
- Click Save when you're finished. The content area is saved in the my contents folder.
How to Create Content Areas
You can create content areas independent of an email in the 'my contents' folder. Follow these instructions:
- Click the Content tab.
- Click the my contents folder.
- Click Create Content to create a static content box or click Create Dynamic Content to create dynamic content.
If you clicked Create Content, see the Content-Building Wizard page to continue.
If you clicked Create Dynamic Content, see the Dynamic Content page to continue.
Once you create a content area you can insert into an email. See How to Retrieve Stored Content.
Note: If you modify a content area that's already used in an email or dynamic content, your changes do not affect the email in which you used the content area. When you insert a content area into an email, the application essentially makes a copy of that content.
How to Retrieve Stored Content
If you have stored content (a static content box, dynamic content box, or survey), you can pull that content into an empty content box by following these steps:
- In a blank content box, click the Retrieve button.
- The Retrieve Content dialog box that appears shows all your stored content. You can choose from either regular content (which includes dynamic content as well as static content) or surveys by clicking the appropriate tab at the top of the dialog box.
Note: If you're using a Lock and Publish account and you wish to see the content boxes created and stored by your Enterprise administrator, click Select Folder and then click the Display Global Folders link in the folder selection dialog box. - Choose the folder in which the desired content resides by clicking the Select Folder button in the dialog box.
- Click the radio button beside the desired stored content. A preview of the selected content is shown at the bottom of the dialog box.
- When you've selected the desired content, click the Select button at the bottom of the dialog box. The content box in your email is now populated with the selected stored content.
You can modify the retrieved content as desired by clicking the Modify button in the content box.
Note: Changes you make to the retrieved content in this email don't affect the stored content; the next time you retrieve the content, you'll still see the content as it was originally stored.
Only certain limited modification is supported for surveys embedded in an email. See Surveys for a description of how surveys work.
How to Insert Content Using the Content Bar
In order to use this feature, you must:
Follows these instructions to drag and drop your content areas into an email based on a template. You can also insert surveys:
- Hover your mouse over the bottom of your screen. A tool tip pop-up appears that says "Show/Hide Content Bar".
- Click the bar. The Content Bar appears and will show your stored content boxes.
- Drag and drop them into your template.
How to Insert and Remove Hyperlinks
You can insert hyperlinks to web sites, email addresses, and bookmarks that you've created in the workspace. Follow these steps:
- Highlight the text that you want to be formatted as a hyperlink.
- Click to open the Insert Link window.
- From the Link To field, choose the type of hyperlink; then complete the fields accordingly.
- Website: Enter the URL of the web site, without the preceding http:// (which inserts automatically).
- Secure Website: If the web site address begins with https://, select this type and enter the URL (again, without the preceding https://).
- Email Address: Enter the full email address (the HTML code mailto: inserts automatically) and subject line of the email.
- Bookmark: Select the name of the bookmark you previously created in this email.
- Forward to a Friend: The system populates the code when you choose this value. You can still edit the tooltip and link alias.
- Microsite: Allows you to select your landing page from the Site drop-down menu.
- Other: Enter a value that does not match the other types, such as a personalization string. For example, if you have an attribute that contains a URL, you can insert the personalization string to use the personalized URL for each subscriber.
- If your web site has been set up to take advantage of the conversion tracking feature, you can choose to track the conversion rate for links to your web pages. To turn on this tracking, select the Conversion Tracking Link check box.
- Enter descriptive text in the Link Tooltip field. This text appears when a subscriber hovers their mouse over the text or image for which the tooltip is defined.
- Enter a descriptive name in the Tracking Alias field. When you view the tracking results, the tracking alias appears in the results. If no link name is specified, then what you entered in the Address field appears in the tracking results.
The selected text in your workspace is now highlighted as a hyperlink and is coded to jump to the address you defined.
To remove a hyperlink, click anywhere within the hyperlinked text in the workspace and click the  button in the content toolbox.
How to Insert and Remove Document Links
You can insert links to stored documents.
Note: As a best practice, always use document links rather than attach a document directly to an email. Attachments quickly clog a recipient's inbox and are usually considered by recipients to be a virus threat. Document links offer the added benefit of allowing you to track how many subscribers open the document.
The document to which you want to link must already be stored in your account. Follow these steps to create the link:
- In the workspace, highlight the text that you want to be formatted as a hyperlink.
- In the content toolbox at the top of the Edit Content window, click
 to open the Insert Document window. - The Edit Content window displays the documents contained in the document folder specified in the Folder field. If the image you want is located in a different image folder, click Select Folder and select the appropriate folder.
Note: If you're using a Lock and Publish account, and you want to see the documents stored by your Enterprise administrator, click Select Folder and then click the Display Global Folders link in the folder selection Edit Content window. - Click the radio button beside the desired document.
- Click the Select button.
The selected text in your workspace is now highlighted as a hyperlink and is coded to jump to the document you selected. (You can see the code in Viewing HTML Code mode.)
To remove a document link, click anywhere within the hyperlinked text in the workspace and click the button in the content toolbox.
How to Use the Quick Preview
Use the following steps to use the quick preview for an email:
- Open an email in the email workspace.
- Open the content area to preview.
- Click Quick Preview from the toolbar.
This page was last updated by Adam Evans on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:47:02 GMT.
If you require assistance with the ExactTarget application, please contact Global Support. If you wish to send Adam direct feedback, fill out the form below:
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