The only thing I would add to Carl's note is that you need the full version of FileMaker to edit the letter layout. If you are using the runtime application delivered with the ebase files, the easiest way to get letters out is to use the built-in export funtion (from the output tab) to export a delimited file to merge into a word processor document.
>Woody, > >There's no such thing as a dumb question, especially an ebase question. > >The Thank you letters, which as Dave said live in the Payments file, are >pretty stripped down, text-based layouts. To work with them, you merely >navigate to them in layout mode (using the layouts menu above the >rolodex), double click in the area where the merge name and address >fields are (which is merely a text box in the body of the layout) and >type away (or paste from a word processor - just beware that the paste >function will usually paste paragraphs onto one line and you'll need to >find the text box handles and re-size the text box to fit on the page). >Merge fields into the text by using the Paste Special (FMP 4) or, in FMP >5, I think it's Insert Merge Fields command. Beware of the page break >symbol (the heavy line). You may need to play with the size of the >header and/or margins - and read your FMP manual to find out more >specifics on setting page margins, using headers, etc.). > >For what it's worth, I always use the Thank You routine for >acknowledgement letters (I've modified each one to reflect different >kind of gifts such as memberships, special contributions, corporate >gifts, etc.). But I rarely use the built-in letter routine in the names >file, as it is a little cumbersome to use. I also find that programs >like Word allow me to print odd or even pages, allowing me to print a >whole set of first pages on letterhead and then print the second page on >the back side. More appropriate for a conservation organization like >ours. > >Carl > > >Woody Deryckx wrote: >> >> I'm a very new user of ebase and not doing well at all as yet. I'm glad to >> see Larry Bednar introduce the issue of letters because this feature has >> been quite frustrating to me. I wanted to use ebase to send thankyou >> letters following our recent membership drive and year end appeal but could >> not find a way to modify the numbered and incomplete example thankyou >> letters. I tried looking in the manual too - just couldn't figure it out. >> I've been embarased to ask untill now; how do I rewrite the letter so I can >> use it? >> Cheers >> Woody Deryckx >> Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation >> PO Box 1711 >> Klamath Falls Oregon 97601 >> 541/850-1717 >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Dave Shaw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: TechRocks Support <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 4:01 PM >> Subject: [support] Re: Letter layouts >> >> > >I'm modifying some of the letter layouts in Ebase right now, and I'm >> > >finding that the V1.03 Admininstrator's manual doesn't really match > > > >what I'm seeing. > > > > > > > >Specifically, I'm not seeing layouts for "Thanks #1", etc. which the > > > >manual says I should see. I only see layouts for "Letter #1", etc. >> > > >> > >Any comments/explanations from you experienced letter layout folks? >> > >> > The Thanks letters live in the Payments file. You're looking at the >> > solicitation letters in the names file. >> > >> > >> > -- >> > -- >> > Dave Shaw H4 Consulting >> > tel: 206-954-7526 fax: 206-625-1338 >> > >> > ------------------ >> > Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to >> > http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the >> email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > >> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org >> > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >> >> ------------------ >> Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to >> http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and >>enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support >>list:: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- > >-- >Carl Paulsen >New Hampshire Rivers Council >54 Portsmouth Street >Concord, NH 03301 >603-228-6472 >603-228-0423 Fax >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >------------------ >Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to >http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter >the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org >--------------------------------------------------------------------- -- -- Dave Shaw H4 Consulting tel: 206-954-7526 fax: 206-625-1338 ------------------ Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------
