Emails

Learn how to build emails in Parcel

Parcel is designed around the concept of email. When you send an email, it is made up of headers and MIME parts - HTML, plaintext, and maybe AMP for Email as well.

Parcel mirrors this. Each email in Parcel supports editing all three parts in a single file.

Silent up close video showing the top portion of the editor window. There are three tabs shown labeled "HTML", "Text", and "AMP". The HTML tab is selected, showing 9 lines of HTML code. The cursor moves to select the Text tab, which then displays the text content of the email. The cursor moves again to select the AMP tab, which then displays the AMP HTML code for the email.
Screen recording navigating through the different parts of an email

HTML

HTML is what you think of when you think email - it is the content most of your recipients will see. You'll likely spend most of your time editing HTML.

Text

The text part should contain a plaintext version of your email. When you switch to the Text tab, the preview will change from a preview of the HTML to a preview of the text. You don't have to retype your content yourself - Parcel can automatically generate the text part from your HTML.

Generate text

You can click the Generate Text button at any time, and can edit the text manually afterwards. The Generate Text feature will overwrite any text content in the Text tab - any custom changes you've made will be lost.

Silent video of the entire Parcel window. A simple email is open. The editor shows the HTML content for the email containing many lines of HTML code. The preview on the right shows the rendered output of this code. The cursor navigates to and clicks on the "Text" tab at the top of the editor, and the editor switches from the HTML part to an empty text editor. In the empty editor, the text "I can type here" is typed. At the bottom of the editor region is a button labeled "Generate". The cursor clicks on this button and a subsequent confirmation popup. The content in the text editor is replaced with the text content of the email, and the preview displays the text without any formatting.
Screen recording demonstrating how to generate the text part from HTML

MJML

Parcel supports MJML, and can be enabled through Transformers.

AMP

AMP is a way to give your email superpowers. With it you can load dynamic content, build entire forms, or even include a checkout experience. When you switch to the AMP tab, the preview will change from a preview of the HTML to a preview of the AMP. You don't have to retype your content yourself - Parcel can automatically generate the AMP part from your HTML.

Generate AMP

You can click the Generate AMP button at any time, and can edit the AMP manually afterwards. The Generate AMP feature will overwrite any content in the AMP tab - any custom changes you've made will be lost.

Personalization

Click on the personalization tab to add any sample data you wish to preview your email with. Currently, Parcel supports a handful of Personalization Engines.