Creating Your ECard
So let's get started
shall we! There are several components to our postcard system, but thanks
to our WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface, making the perfect
ECard is a snap! On the page, you will see links/buttons to edit various
features -
Recipient/Recipient Email
Email Sender/Sender Email
Image
Message
Stamp
Icon
Poem
There will also be
links for the following:
Colors/Font
Stationery
Music
Preview Your Postcard
Send Your Postcard
Send Your Postcard Later
The [Edit] buttons/links
will open up new windows in which you will be able to change/customize
the various components of the page. So let's walk through them one at
a time...
The "Recipient" is
quite simply the person you are sending the postcard to. You will be presented
with a table form into which you can enter multiple Names and Email Addresses.
When you're done, just make sure to click the [Save] button at the bottom
of the window! You can also click [Cancel] if you do not want to save
your entries.
After
you click [Save] you will be returned to the main postcard page, where
you will see the page has been updated to reflect your changes. If you
have entered only one person as the recipient, their name and email will
be listed. If you have entered several
names and email addresses, then
it will say "multiple".
If you click on the
[Edit] button/link again, you can update the information and the new changes
will be shown on the main postcard page again.
Top
This is you! You should
enter your name and email address so that your recipient will know just
who is sending them an ecard. Also, when they receive their postcard,
they will have the option of sending a return ecard - so if you want to
get a postcard back, make sure you enter the correct email for yourself!
Top
If you choose to
edit the image of your postcard, a new window will open from which you
can choose a new image. There will likely be a search box you can use
if you know exactly what you want - just type it in and click [Search].
You will also see
some drop-down menus. The main drop-down menu lists all the various categorie
s
of cards we have - so if you don't know specifically what you want, the
categories offer a nicely detailed breakdown of what we offer. Depending
on the category, you may also see a smaller drop-down with a series of
numerical ranges in it. If a category has a lot of pictures, we don't
list them all at once; instead we spread them over pages. This drop-down
lets you navigate through these pages while looking for what you want.
There are also text links at the bottom of the page that let you do the
same thing.
Underneath every picture
(which is minimized to a thumbnail for easy viewing) there is a checkbox.
Filling in this checkbox (by clicking on it) will select that photo. You
will be returned to the main postcard page, where you will see that your
newly chosen photo is already filled in.
Top
If you choose to edit
the Message, which you no doubt will, a new window will open that contains
a large text box. All you have to do is type the message you want to send
your recipient into this text box and then click [Save] and you're all
done!
Top
You can't send a postcard without a stamp right! Well, actually you could,
but stamps add a little touch of color to the postcard, so we've included
a gallery of stamps for you to choose from.
If you choose to edit
the Stamp, a new window will open that will show you all the stamps we
have to offer. Next to each will be a checkbox - all you have to do in
order to select one is fill in that checkbox. Once you have, the window
will close to reveal that your new stamp is already filled into your postcard.
Top
The Icon is a small graphic that you can use to add a little more personality
and color to your postcard. It is usually located next to your name, and
is supposed to reflect your personality.
If you choose to edit
the Icon, then a new window will open listing all the icons we have available,
broken down by category. To choose one, just fill in the checkbox next
to the icon you like. The window will close and the main postcard page
will be updated to reflect your choice.
Top
In addition
to your main message, you can also include a little poem or quote to impress
your recipient. We have a collection of texts available for your use.
If you
choose to edit the poem you will be brought to a new window that lists
all the poems we have available. They will be broken down by category.
Also, because some of them are long, only the first line or so will be
included, but there is a [more] link that you can click to read the full
text. To select one, you need only fill in the checkbox next to the desired
poem.
Top
Clicking
on Colors/Font will open up a new window that allows you to customize
the background and text of your postcard. This window is really quite
neat (especially if you are using Internet Explorer 4.0).
The top
of the window offers you two choices - Font and Background. Choose one
or the other by filling in the circle next to it.
Let's
start with the Font, choose one of the colors listed on the page by clicking
on it. You will see that all the text in the window automatically changes
to that color (if you are in Netscape, then the background changes). If
you choose Background at the top of the page, and then select a color,
then the background color of the window will change. In this way, you
can easily see what colors will work well together.
At the
bottom of the window, you will find a drop-down listing all the available
Font Faces. After you choose one, click the [Save] button and you will
be returned to your main postcard page to admire your handiwork!
Top
The stationery is
what controls the layout of your postcard page. If you choose to edit
it, a new window will open showing a miniature version of the various
stationeries we have available.
Please
note that stationeries only affect the layout of your page,
not the content. In the sample images you have to choose from there
are images, but these will not replace the image you have chosen.
To select a new stationery,
fill in the checkbox next to the image.
Top
If you choose to
edit the Music for your postcard, a new window will open that lists all
the music files we have available. To choose one, you need only fill in
the checkbox next to the file you want. If you don't want to include music
with your postcard, then you can select 'None'.
Top
This function will
show you what your final postcard will look like, without all the editing
buttons and links around. Next to it you will see two links, "Edit" and
"Send". The first will return you to your postcard-editing page where
you can make changes. "Send" will do just that, sending your card to its
recipient.
Top
Pressing this link
will send your postcard to the recipient(s) you have filled in. You will
be brought to a confirmation screen and be presented with two choices:
Send This Ecard
Again - you can send the same Ecard you have just designed to another
person.
Send a New Ecard
- you can start from scratch, customizing a whole new card.
You will also have the opportunity to add the person to whom you sent the card to your address book.
Top
Pressing this link
will bring you to a page where you can set a date for the card to be sent on. This service is provided to avoid forgetting important dates.
The system will send your postcard to the recipient(s) you have filled in on the assigned date. You will
be brought to a confirmation screen and be presented with two choices:
Send This Ecard
Again - you can send the same Ecard you have just designed to another
person.
Send a New Ecard
- you can start from scratch, customizing a whole new card.
You will also have the opportunity to add the person to whom you sent the card to your address book.
Top