How to include SVG, EPS, and Illustrator-compatible PDF files in manufacturer emails

The manufacturer email can contain a download link for each file of a sign. The files are SVG, EPS and Illustrator-compatible PDF (AI). The app can also make a DXF file for stencil signs, when DXF (.dxf) is set to Yes. The default Order Email Template already has a line for each file type. Use these steps to check the lines. You can also use them to add the lines to a template that you changed.

1. Open the Sign Customiser admin. In Universal, go to web.signcustomiser.com. In Shopify, open the app from your Shopify admin.

2. Click Customisers in the left-hand menu.

3. Click the customiser that you want to edit.

4. In the customiser menu, go to Email Workflows → Manufacturer Email. If the window is narrow, click Menu first.

   

5. Look at the Order Email Template editor. In the default template, each file type has its own line. The SVG line is an example. If the lines are there, do not add anything.

   

6. If a line is not there, click Browse Variables above the editor. The Template Variables window opens. Open the Product category. Click Copy next to the variable that you want. The link variables are:

   • svgPreviewLink: the SVG file URL

   • epsPreviewLink: the EPS file URL

   • aiPreviewLink: the Illustrator-compatible PDF (AI) file URL

   • dxfPreviewLink: the DXF file URL. The app makes DXF files for stencil signs only, and only when DXF (.dxf) is Yes.

   

7. Paste the variable into the editor. Put a link (<a>) tag around it. Set the href to the variable. Add visible text, such as “Link” or “Download”.

8. Use section tags around the line. The section tags hide the line when the order has no file of that type. Put the link lines inside the products loop, as the default template does. Outside that loop, the link variables are empty and the line never shows. This is the pattern:

   {{#products}}
   {{#svgPreviewLink}}
   <b>SVG:</b> <a href="{{ svgPreviewLink }}" target="_blank">Link</a><br>
   {{/svgPreviewLink}}
   {{/products}}

9. Click Save at the bottom of the form.

With the section tags from step 8, a link appears only when the product has a file of that type. Use General Settings to choose the file types for this customiser. On some plans, these selects are disabled and the section shows Plan Upgrade Required. Find the section Generate SVG image of sign. This section has one select for each file type: SVG Image, EPS Image and AI Image. Stencil customisers also have DXF (.dxf). This section is not shown for Lightbox customisers. In some cases, such as a custom-shape plate, the app makes an SVG file even when SVG Image is No. For the full steps, read How to enable/disable SVG, EPS, and Illustrator-compatible PDF files for manufacturing.

Good to know

• You saved a custom template. A saved custom template replaces the default. It does not get new lines when the default changes. Add the link lines yourself. Or click Reset to default to load the default template. Reset to default replaces your edits in the editor. Click Save to apply the default template.

• DXF files. The app makes a DXF file only for stencil signs, and only when DXF (.dxf) is Yes. An order can have no DXF file. In that case, dxfPreviewLink is empty.

• Shipping address lines. Use shipping_address in your template, for example shipping_address.name. Do not use the old spelling shipping_adddress, with three d letters. It shows nothing in the email.

• Some plans. On some plans, the page shows a PRO plan required badge. The template editor and Save are locked. To change your plan, open Billing. In Shopify, open Subscription/Credit.

This is an example of a manufacturer email with an SVG download link. In the default template, the EPS and AI links use the same format.