> Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 01:26:26 -0800Editor, The Mezzanine Reader
> Subject: Best method for form letters?
>
> Hi Enragers,
>
> I'm trying to determine the most efficient way of managing several form
> letters in E.
> Here's exactly what I want to do:
> - Keep a copy of a form letter (eventually several) in E.
> - be able to quickly open, address and edit the form letter, and send it -
> while SAVING the original form letter as it was - in it's unmodified form.
> (So I can use it again, obviously.)
> - Save a copy of the sent form letter to a specified folder.
>
(snip)
Chris Stearns
http://www.mezzaninereader.com
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Chris,
I had this exact need when I first started using Erage, and a guy by the name of Bryan Harris wrote the first script I had ever installed and used, exactly fitting the bill. It works with every type of message and even can contain attachments. You need to create a root level folder, called TEMPLATE, and you can (and I have) continually add new boiler plate messages to it. I use this 10 times a day. Works like a charm.
I also use Paul’s idea of the ‘Signature’ feature as a way to have easy access to stationery that can easily be modified for each message, or sent as is. As has been discussed here, the term ‘signature’ is limiting, because you can use it for a lot more than just your name and address.
I’m hoping Bryan doesn’t mind, but here is this beauty:
-- Open Template 1.1
-- script by Bryan Harris, [EMAIL PROTECTED], 3 November 2000
-- This script prompts the user to select any message
-- from the "TEMPLATE" folder (at the root folder level)
-- to be used as a custom template/stationery.
-- The "TEMPLATE" folder is created by the user at the root folder
-- level, and there is no restriction on the type of message
-- put there (draft, incoming/outgoing, sent/unsent ok).
tell application "Microsoft Entourage"
activate
with timeout of 600 seconds
try
set theMsgs to (every message of folder "TEMPLATES")
on error
display dialog "Can't find a \"TEMPLATES\" folder. This script requires that there be a folder named \"TEMPLATES\" at the root folder level with messages in it to be used as templates." with icon stop
return
end try
set theCount to count of theMsgs
if theCount is 0 then
display dialog "There are no templates in the \"TEMPLATES\" folder. Please drag at least one message to that folder to use this script. (Holding down the \"Option\" key while dragging will place a copy of the message.)" with icon stop
return
end if
set theSubs to {}
repeat with i1 from 1 to theCount
set theSubs to theSubs & (i1 & ". " & subject of (item i1 of theMsgs) as string)
end repeat
set theTemp to (choose from list theSubs with prompt "Select a template:" without multiple selections allowed and empty selection allowed) as string
set i2 to ((characters 1 through ((offset of "." in theTemp) - 1) of theTemp) as string) as integer
set theMsg to item i2 of theMsgs
try
if (class of theMsg is incoming message) or (delivery status of theMsg is sent) then
set newMsg to (redirect theMsg)
else
set newMsg to (duplicate theMsg to drafts folder)
open the newMsg
end if
on error
display dialog "Script error 2. Please notify Bryan Harris, [EMAIL PROTECTED], of the circumstances leading to this error."
end try
end timeout
end tell
