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Problems e-mailing contribution statements

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:54 pm
by John Dykema
Well, I just spent a lot of time at church to print and e-mail contribution statements.
1. I first tried printing all statements for which we have NO email address for. Everybody's statement came up on the screen preview. I bit my nails. Shouldn't that have worked? Why did everybody print?

2. I then emailed to all that we have addresses for. That seem to work fine.

3. I then went to print all those who we don't have a email addr for. It still asked for an email subject and message. (I wondered "what's this??).
I pressed "finish" and it started listing all kinds of email addresses again. I panicked and aborted it, not wanting to email twice.
I began thinking maybe it lists them and prints the one with no addr. I went through it again, and sure nuf. I got the printed statements this time. When I got home I checked my e-mail and I had received two statements, the first one was good. The second one had the message of the second run (those in 3. above).

4. Does anyone else get confused by the e-mailing interface? Seems if we are asking to print statements for those w/o email addr it would skip that email subject/message stuff (of course next time we do it I'll know not to panick).

Thanks. I do like the fact we can email them. I'm still confused why I got two statements. I'll have to check around if everyone did.

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:09 am
by Zorak
It is designed to work all in one shot. Rather than making multiple trips through the CO Statements, just do it once. Choose to e-mail statements. Then, when prompted, choose to print for everyone else.

If you choose to print *rather* than e-mailing, then you are just printing statements as usual, for everyone.

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:41 pm
by John Dykema
OK I think I get it. When the choice says "Print all statements" under the E-mail Statements option means "Print all statements AND email those we have addresses for". Is that right?

Then, the option "Only print statements not emailed" means to "Print statements not able to be e-mailed AND e-mail those we have address for" in one pass. Is that right?

I tend to take things too literally. With all respect, the wording could be a bit more explanatory.

So in summary, I should choose the option:
"Only print statements not emailed" and make only one run. Is that right?

Ya, I know, I'm full of questions. :oops:

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 5:31 pm
by Zorak
The descriptions of the options are literal, in the sense that we are expecting this to all be done in one report generating process... One time through the report options will give you e-mails and printed statements, if that is the option you choose.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 8:57 pm
by John Dykema
Thanks, I'm sure our next run, in August, will be more successful.

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:15 pm
by John Dykema
Oh ya, I've just thought of one more item.
We use Outlook 2003 and the emailed statements that didn't go through showed up in our Inbox, but all the ones sent out did not show up in our Sent mail folder. I thought that was strange. Is there a setting we have on or is this the way it's programmed?

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:26 pm
by Jeff
the emailed statements that didn't go through showed up in our Inbox
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this. If they were returned by the recipient's ISP then that is what I would expect to happen.
but all the ones sent out did not show up in our Sent mail folder.
PowerChurch talks directly to your e-mail server and bypasses Outlook. This way it can send mail no matter what e-mail program you use.

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:30 pm
by John Dykema
Ah ha! That's why I didn't see any in my Sent folder.
Thanks for clearing that up.