Release Notes for Campus Mails
We continuously focus on the further development of our products. Every year we release several versions of Campus Mails, which offer new and improved functions.
Top 3 features in this version
1. Flexible newsletter creation with content elements – such as images, headlines and text – that can be freely combined
2. New media library for managing images and files
3. Detailed insights into page views and clicks
Flexible creation of emails and newsletters
You can now create mailings flexibly, either as standard emails (with a subject line and a large block of text) or as customised newsletters.
Various content elements are available for this purpose, which can be flexibly combined with one another.
- Categories + titles for a clear structure and grouping options for your content
- Text elements for standard emails or plain text elements with advanced formatting options in the CKEditor
- Image with text or image only, to visually highlight content and add variety to your newsletter
This allows you to design your content in a modular way and tailor your mailings perfectly to your requirements.
Web view
- The web view can be enabled on a per-mailing basis if required.
- If you enable this feature, you allow recipients to open the newsletter in a web view as well.
- This allows the newsletter to be displayed directly in the browser, regardless of the email programme used. In particular, this improves the display when certain email clients offer limited support.
The web view is also suitable for: - better readability on different devices,
- sharing the newsletter via a link,
- and the error-free display of extensive content and images.
New Media Library
The media library has been completely redesigned.
The new media library offers you:
- an improved overview
- easier file uploads
- faster integration of media into your emails and email templates
New dashboard on the home page
- The home page has been revamped and now features a central dashboard.
- The dashboard gives you a quick overview of your key activities and key performance indicators.
Advanced statistical functions
- The mailing overview has been enhanced with detailed statistics.
- You’ll gain insights into open rates, link clicks and delivery history, enabling you to better evaluate the success of your mailings and optimise future content and campaigns in a targeted manner.
Plan the dispatch date
- You can now schedule mailings in advance and have them sent automatically at a time of your choosing.
- Schedule your mailings in advance and have them sent automatically at the time of your choice.
Copying emails with attachments
- Existing emails can now be copied, including all attachments.
- This makes it easier for you to create similar content and saves you valuable time.
Filter extension
- Using the filter function, you can select the ‘Message’ criterion to search through sent mailings specifically by keywords.
- This allows you to quickly find newsletters on relevant topics and reuse their content or images, quote from them, or use them as templates for new mailings.
Campus Mails Release 4.5
With the upcoming release 4.5, we have further improved our system for creating and sending mass emails and made it more convenient in many areas.
The aim is to make your everyday university work easier, faster and more flexible. System-side improvements have also been made to further optimise performance and security.
Top 3 functions in this version
1. copy mails
Mails that have already been sent can now be easily copied, customised and resent.
2. copy email templates
Email templates that have already been created can now be reused even more conveniently.
3. manual receiver selection optimised
Mail creation + dispatch
Copy emails
This function makes it possible to reuse emails that have already been sent without having to completely rewrite them. Instead, a message that has already been sent can be copied, customised if necessary and then sent again. This allows existing content to be reused quickly and edited efficiently.
Possible applications:
- Well-worded emails can serve as a template for future messages to maintain a consistent communication style.
- If several people are to receive a similar message, the original email can be copied and customised.
- For recurring customer or support enquiries, an already formulated reply can be used as a basis and only slightly adapted.
How does it work?
- Copied mails open directly as a new draft.
- Content can be customised immediately.
- Attachments and manually added recipients are automatically removed for data protection reasons, among others.
Pause and resume mailing
We give you more control when sending larger mailings:
- Ongoing mailings can be paused. A pause button is displayed during the sending process for this purpose.
- The mailing can be resumed later if required. A play button is displayed during the sending process for this purpose.
- Ideal for last-minute changes or queries.
Important: These two functions are only available for emails that are newly created after the release.
Manual recipients
The addition of manual recipients has been optimised in three places:
- Duplicates are automatically prevented - the system displays a message if a recipient is duplicated.
