Managing Message Categories

Message categories allow grouping notifications by types and managing these groups in respect to the format messages are to be sent.

There is a set of default pre-configured message categories that correspond to the set of notification types available in Billing. You can add as many message categories as needed, for example for newsletters. Later notification templates are assigned to a message category.

Note: It is not possible to use the same notification template in two message categories. To use the same template type, first clone a notification template and then assign it to a message category you want.

Message categories that are in use are shown to customers in CCP. Customers can select the message format and enable or disable sending notifications that belong to one or another message categories. Thus, to facilitate management of notifications by categories, we recommend giving message categories as descriptive names as possible.

To configure type of messages customers will receive:

1. Open System > Settings > Notifications > Message Categories. The list of message categories appears on the screen.
2. Select message category by clicking on the respective link in the Message Type or in the Pers. HTML column. Message category properties appear on the screen.

3. Mark Notification Methods to be available by selecting respective check boxes. Defaults for Personal Accounts in the message name means that messages of this type will only be sent to individuals (customers that have individual Billing account). Defaults for Companies means that messages will only be send if the recipient has company account. Select the format messages will be sent for each method:

   • Email HTML format – notification is sent in HTML format using email.
   • Email Plain Text format – notification is sent in plain text format using email.
   • Email PDF format – notification is sent in a PDF file attached to an email, with the email body left empty.

   PDF notification can be sent in a blank email, or as an attachment to an HTML format notification (select both options: Email PDF format and Email HTML format). An email with a Plain Text format cannot be sent with a PDF attachment.

   If HTML and Plain Text formats are selected, only the HTML message will be sent (with or without a PDF file). Whether the PDF file is sent as an attachment or not depends on the PDF sending settings.

   Note: The number of available notification methods depends on the configuration of the message send methods. See the Configuring Message Send Methods section.

4. Click Save to confirm changes.

To add a message category:

1. Open the list of message categories as this described above (step 1).
2. Click Add new Message Category. The Add Message Category form appears on the screen. Fill out the form:
   • Type the message category descriptive name into the Message Category Name field. The name must tell about the purpose of the category and the type or messages it will include.
   • Type a free-form description of message category into the Message Category Description field.
   • Select messages format for each types of account in the same way as for existing message category (see above, step 3).
3. Click Save.