Both email forms are simply HTML documents that you can create with any word processor. If you don't have a word processor capable of creating HTML documents, you can download one free of charge from the OpenOffice.org website.

There are a number of items to note about these emails. In both cases, they have phrases that are enclosed in percent signs (i.e. %winner_first% and %winner_last%). The You're a Winner! client program reads the HTML document you specify and then replaces the percentage sign enclosed phrases with actual data from the contest process.

The following phrases are processed by the You're a Winner! client program:

%winner_first%

the current winner's first name. The %winner_first% variable is used in the winner's email notification but is not used in the consolation email notification template.

%winner_last%

the current winner's last name. The %winner_last% variable is used in the winner's email notification but is not used in the consolation email notification template.

%expiry_date%

the date on which the notification expires. The system setup has a field labeled Number of days to pick up certificate. The expiry date is calculated by adding the number of days indicated in the field to the current date.

%winner_email%

the email address of the current winner.

%ident_code%

an identification code that uniquely identifies a particular individual contestant at a particular You're a Winner! client site.

%draw_date%

the date on which the draw was held. Usually, but not necessarily, the current date.

%consolation_email%

the email address of the current recipient where the recipient is not a winner. Used only in the generation of consolation emails.

%winner_1%
%winner_2%
%winner_3%

the names (first and last in one field) of the winners of the current draw. If the system setup specifies two winners, then %winner_1% and %winner_2% will contain valid entries and %winner_3% will be undefined.