Get started with the HTML Editor

The HTML Editor is one of the three message editors in Flexmail. It is a WYSIWYG editor (what you see is what you get), meaning you edit a visual representation of your email while Flexmail manages the underlying HTML code.

The HTML Editor works best in two situations: when you want to send a simple, text-rich message without a complex layout, or when you have a custom HTML message coded by a developer that you want to upload and use directly. For most standard marketing emails, the Email Builder gives you more design control with less technical overhead.

What the HTML Editor supports

• Full text editing with font, size, colour, and alignment controls.
• Image and file insertion.
• Link management, including links to forms, surveys, and files.
• Personalisation placeholders.
• Custom HTML, allowing you to switch to the raw HTML source view at any time.
• The Rollback function, offering version history for up to 10 saved versions. This is only available in the HTML Editor.
• Dynamic content with if-structures.
• Dynamic content templates from an external XML database.

What the HTML Editor does not support

The HTML Editor does not support drag-and-drop layout building or automatic mobile column stacking. Use the Email Builder for full layout control without HTML knowledge. Use the Wizard template for a pre-designed mobile-responsive layout with minimal setup.

When to use the HTML Editor vs. the other editors

Use the HTML Editor when uploading a developer-coded HTML template, when working with a very simple text-based message, or when you need the Rollback function for version control.

Use the Email Builder for most marketing emails. It gives you full layout control, drag-and-drop editing, and automatic mobile optimisation without HTML knowledge.

Use the Wizard template when you want a ready-made mobile-responsive design with minimal setup time.

Prerequisites

• You have access to Campaigns > Messages in your Flexmail account.
• If you upload a developer-coded HTML template, make sure it is ready as a clean, email-safe HTML file.

Creating a new message

1. Go to Campaigns, then to Messages.
2. Click Create new message. Click I <3 HTML to select the HTML Editor.
3. Name your message and select a category. Optionally choose a template, or click No template to start from scratch.

4. Click Save to open the editor.

   

   
   

Editing your message

Text formatting

Use the toolbar to set font family, size, bold, italic, underline, text colour, alignment, and list styles. Highlight text first, and then apply formatting.

Adding an image

Click the image icon in the toolbar. Upload a new image or select one from your media library. Set the width, alignment, alt text, and an optional link.

Switching to raw HTML view

Click the Source button in the toolbar to edit the underlying HTML directly. HTML that works in a browser often behaves differently in email clients. Run Message check after any source edits.

Link tracking

Scroll to the bottom of the editor to find the Link tracking section. All links in your message are listed here. Enable tracking for the links you want to measure and optionally assign an interest to each link. See "Link tracking" for details.

Previewing and saving

Click Preview to see your message with test profile data applied. Click Save when you are finished editing. Each manual save creates a Rollback point, and Flexmail keeps up to 10 versions.

Rollback

Scroll to the bottom of the editor and click the Rollback button to see up to 10 previous versions, each with a timestamp. Click Preview next to a version to inspect it, then click "Rollback" to restore it.

Pro tips

• Use the HTML Editor for text-rich messages such as plain-text-style newsletters, internal communications, or transactional content where complex design is not required.
• If you upload a developer-coded template, run Message check immediately after importing to check for rendering issues in email clients.
• Save a version after each major section of edits, not just at the end. Detailed restore points are more useful than a single rollback option.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Editing raw HTML without understanding how email clients process it. HTML that displays correctly in a browser often behaves differently in Outlook, Gmail, or Apple Mail.
• Not saving regularly. Rollback works only if you save your progress. A major change made without saving first leaves you with no restore point to fall back on.
• Switching repeatedly between WYSIWYG and source view. Switching to source view and back can alter your HTML structure. Complete source edits in one pass whenever possible.

GDPR considerations

Next steps

• See "Rollback function" in Message elements for step-by-step instructions on restoring an earlier version.
• See "Personalising a message with placeholders" for all available placeholders and how to use them.
• See "Setting up dynamic content with if-structures" for adding conditional content in the HTML Editor.