How does the editor of a Joe function?

When working with a Joe-type custom template, you have a special editor at your disposal in step 4. How does this work?

The composition of your template

Your template consists of a header (top) and a footer (bottom). Between these, you can add, fill, and move blocks .

Usually, you barely edit the header and footer, and sometimes you cannot edit them at all. If a block contains a title that you can edit, click the text, edit the text in the left window, and click 'Save'. Check if you can also (or have to) have to change the preheader: this text is on the left above the header. If you still want a modification to your header or footer, that has to be done by the designer of the template. You can place and fill the intermediate blocks to your liking (or according to the guidelines within your organisation).

Adding, removing, or moving blocks

When creating a newsletter, you can easily add, remove, or move blocks. In step 4, you will find three symbols above each block: 'arrows' to move, a 'plus' to add, and an 'x' to remove blocks.

If you want to add a block, click the plus-icon and choose the block you want to add; click 'here' if you want to add the block above the plus-icon, and 'below' if you want to insert it below.

Editing texts and headings

You can click the text and/or heading in any block. On the left side of your screen, you will then see what your editing options are. 

With the symbols above the text part of your editor, you can format text (bold, cursive, change font size, etc.). With the 'paste-function', you can also paste text from other sources into your newsletter. You can also add a table, links, files, and references to social media to your text. With the use of subscriber variables, you can personalise a newsletter. You cannot change the font of your text, as this is predetermined in the template.

Editing buttons

In some blocks, there are buttons that direct readers to a webpage or a file. 

Place your cursor on the button and add the description of the button and the link on the left.

Please note: if you are creating a digitally accessible newsletter, make sure that the description clearly shows what your user will see and diversify your writing. Otherwise, a reader who is, for instance, visually impaired, will only hear 'read more', 'read more'.

Do you want to direct the reader to a file? It's best to upload your file to the media library, copy the link there (Details, click right and choose Link or Link address), and subsequently paste the link on the left of the relevant button in your newsletter.

Inserting and removing images

Click on a (dummy) image to insert an image. You will see a window on the left side of your screen. Click 'Select image' and select the image on your computer. If necessary, you can add a link and an alt-text.

Please note: if you are creating a digitally accessible newsletter, it is important to add an alt-text to your image in the designated window; this text is read out loud by screenreaders and as such, it has to tell you something about the image.

Text blocks with a fixed image size

In some text blocks with an image, the size of the image is predetermined. The designer has done this on purpose. The fixed image size makes your newsletter look neater.

The image is automatically shown and cropped in the right size. Do you want to crop the image differently? Follow these steps very carefully to get the right result:

1. click 'Edit image' in the image, after which you will see a window like in the image below;
2. click on the second from the top: 'Transform';
3. check the 'Keep Resolution' box;
4. place your cursor on the corner of the image, click and drag your cursor to the desired size and select the fragment you want;
5. click 'Reset to default' to start again, 'Close' to cancel your edits, or 'Save' to keep your new cutout.

Tekst blocks with a resizeable image

Some custom templates have text blocks with images that are resizeable. In these blocks, you can remove the image by clicking the 'x' on the top right of the image. This turns the block into a regular text block. If you want to add an image back into the block, you can use the link 'Make image visible', which appears under the text part of the editor (left side of the screen).

You can resize the image in this type of block by dragging the bottom right corner of the image with your cursor. 

If you place your cursor on the text of a block with a resizeable image, you will see a left and right arrow on the sides of the block. Clicking these arrows alternately moves the image to the left, right, or the full breadth of the block.

Table of contents

A custom template can include a table of contents. If this is the case for you, you can add this block under your newsletter's header. The heading of each new item in your newsletter is automatically added to the table of contents.

RSS or Atom feeds

One or more RSS or Atom feeds can be added to the template. The feed is read when loading the template in the editor, and the specified elements are displayed. All present items in the feed are shown by default. In the editor, a small 'x' appears next to each item. Clicking it removes the item. This way, you can pick quickly.

Your selection is saved in the next steps. The selection is overwritten when the template is reloaded; all of the current items will be shown once more.

Preview, testing, and the next step

If you click 'Save' in a block on the left side of the screen, you can choose a preview and a test mail for your campaign. You campaign's template is developed for optimal display on a mobile phone. Double-check whether all of the texts, images and buttons are indeed displayed correctly on a smartphone. Send a test to yourself (and/or your colleagues) to see if email clients also show the newsletter the way you envisioned it, and check all the links you added.

If you go back to step 3, you can select the template again. You can also do this by choosing to reload your template, with or without keeping its content, on the bottom of the page. If you go to step 5, you move to your campaign's final check (from which you can always go back to step 4).