Format Style

The Style Menu is a sub level of the Format Menu under Form Letters. The Style Menu lists templates of the most used font styles and sizes. It allows setting the style and size in which the text will be displayed, or to change the style and/or size of the currently selected text.

Some of these options are also available in:

 

Parts of the Format Style Converter

Adjusts the style of the selected template. For more information on the style tab click here.
Sets the font for the selected template. For more information on the font tab click here.
Defines the paragraph dimensions for the selected template. For more information on the paragraph tab click here.
Determines the bullet and numbering format for the selected template. For more information on the numbering tab click here.

Style Sheet Tab

Displays the styles available in the document and allows you to both alter the style sheet and choose the style for the following paragraph.

Parts of the Style Tab

Converter This style is a 12 point Geneva font.
Heading 1 This style is typically used for the first heading of a section. It is a 16 point Helvetica font.
Heading 2 This style is typically used for a second-level heading in a section. It is a 14 point Helvetica font.
Heading 3 This style is typically used for a third-level heading in a section. It is a 13 point Helvetica font.
Normal This style is typically used for the body of a paragraph. It is a 12 point Times New Roman font.

Font Tab

Font Tab
Font A drop-down menu listing all available fonts that can be used in the letter.
Font Size A drop-down menu listing standard point sizes for the font selected. Sizes may also be entered in the field manually.
Style This style section refers to the style of the font. The available options are Bold, Italics, and Underlined.
Text Color The color of the text may be changed either by:
  • using the color picker button on the right hand side
  • or picking from the list of default colours
    Script The script section allows for the text to be formatted as either Superscript or Subscript.

    Format URL for Link

    Links are useful in eblasts to help you direct the patron to a specific area in the web site to begin the buying process and track the reason people came to the web site using the tmsource feature of a link

    You can right-click on text to format it a Link or to edit the URL for an existing link.

    You can alter the:

    • Name of the link which is displayed on the letter for the patron to click on
    • Description of the field which is the tooltip displayed when you run your mouse over the field. It will default to explain what link you have chosen
    • URL that clicking on the link will display in your browser.

     

    Selecting a link

    You can type in any link you want such as your marketing web site URL or the ticketing web site.

    The context menu has a helper to help you quickly insert a URL for various parts of your ticketing web site. For example, if you want to place a link to show all events:

    • Right click on the URL field
    • Select Insert URL
    • Select Tickets category of URL's
    • Select Show All Events in Icon List
      • The Description will change to describe what the link does as a helpful tip to you
      • The URL will be changed to the link that will accomplish that task
    • Some links will have XXX or QQQ in them. It the link is for a donation campaign, the XXX need to be changed to one of your donation campaigns.
    For more information about a URL that is inserted, please refer to redirecting links
    The parameter tmSource is automatically appended to the end of all links with an example value. Please change it to make sure you do eblast referral tracking.

    Formatting Fields and Calculations or a Form Letter

    You can double click on fields to alter some formatting of the field and some other options. You can alter the:
    • Name of the field which is displayed on the letter, if you prefer something different than the standard.
    • Description of the field which is the tooltip displayed when you run your mouse over the field.
    • Calculation that the field will display. This is normally only a single database field selected from the context menu as per the example to the right.
    • Formatting of the field (numeric, date, text, currency, etc) by using the popup.
    • Number of decimals if it is a numeric field
    • Aggregation of the field if it is of a type that can be aggregated.
      • Typically this lets you display maximum, minimum, total or average value of all the records that might appear on a consolidated letter
      • It is only effective on a document designed to display multiple records in a table
      • Note: If a field has aggregation set on it, it appears yellow in the document
    In many cases, the only thing you may wish to change is the formatting.

    Adding a calculation containing one or more fields

    The one time you may wish to change all the options available for a field is when you want to have a calculation occur between multiple fields. The example below shows calculating the net deductible donation amount based on the difference between the actual donation amount and the benefit. In this case, the sample shows the calculation changed and all other items in the screen changed to reflect it on the document.

    An obvious question is how to get the names of the fields for a calculation. You can use a simple trick:

    • Insert each the fields onto the form letter that you might want to put in the calculation
      • Double click on those fields
      • Write down the name of the field from the 'evaluation' field
      • Close the window
    • Insert one of the fields a second time (or copy/paste it). This is what we will use as the calculated field.
      • Change the Database/System Field area to contain a calculation based on multiple variables. In this example, the field

        DD_AMOUNT_ACTUAL was changed to be the calculation

        DD_AMOUNT_ACTUAL-DD_BENEFIT_AMOUNT

      • hit the tab key and the Database/System Field will change to Calculation if it contains valid fields to let you know that Theatre Manager recognizes the calculation
      • You may wish to change the name and description to indicate what you've done - and the next person to edit the letter will know from the name of the calculation what it means.
    • Print some samples of the letters - reviewing the date on the letter to see if it is right
    • Then remove any fields from the letter that you don't really want the patron to see, but you added to the letter to get the field names

    Once you've created a calculation, you should also be able to use it to create a custom field and do conditional printing.

    Paragraph Tab

    Paragraph Tab
    First Line Indent Sets the indent of the first line of each paragraph.
    Left Indent Sets a left indent to all lines of a paragraph.
    Right Indent Sets a right indent to all lines of a paragraph.
    Alignment A drop-down menu allowing for the adjustment of the alignment of the paragraph. The available options are Left, Center, Right, and Justified.
    Line Spacing A drop-down menu to set the spacing between lines in a paragraph. The available options are Single, 1.5, and Double.
    Spacing Before Sets the spacing before each paragraph.
    Spacing After Sets the spacing after each paragraph.
    Tabs Sets any tab stops that should be on the page. L=Left, C=Centre, R=Right, D=Decimal followed by a number where the tab stop occurs.

    For example: a tab stop o L2.50 would a Left Tab at 2.5". Tabs can be set usin the toolbar as well.

    Numbering Tab

    Parts of the Bullets and Numbering Window
    Text is not in list format or removes list format from selected text.
    Converts the text to a list with bullets.
    Converts the text to a list with numbers and a period separator.
    Converts the text to a list with numbers and a parentheses separator.
    Converts the text to a list with upper case letters and a period separator.
    Converts the text to a list with upper case letters and a parentheses separator.
    Converts the text to a list with lower case letters and a period separator.
    Converts the text to a list with lower case letters and a parentheses separator.
    Converts the text to a list with roman numerals and a period separator.
    Converts the text to a list with roman numerals and a parentheses separator.