Re: [Evolution] Mail merge?

[Chris Ramsden <chris ramsden gmail com>]

On Sat, 2020-10-10 at 00:44 +1300, gnome via evolution-list wrote:
> On Fri, 2020-10-09 at 13:15 +0200, Andre Klapper wrote:
> > On Sat, 2020-10-10 at 00:06 +1300, gnome via evolution-list wrote:
> > > > You mean BCC?
> > >
> > > No I mean mail merge - each email is TO the person receiving it
> > > rather than a BCC which often trips spam filters. Your email is to you,
> > > not to someone else and BCC to you but only to you.
> > >
> > > It's because of the spam filter issue that I started using a
> > > merge some years back.
> >
> > Nothing that I am aware of, plus it sounds like yet another
> > workaround
> > for an existing and established solution (BCC).
>
> BCC has a nasty tendency to get your mail server appearing in spam
> filter blacklists last I checked. 
>
> BCC doesn't let you customise other things like Mail Merge does
> (starting from simple stuff like adding in the person's first name). 
>
> BCC requires you to send to "someone" and add in others as if they're
> an afterthought, Mail Merge makes it appear as if the email is directed
> at a specific person (unless you mention otherwise). 
>
> BCC sends the same thing to everyone, MM lets you customise each
> message at least to some degree. This is helpful in both personal and
> commercial settings, especially when you're wanting to add a
> professional touch to emails. 
>
> BCC is kinda almost like mail merge, but it's like BCC is a newborn
> baby whereas Mail Merge is well along the way to being an adult. It's a
> feature I am quite surprised seems to be missing from Evolution given
> Evolution is supposed to be a fairly mature and professional program. 
>
> (Forgive me, it's been a very long day starting at 6am yesterday and no
> nearly 1am today, I should quit while I'm only just a little bit behind
> :) )

Gnome, 

I don't use mail merge myself very often but having also come here from
Thunderbird, and having even advised Thunderbird users to try the
Libre/Open Office method, I am familiar with the concept and practice
of mail merge and I am very disappointed at the response (or should I
call it denial?) you have received here. I'm surprised that you've had
to explain it. I'd have hoped for a response more on the lines of "we
understand what you want, but sorry, we aren't planning on doing that."

I don't think I'll be staying with Evo. Lousy printing and absolutely
no control of fonts in sent HTML messages. Too many clicks to do things
where I'm accustomed to keyboard shortcuts. 

Shame, it looked promising at first. 

Chris.