- A "Delete all" button removes all manually added recipients at once.
- The maximum number of recipients has been increased.
Send test mail with working attachment links
- A test mail is now sent with a working attachment link and can be checked by you.
- Removed or expired attachments are automatically cleaned up so that no outdated links remain.
E-mail template
Copy email templates
Perfect for reusing existing templates for similar occasions.
How it works:
- Select the existing template in the list view using the "Copy" button.
- The copied template opens directly in the creation process.
- The name, colours, images etc. can be adjusted directly.
Note: We would be happy to activate this function for you in the roles and rights system. Just get in touch with us.
Revised template creation process
The template creation process has been optimised:
- There is now a clearer structure and improved user guidance.
- This makes creating and editing templates even easier.
- The colour values are now adjusted directly in the HTML structure.
- Images are still selected using placeholders.
Preview of the selected template directly in the dispatch process
- If you have created several templates, you can select the one you want during the creation process.
- To simplify the creation process, a preview of the selected template is displayed at this point.
- This gives you better control of the layout and content.
System
Show errors
- Admin rights have been extended to provide more insight into errors in the sending process.
- Admins with the new "Sending Log Hero" authorisation can view the
grouped error messages of failed deliveries in the detailed view of a sent email. Email addresses in the error texts are
automatically anonymised after a configurable period (default: 30 days).
Campus Mails Release 4.4
With the update to version 4.4, we are introducing new functions that extend the import of distribution lists and make the dispatch process more transparent by displaying the estimated dispatch time. We have added a function to the menu to improve usability. System-side improvements have also been made to further optimise performance and security.
Top 3 functions in this version
1. import of distribution lists from Campus Match / Partner
2. dispatch time is calculated and displayed
3. revised menu structure
Features
Import of distribution lists from Campus Match / Partner
From now on, distribution lists can be set up so that the recipients from Campus Match and Campus Partner are synchronised daily. This enables you to conveniently send mass emails to applicants and partner companies via Campus Mails.
Campus Match and Campus Partner is a specialised software for the placement of dual study places with prospective students.
Dispatch time is calculated and displayed
As soon as the dispatch of one or more mails has been triggered, you can track the dispatch process.
The estimated dispatch time is displayed and updated regularly until all mails have been sent.
Revised menu structure
To make the process of creating a new email even clearer, we have added a new function to the menu structure.
If you want to create a new email, the quickest way to do this is now via the +New email menu item on the left in the menu bar.
Campus Mails Release 4.3
With the update to version 4.3, we are introducing new functions that make the handling of interests and distribution lists much more flexible, both for administrators and email recipients. System-side improvements have also been made to further optimise performance and security.
Top 3 functions in this version
1. areas of interest
Distribution lists can now be refined to include areas of interest. Subscribers can specify their areas of interest when registering for the newsletter.
2. more specific e-mails
No more mass mailings to everyone, but only to recipients who have selected an area of interest
3. nicer backend and revised menu structure
We have tidied up the backend a little and made it look nicer.
Features
- Administrators can now specify subject areas for new or existing distribution lists.
For example, a distribution list for press representatives the following subject areas:- Research and innovation
- Studies and teaching and
- Personal details and events
- People who register for the newsletter / distribution list select one or more subject areas according to their interests.
- Administrators send e-mail messages to the distribution lists and can filter the recipients specifically by subject area.
The admin backend version 4.2 and 4.3 in comparison
Renaming and reorganisation of the menu items:
- The menu items "Mails sent", "Mails blacklist", "Templates colours" and "Templates images" have been renamed.
- Reorganisation of the "Templates" menu item as a drop-down menu for better usability.
Campus Mails Release 4.2
Campus Mails version 4.2 contains functional enhancements. These release notes provide you with an overview of the significant technical updates and the most important changes to the functions.
Top 3 enhancements in this version
1. graphic customisation of the opt-out page
Theopt-out page from distribution lists can now be customised. It is possible to define a background image or alternatively a background colour. If you wish to customise the page, please send us your specifications or graphics.
