Customizing Notification Messages

The LMS provides a series of system messages that are the default messages for specific system-wide events, for example when enrolling in a course or being enrolled via an assignment. These messages cannot be changed, but they can be overridden in two ways:

• A new feature allows for the replacement of these system-wide messages by customized messages at the individual course level.
• The LMS also allows the CSA to remove the connection to the default system messages and create new custom messages that will become the de facto default messages.

Notification Messages Details Page Fields

Policy Type* - Specific System policy to which the message applies, selected from a dropdown selection of prepopulated options.

Notification Message* - The name of the notification Message. Best Practice, name the message based on the action that will be performed (e.g. New student confirmation)

Active - A checkbox to indicate if the message is Active (in use) or Inactive.

Notification Type - Used to indicate if the notification message will be used for a Learning Object (course) or an Assignment.

Description - More detailed description of the action to be performed by the notification.

Email Subject Resource Key: - The resource library name for default Email Subject Message.
Note: If not blank & if no specific message for the event is associated at the course level, then user receives this default, even if the Email Subject & Email Body display a different message. 

Email Body Resource Key: - The resource library name for default Email Body Message.
Note: If not blank & if no specific message for the event is associated at the course level, then user receives this default, even if the Email Subject & Email Body display a different message. 

Words - Allows for selection of variables from a drop-down list that can be inserted into the Email Subject and / or Email body. When the email is generated and sent, these variables will be replaced by actual data. The Words will vary depending on the Notification Type selected.

NOTE: Assignment notifications are limited to use the following variables only:

1.  (~AssignedLearningObjectsNoDueDate~) = A list of Learning Objects + Course Type 

2. (~LearningObjectCertifications~) = A list of Learning Object names in a Certification
3. (~AssignedLearningObjectsName~) = A list of Learning Objects names
4. (~AssignedLearningObjects~) = A list of Learning Object names + Due Date + Duration
5. (~AssignedUserEvaluationsNoDueDate~) = The user First and Last Name assigned to an Evaluation (TMS module)
6. (~Assignment_Due_Date~) - The assignment due date 
7. (~AssignmentName~) - The assignment name
8. (~Training_Type~) - The course type, such as classroom or online
9. (~First_Name~) - The assigned user's First Name
10. (~Last_Name~) - The assigned user's Last Name
11. (~GLMLoginPage~) - The LMS landing page to login
12. (~Student_EMail~) - The user's email address
13. (~Student_Phone~) - The user's phone number

Add to Email Subject button- Will add the variable selected using the Words dropdown box to the Email Subject Line. When sent the variable will be replaced by actual data.

Add to Email Body button - Will add the variable selected using the Words dropdown box to the Email Body. When sent the variable will be replaced by actual data.

Email Subject - The subject line of the email to be sent to the recipient (including text and variables that will be replaced by actual data when sent)

Email Body - The body of the email to be sent to the recipient (including text and variables that will be replaced by actual data when sent)

Override Defaults to Customize System-Wide Notification Messages

In the Advanced View, hover over the Learning Object dropdown box and click on the Notification Message feature to bring up the Notification Message List.

[INSERT SCREENSHOT]

1. Select the specific default system message you wish to override, by clicking in the row of that message. This will bring up the message details for that specific system-wide message.
2. Click the Edit button in the upper right corner to enter Edit Mode.
3. Remove (clear) the entries in both the Email Subject Resource Key: and Email Body Resource Key: textboxes (if you click within the text, a deletion (X) will appear on the right side of the textbox, click to clear).
4. Clearing these fields eliminates the connection to the default system-wide message.
   Note: it will also remove any multilingual support for messaging.
5. Enter text and data into the email subject using a combination of text and selections of variables from the Words dropdown text box (inserted by clicking on Add to Email Subject) to create the custom notification.
6. Enter text and data into the email body using a combination of text and selections of variables from the Words dropdown text box (inserted by clicking on Add to Email Body button).
7. When finished click Save. The Subject and Body you have created will be the new default for that Notification Message.

Cloning Defaults to Create Customized Notification Messages

Instead of replacing the default notification, you can create customized messages to associate at the individual course level.

While these Notification Messages can be created by using the New Notification Message button when viewing the Notification Message List, it is recommended that creators clone Existing Messages and simply change the underlying email subject and email body sections.

This helps ensure that the known and correct Policy Types are chosen. By cloning one of the original default system-wide messages (ID numbers 1-13), the correct Policy Type connection will already be established.
To Clone a Default Notification Message and Create a Customized Notification Message:

In the Advanced View, hover over the Learning Object dropdown box and click on the Notification Message feature to bring up the Notification Message List.

Select the specific default system message you wish to customize for association with specific course, by clicking in the row of that default message (ID Numbers 1-13). This will bring up the message details for that specific system-wide message.

1. Click the Edit button in the upper right corner to enter Edit Mode.
2. Click the CLONE button now available in the upper right hand corner (to the left of the Save and Cancel buttons). This is only available when in Edit mode.
3. A copy of the Notification Message will load also in Edit Mode.
4. Note the Term COPY at the end of the Notification Message text box indicating that this is a clone, not the original.
5. Change the Notification Message:* (Name) if desired.
   Best Practice is to use a naming convention which explains the purpose of the message.
6. Remove (clear) the entries in both the Email Subject Resource Key: and Email Body Resource Key: textboxes (if you click within the text, a deletion (X) will appear on the right side of the textbox, click to clear). Clearing these fields eliminates the connection to the default system-wide message. Note: it will also remove any multilingual support for messaging.
7. Enter text and data into the email subject using a combination of text and selections of variables from the Words dropdown text box (inserted by clicking on Add to Email Subject).
8. Enter text and data into the email body using a combination of text and selections of variables from the Words dropdown text box (inserted by clicking on Add to Email Body button).
9. When finished click Save make this notification available to associate with learning objects.