Barge Pipeline Updates — Emailing the Dashboard Grid (HTML Capture)

This feature lets you turn the current voyage dashboard grid view into clean HTML and send it directly from OpenTug, complete with your chosen recipient's distribution list and template variables.

What this does

• Captures the exact grid you’re viewing (columns, order, filters, sorts, labels) and converts it to an HTML table.

• Lets you pick a Customer so we can:

  • Auto-populate the Email Distribution List for that customer.

  • Resolve any customer-related variables present in the selected email template (e.g., account name, primary contact, etc.).

• Opens a rich Email Content (HTML) editor where you can freely edit text and table content before sending.

Prerequisites

• You have access to the Voyages › Barge Pipeline view.

• Your customer records include distribution emails (optional but recommended).

• (Optional) You’ve created an Email Template that uses customer variables you want to auto-fill.

Step-by-step

1. Configure your grid

   • Go to Voyages › Operational View (or your saved view).

   • Apply filters (e.g., Load Port, Voyage Status), show/hide columns, and set sorting as needed.

   • The capture reflects exactly what’s on screen (column order, visible rows, etc).

2. Open the Email composer

   • Click the Email / envelope action next to "Search Grid"

3. Select Customer

   • Choose the Customer the update is for.

   • The Email Distribution List will auto-populate from that customer’s saved recipients (you can add or remove emails).

     • Email Grouping Option

       When composing a Barge Pipeline email, you’ll see a checkbox labeled Group Emails next to the Email Distribution List field.

       If Group Emails is enabled:

       • The first email address in the list will be used as the primary recipient (To).

       • All additional email addresses will be automatically CC’d on the message.

       This option helps consolidate distribution when multiple recipients need visibility on the same update without sending separate emails.

       Example:
       If the distribution list includes:
       ops@customer.com, dispatch@customer.com, billing@customer.com
       then ops@customer.com will receive the email as the main recipient, and the other two addresses will appear in CC.

4. (Optional) Choose an Email Template

   • Pick your template to load default subject and body and placeholders.

   • Any customer variables found in the template will resolve automatically once a Customer is selected.

5. Edit freely in the HTML editor

   • You can change any text, headings, or table content.

   • Use the toolbar to bold or italicize, add bullets, insert links or images, or tweak table formatting.

   • You can also add custom notes above or below the table (e.g., “Next load window starts 10/28.”).

6. Set Subject & Recipients

   • Adjust the Subject (e.g., “Barge Pipeline {{customer_name}} as of {{today}}”).

   • Confirm or modify the Email Distribution List (add CCs as needed).

7. Preview & Send

   • Review the rendered table and content.

   • Click Send Email.

Tips & best practices

• Save Filters as a View: If you email similar updates often, save a filtered or sorted view and reuse it for consistent reports.

• Keep columns purposeful: Hide columns you don’t need before capture to keep the table concise for recipients.

• Use templates for consistency: Store your greeting, sign-off, branding note, and legal footer in a template; let the grid vary.

Troubleshooting

• A recipient didn’t auto-populate
  Ensure the email is saved in the Customer’s distribution list. You can always add recipients manually in the composer.

• A variable shows literally (e.g., {{customer_name}})

  • Verify you selected both a Customer and an Email Template that actually contains that variable.

  • Check that the relevant customer field is populated in your Customer Management Page.

• Table looks different in the email
  Email clients vary. Keep column widths reasonable and avoid extremely wide text. You can also add a short note: “Best viewed on desktop.”

FAQs

Can I send without a template?
Yes. You can select no template, capture the grid, and compose the body from scratch.

Can I change the HTML after capture?
Yes, everything inside the HTML editor is fully editable.

Will the capture include hidden columns?
No. Only visible columns and the current row set (based on your filters) are included.

Can I reuse the same recipients each time?
Yes, store them on the Customer record so they auto-populate when that customer is selected.

Summary

• Configure the grid → Email → choose Customer (auto recipients and variables) → choose Template (optional) → Capture Grid to HTML → Edit → Send.

• The captured HTML table mirrors your on-screen grid, and the editor gives you complete control to tailor the message before sending.