The degree to which an email can be modified after it has been launched depends on the type of campaign that uses it. Below are some general guidelines on what you can change for each type.
When an email is associated with an automated program, the program entry point determines how much of the email content can be modified after launch. See also editing active programs for details of how much the program settings and nodes can be changed.
Even the smallest changes to the content of an email can have an effect on its impact and the responses it generates. You should bear this in mind when considering the long-term reporting and analysis of such emails.
Copying the email campaign and modifying the copy is strongly recommended, because changing the links on the fly could cause the shift of the relative id's, therefore the links would redirect incorrectly.
Editing block-based batch email campaigns
You can modify certain parts of a batch email in the block-based editor (VCE), if it has been
- launched already, or
- scheduled for a later activation, or
- unscheduled.
The following parts can be modified of these emails:
For editing batch email campaigns in Automation Center programs, see here.
|
Batch email campaign: Part to change |
Launched | Scheduled | Unscheduled "Ready to launch" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email name | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Language | No | No | Yes |
| Email category | Yes1 |
Yes | Yes |
| Additional tracking parameters |
Yes2 |
Yes |
Yes |
| Send text only | No |
No | Yes |
| Change Segment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recipient source | No | No | Yes |
| List | No | No | No |
| Exclude | No | No | Yes |
| Ignore frequency cap | No | No | Yes |
| Ignore opt-in | No | No | Yes |
| Do not send to duplicate email addresses | No | No | Yes |
| CC | No |
No |
Yes |
| Send this email to | No | No | Yes |
| Text-only checkbox | No | No | Yes |
1 You can change the Email category of an already launched email, but it is recommended to check the email sent out.
2 You can change the tracking parameters, but it is not recommended.
Content creation: Editing batch email campaigns
Email Basics tab
|
Batch email campaign: Part to change |
Launched | Scheduled | Unscheduled "Ready to launch" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject line | No | No | Yes |
| From (name) | No |
No | Yes |
| From (email address) | No |
No | Yes |
| Preview text | No | No | Yes |
| Unsubscribe link | No | No | Yes |
| Show online version link | No | No | No |
| Edit block settings, e.g: Block targeting | No | No | Yes |
Blocks tab
|
Batch email campaigns Part to change |
Launched | Scheduled | Unscheduled “Ready to launch" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version A/B testing | Yes1 | No | Yes |
| Edit or Insert a block | No |
No | Yes |
| Link tracking | No | No | Yes |
1 You copy and A/B version, but a C version is going to be created in this case.
Editing recurring campaigns
Since recurring campaigns create a new child campaign for every launch you can change any part of their email content or their settings without affecting past launches. There is no need to pause or deactivate the campaign; the modified content will be sent with the next launch.
For more information, see editing recurring email campaigns in Automation Center programs.
Editing block-based, triggered (on-event) email campaigns
You can modify any part of the content of a triggered (also called on-event) email, but it must be deactivated first. The modification depends on which content editor you are using, and it may not be possible in each and every case.
You can deactivate or activate in the Scheduled step of the email creation workflow:
No emails will be sent while it is deactivated, nor will they be queued. This means that all incoming trigger events during this time will be discarded. Once you have made your changes and activated the email again, the new content will be sent with the next trigger event.
Changing trackable links in an on-event campaign will also change the links in the emails that have already been launched. If you want to change the trackable links, it is recommended to copy the email and modify the copy, so that your past responses remain accurate.
| Triggered (on-event) email campaign: Part to change |
Launched | Deactivated (Inactive) |
|---|---|---|
| Email name | No |
Yes |
| Language | No | No |
| Email category | No |
Yes |
| Additional tracking parameters | No |
Yes |
| Send only with attachment | No |
No |
| Bcc address | No | Yes |
| Ignore frequency cap | No | No |
| External Event |
No | No |
Content creation: Editing triggered (on-event) email campaigns
Email basics tab
|
Triggered (on-event) email campaigns Part to change |
Launched | Deactivated (Inactive) |
|---|---|---|
| Subject line | No | Yes |
| From (name) | No |
Yes |
| From (email address) | No |
Yes |
| Preview text | No | Yes |
| Unsubscribe link | No | Yes |
| Show online version link | No | Yes |
| Insert a block | No | Yes |
| Edit block settings, e.g: Block targeting | No | Yes |
Blocks tab
| Part to change | Launched | Deactivated (Inactive) |
|---|---|---|
| Version A/B testing | No | No |
| Insert a block | No |
Yes |
| Check test email sending | No | Yes |
Links tab
| Part to change | Launched | Deactivated (Inactive) |
|---|---|---|
| Link tracking | No | Yes |
Editing AIM campaigns
Campaigns using AIM products, such as Send Time Optimization, may be edited until they are launched. When their status changes to Launched, editing is not possible any more.
