Getting "Validation Error" when changing email template in SuccessFactor LMS

[Celia28]

Hi there!

I've been playing around to create an email design to provide a better user experience when users register for our courses, but I keep receiving the attached error. I'm not an HTML master, and I'm having a hard time figuring it out. I used a design tool to model the design then used the source code provided for this design.

Would someone know where I could first look to start figuring out what is causing this issue?

Thank you!!

Celia

[Celia28]

Screenshot

[ChrisStiles]

Reverse engineering it can be tricky, particularly for those email where loops are required, in my opinion, but sstill a viable option. Once I've finish the design in Outlook, I'll send it to myself. Then from my inbox, open the message, and go to the Actions menu, the "Other Actions" then "View Source". Copy paste back into LMS, and insert appropriate tags for LMS to insert. (see screenshot attached).

On the question about tokens, I'm not sure I understand what you mean? Specifically what template/token are you trying to use/change?

thanks

Chris

[ChrisStiles]

Glad you got past the script tag .. as far as testing, have you tried designing the email inside MS Outlook, then grabbing the source, and reverse engineering it back into LMS ..

Otherwise, there are lots of paid tools/services out there that validate/preview html mail as if it were in Outlook.

My personal favorite though, is our old friend, trial-and-error.

I notice you are using CSS in the header (as far as I can tell). Personally, I try to keep as much of my CSS in-line as possible, even though it leads to more code ... its much more reliable.

Chris

[Celia28]

thank you so much for your insight Chris! I didn’t know I could design it through outlook first. Great idea - I’ll test that tomorrow 🙂

Last question - once I get my template correctly showing in the email, I plan to add the applicable tokens (class name, instructor name + picture, schedule description). It appears that tokens themselves cannot be updated, but can be created.
Am I able to create a new schedule description template that shows the class schedule in one paragraphe vs multiple?

Our current schedule offering token details each day of a session with time, location and facilitator.

[ChrisStiles]

Hi Celia

Without seeing all the code, I would guess that you may have a script tag, or javascript of some sort in your code. These are generally the two culprits .. and should not be used in email templates.

Chris

[Celia28]

hey Chris - you are right! I ended up finding it and removing it.

I also replace all of the strong tags and dig tags.

Although the template is being accepted by the LMS, outlook is distorting the colors and alignments of the texts.

Would you have any advice on this?

celia