178263 - placeholders / variables in message templates

Status: NEW

(MailNews Core :: Composition, enhancement)

Description

[Vaclav Dvorak]

In message teplates, I would like to be able to use codes (or "tags", if you
prefer) as placeholders for some information that would automatically be filled
in when using the template. There would be a code for the current date, time,
for the signature, for the most common message headers, and for the placement of
the cursor when the user composes a message using that template. Also, for when
templates for replying (bug 21210) and forwarding (?) are implemented, there
should be codes for the headers of the original message, for the quoted text of
the original message, and perhaps the list of attachments in original message.
Also, some kind of solution for the "Re: " of the reply would have to be created
with the codes (perhaps a code to insert text xyz but only if it's not already
there; or allow only the hardcoded "Re:").

Then, the current built-in template for replying could be expressed as, e.g.:
Subject = "<Re: (only once)><original subject>"
Body = "<original from> wrote:
<original text>
<cursor>
<signature>"

One could change the body to, for example:
"Hello <original from name or email>!
<cursor>
On <original date>, you wrote:
<original text>
<signature>"

Comment 1

[Mike Cowperthwaite]

*** Bug 189442 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 2

[Mark Stier]

There should also be a recipient tag that replaces the recipient's name. Of
course, that would require Mozilla to create a new mail for every recipient. If
this gets implemented, please make sure that failed send operations result in
saving the message to the unsent message folder. 

Comment 3

[guanxi]

confirming.

changing summary for clarification and easier searching:
was:  placeholders in message templates
now:  placeholders / variables in message templates

Comment 4

[Martin]

(In reply to comment #0)

> 
> Then, the current built-in template for replying could be expressed as, e.g.:
> Subject = "<Re: (only once)><original subject>"
> Body = "<original from> wrote:
> <original text>
> <cursor>
> <signature>"
> 
> One could change the body to, for example:
> "Hello <original from name or email>!
> <cursor>
> On <original date>, you wrote:
> <original text>
> <signature>"

Well, this would be great feature... I search for a this since I changed from "TheBat! profesional" to thunderbird...
I use lots of HTML templates ( http://www.lahr.net/martin/tb1.jpg ) and it would be an important step to use any kind of template for replys (bug 21210).... 

I hope somebody creates an extension for that problem... but it should definatly be a core feature ;-))