Editing emails used in Automation Center programs
Once you have included your email campaign in an Automation Center program there are a number of ways you can change the content of the email campaign, depending on the state of the program:
Automated programs that CAN be modified after launch
Emails that are used by programs starting with the Recurring filter entry point can be modified after launch. There is no need to pause the program to make the changes; your changes will be included in the next launched emails immediately after they have been saved.
For more information, see Editing active programs.
Automated programs that CANNOT be modified after launch
Emails that are used by program starting with the following entry points cannot be modified after launch.
For more information, see Editing active programs.
| Name | Nodes |
|---|---|
| Form |  |
| Data change |  |
| New contact |  |
| Target segment |
 |
Editing batch emails in Automation Center programs
| Batch email campaign in automated program Part to change |
Active | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|
| Email name | Yes |
Yes |
| Language | No | Yes |
| Link domain1 | No | Yes |
| Email category | Yes | Yes |
| Additional tracking parameters | Yes |
Yes |
| Send text only | No |
Yes |
| Ignore opt-in | No | Yes |
| CC | No | Yes |
1 When modifying the link domain in a campaign, you must also save the change on the Content Creation page.
Content creation: Batch email campaigns in Automation Center programs
Email basics tab
|
Batch email campaigns in automated program Part to change |
Active | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|
| Subject line | No | Yes |
| From (name) | No |
Yes |
| From (email address) | No |
Yes |
| Preview text | No | Yes |
| Unsubscribe link | No | Yes |
| Show online version link | No | Yes |
| Insert a block | No | Yes |
| Edit block settings, e.g: Block targeting | No | Yes |
Blocks tab
| Batch email campaign in automated program: Part to change |
Active | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|
| Version A/B testing | No | No |
| Insert a block | No |
Yes |
| Check test email sending | No | Yes |
Links tab
| Batch email campaign in automated program Part to change |
Active | Scheduled |
|---|---|---|
| Link tracking | No | Yes |
Editing recurring emails in Automation Center programs
| Recurring email campaign in automated program: Part to change |
Active | Paused or Frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Email name | Yes |
Yes |
| Language | Yes | Yes |
| Link domain1 | Yes | Yes |
| Email category | Yes | Yes |
| Additional tracking parameters | Yes |
Yes |
| Send text only | Yes | Yes |
| Ignore opt-in | Yes | Yes |
| CC | Yes2 | No |
1 When modifying the link domain in a campaign, you must also save the change on the Content Creation page.
2 You can edit the CC field, but first you need to remove the email campaign from the automation program.
Content creation: Recurring email campaigns in Automation Center programs
Email basics tab
|
Recurring email campaigns in automated program Part to change |
Active | Paused or Frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Subject line | Yes | Yes |
| From (name) | Yes | Yes |
| From (email address) | Yes | Yes |
| Preview text | Yes | Yes |
| Unsubscribe link | Yes | Yes |
| Show online version link | Yes | Yes |
| Insert a block | Yes | Yes |
| Edit block settings, e.g: Block targeting | Yes | Yes |
Blocks tab
| Recurring email campaign in automated program Part to change |
Active | Paused or Frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Version A/B testing | No | No |
| Insert a block | Yes | Yes |
| Check test email sending | Yes | Yes |
Links tab
| Recurring email campaign in automated program Part to change |
Active | Paused or Frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Link tracking | Yes | Yes |
Editing Transactional emails in Automation Center programs
|
Transactional email campaign in automation program Part to change |
Active | Paused | Test Status | Frozen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email name | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Language | No | No | No | No |
| Link domain1 | No | No | No | No |
| Email category | Yes |
Yes | No | Yes |
| Additional tracking parameters |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes | Yes |
| Send text only | No |
No | No | No |
| Ignore opt-in | No | No | No | No |
| CC/Bcc-Transactional | Yes | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
1 - When modifying the link domain in a campaign, you must also save the change on the Content Creation page.
Content creation: Editing Transactional email campaigns in Automation Center program
Email Basics tab
|
Transactional email campaign in Automation program Part to change |
Active | Paused | Test status | Frozen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject line | No | No | No | Yes |
| From (name) | No |
No | No | Yes |
| From (email address) | No |
No | No | Yes |
| Preview text | No | No | No | Yes |
| Unsubscribe link | No | No | No | Yes |
| Show online version link | No | No | No | Yes |
Blocks tab
|
Transactional email campaigns in automation program Part to change |
Active | Paused | Test staus | Frozen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Version A/B testing | No | No | No | No |
| Edit or Insert a block | No |
No | No | Yes |
| Test email sending | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Links tab
|
Transactional email campaigns in automation program Part to change |
Active | Paused | Test staus | Frozen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link tracking | No | No | No | Yes |