email_templates.xml Reference Documentation

• Introduction
• Structure of email_templates.xml
• Creating Email Templates
• Using Variables
• Configuring Templates
• Advanced Configuration
  • Adding Custom Headers
  • Adding Attachments
• Conclusion

This reference documentation provides detailed information on the structure and usage of the email_templates.xml file in Magento 2. It is intended for developers familiar with PHP and Magento 2, and aims to provide authoritative and knowledgeable guidance on creating and configuring email templates using XML.

Introduction

The email_templates.xml file is an important configuration file used in Magento 2 to define email templates that can be used for various email communications sent by the system. It allows developers to create customizable email templates with dynamic content and configuration options.

This document provides a comprehensive guide on how to create, configure, and utilize email templates using the email_templates.xml file in Magento 2.

Structure of email_templates.xml

The email_templates.xml file follows a specific XML structure that defines the email templates and their associated configurations. Here is a basic example of the structure:

<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:module:Magento_Email:etc/email_templates.xsd">
    <template id="template_id" label="Template Label" file="file_name.html" type="html">
        <variables>
            <!-- Variable definitions -->
        </variables>
        <styles>
            <!-- CSS definitions -->
        </styles>
    </template>
</config>

The root <config> element contains the XML namespace declaration and the schema location for validation. Inside <config>, there can be one or more <template> elements representing individual email templates.

Each <template> element requires the following attributes:

• id: A unique identifier for the template, typically in lowercase with underscores.
• label: A human-readable label or name for the template.
• file: The file name of the template HTML file (e.g., file_name.html).
• type: The content type of the template, typically html for HTML email templates.

Creating Email Templates

To create a new email template, you need to add a <template> element inside the <config> element of the email_templates.xml file. Here's an example:

<template id="custom_template" label="Custom Template" file="custom_template.html" type="html">
    <!-- Variable definitions and CSS styles go here -->
</template>

In the above example, we have defined a new email template with the ID custom_template, label Custom Template, and associated HTML file custom_template.html.

Using Variables

Email templates often require dynamic content, such as customer names, order details, or product information. Magento 2 provides a way to include variables in email templates to dynamically populate data.

To define variables for an email template, you need to add <variable> elements inside the <variables> section of the <template> element. Here's an example:

<template id="custom_template" label="Custom Template" file="custom_template.html" type="html">
    <variables>
        <variable name="customer_name" xsi:type="string">John Doe</variable>
        <variable name="order_id" xsi:type="string">12345</variable>
    </variables>
    <!-- CSS styles and email content go here -->
</template>

In the above example, we have defined two variables: customer_name and order_id. These variables can be accessed within the email template HTML file using the following syntax:

<p>Dear {{var customer_name}},</p>
<p>Your order with ID {{var order_id}} has been processed.</p>

During email rendering, the variables will be replaced with their corresponding values.

Configuring Templates

Apart from variable definitions, you can configure various aspects of an email template using the <template> element's attributes. These attributes allow you to specify the subject, sender, and other settings for the email template.

Here's an example of configuring an email template:

<template id="custom_template" label="Custom Template" file="custom_template.html" type="html"
          subject="Custom Template Subject" sender_name="Store Name" sender_email="store@example.com">
    <!-- Variable definitions, CSS styles, and email content go here -->
</template>

In the above example, we have added the subject, sender_name, and sender_email attributes to the <template> element. These attributes control the subject line, sender name, and sender email address for the email template.

Advanced Configuration

The email_templates.xml file supports advanced configuration options to customize email headers, attachments, and more. Here are a couple of examples:

Adding Custom Headers

You can add custom headers to the email template by using the <headers> element inside the <template> element. Here's an example:

<template id="custom_template" label="Custom Template" file="custom_template.html" type="html" ...>
<headers>
<header name="X-Custom-Header">Custom Value</header>
</headers>
        <!-- Variable definitions, CSS styles, and email content go here -->
        </template>

In the above example, we have added a custom header X-Custom-Header with the value Custom Value to the email template.

Adding Attachments

To include attachments in the email template, you can use the <attachments> element inside the <template> element. Here's an example:

<template id="custom_template" label="Custom Template" file="custom_template.html" type="html" ...>
<attachments>
<attachment type="mimetype" encoding="encoding_type">attachment_content</attachment>
</attachments>
        <!-- Variable definitions, CSS styles, and email content go here -->
        </template>

In the above example, we have added an attachment with the specified type, encoding, and attachment_content. Replace these values with the appropriate attachment details.

Conclusion

The email_templates.xml file plays a crucial role in defining and configuring email templates in Magento 2. By understanding its structure and utilizing its features, you can create customizable email templates with dynamic content, variables, and advanced configuration options.

This reference documentation has provided you with a comprehensive understanding of email_templates.xml and equipped you with the knowledge to create and configure email templates in Magento 2.