I just sent "email to the Class" to 108 names and instead of displaying their first name this is what came through.

first_name$

I noticed this when "they send test to me", so I repeated clicking the " first_name$" before sending to make sure it got in, but it didn't work.

DEAR first_name$

Wonder what happened?
Thanks.
Thelma

Thelma,

You are doing it wrong. You forgot the first "$"

$first_name$ - inserts the first name of Classmate.
$last_name$ - inserts the last name of Classmate.

You said "Dear first_name$", you should have said "Dear $first_name$"

I was surprised why it did that since I've done it more than a few times. Nothing I can do about it now .

Thanks Kyle.

Maybe if you used copy/paste, you just didn't copy the first "$"

That's what I did . I think I'll do a follow up brief concise email related to the topic of the one previous; making sure the first name shows.

Thanks Kyle.

Kyle Erickson wrote:

Hey Kyle,

While we're on this subject, have you all ever considered placing the list of possible options at the bottom of the Email the Class, Compose Email page, Tips? Currently you all list first and last names, but it might be convenient to show the whole list of options at this point. I know you all address this somewhere, because I got the following list from you, but this would be a convenient location for a second copy.

$first_name$ - inserts the first name of Classmate.
$last_name$ - inserts the last name of Classmate.
$school$ - inserts the name of your school.
$year$ - inserts "Class of XXXX" - where XXXX is your graduating year.
$homepage$ - inserts a link to your home page.
$ca_first_name$ - inserts Administrator's first name.
$ca_last_name$ - inserts Administrator's last/maiden name.
$ca_married_name$ - inserts Administrator's married name.

Thanks for the info, Gary!

Gary,

Those variable names were copied from the PREFERENCES page, in the Automatic Emails section:

AUTOMATIC EMAILS

Your site sends the following automatic emails. While it is recommended you leave these activated, you can deactivate any of them and you may also edit the default verbiage below. You can rearrange, duplicate or remove the following variables, but do not alter them:

$first_name$     -    inserts the first name of Classmate.
$school$     -    inserts the name of your school.
$year$     -    inserts "Class of XXXX" - where XXXX is your graduating year.
$homepage$     -    inserts a link to your home page.
$ca_first_name$     -    inserts Administrator's first name.
$ca_last_name$     -    inserts Administrator's last/maiden name.
$ca_married_name$     -    inserts Administrator's married name.

But I agree that it is also appropriate to list these same automatic variables on the EMAIL THE CLASS section.

I will check and see what Brad thinks of the idea.

Thanks Kyle!

The $year$ link does NOT list the classmates graduating year.
It lists the range of the multi-year site, ie 1943-2020.

Is this for a single year site only?

Would be GREAT to be able to use on the name badges at the all-year reunion.

I will need to talk to the programmer on this one.