2. placeholder for personalised salutation
It is now possible to use the placeholder {{ name }} in mailings. This is automatically replaced by the recipient's name during dispatch and thus enables a personalised salutation.
3. upgrade to CKEditor 5
Improved user experience with a more modern look and feel when composing emails and content, without any changes to the functions.
Features
- Placeholder for personalised salutation
It is now possible to use the placeholder {{ name }} in mailings. This is automatically replaced by the recipient's name during dispatch and thus enables a personalised salutation. - Renaming of the "Compose mails" menu item
The menu item has been renamed "Drafts" to make the function clearer. - Alphabetical sorting of distribution lists
Distribution lists are now displayed in alphabetical order both in the sending process and on the unsubscribe page. - Number of recipients per distribution list visible
During the creation of a mail, the number of recipients is now displayed when selecting the distribution lists. - CSV import with semicolon separator:
CSV files with semicolons as separators can now be uploaded and processed correctly. - Graphical customisation of the opt-out page
Theopt-out page from distribution lists can now be customised. It is possible to define a background image or alternatively a background colour. If you wish to customise the page, please send us your specifications or graphics. - Text optimisation of the opt-out page
The initial text has been revised to improve user guidance. In addition, lists for which it is not possible to unsubscribe are labelled with the note "[no unsubscription possible]". - Graphical visualisation of the sending status
The sending status of emails is now displayed in the list view using an icon and text overlay. Available statuses:- Rotating circle: The sending process is still in progress.
- Tick: The sending process has been successfully completed.
- Exclamation mark: The dispatch process could not be completed successfully. For more information, please refer to the detailed view.
- Manual update of the dispatch status
A reload button allows you to update the dispatch status in the list view without having to reload the entire page. - Update to CK Editor 5: A maintenance update to the latest version of the CK Editor has been carried out to keep the application up-to-date and efficient.
Bug fixes
- Correct labelling of mandatory fields
Selection fields are only displayed as mandatory fields (*) if they have been defined accordingly in the configuration. - Graphical optimisation for mandatory field validation
In addition to the red border, the label of a mandatory field is now also highlighted in red to indicate the validation more clearly.
Campus Mails Release 4.0
Campus Mails version 4.0 contains functional enhancements as well as a maintenance update of the technical components. These release notes provide you with an overview of the significant technical updates and the most important changes to the functions.
Features
- Central image datasets & expansion of email templates to include placeholders for images
- New area for image data sets: Image data sets can now be configured under Mails > Template images.
- Imageplaceholders for templates: It is now possible to generate and use placeholders for images in templates. These placeholders can be configured on the basis of the central image data records.
- Redis integration for asynchronous processing of background tasks
- Redis has been integrated to support the asynchronous processing of background tasks. This improvement ensures more efficient and faster processing of tasks in the background.
- Update to Symfony 7: A maintenance update to Symfony 7 has been performed to utilise the latest version of the framework and keep the application up to date.
Campus Mails Release 3.3
Campus Mails version 3.3 has been released. This update contains functional enhancements as well as bug fixes. These release notes provide you with an overview of the significant technical updates and the most important changes to the functions.
Features
- Central colour data sets & expansion of email templates to include placeholders for colours
- New area for colour data sets: Image data sets can now be configured under Mails > Template colours.
- Colour placeholders for templates: It is now possible to generate and use placeholders for colours in templates. These placeholders can be configured on the basis of the central colour data records and adjusted during the dispatch process.
- Info area for placeholders in templates
- A new section has been added below the content area of the templates. In this section, the available placeholders for the respective template are listed and explained.
- Extension of the authorisation groups
- Authorisation Mails sent > Number of mails sentWith this authorisation, the number of emails sent is displayed in the overview of sent mailings. Access to this menu item is granted by the authorisation group Users > View sent mails.
