How to Enter and Send A Large Communication using Banner Comunication Manager (BCM)

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About

This article explains how to send out large scale communications using Banner Communication Manager.

Environment

Banner Communication Management. If you do not have access to Banner and you may request access here.

Steps

Creating the Message Template

Navigate to banner.manhattan.edu and select ”Communication Manager”

On the next screen, select “Templates, Datafields, and Parameters”

In this tab, you can create the message you are sending. Click on the “+Add” icon on the right side of the screen.

Name your template. It is helpful to write this name down so you can locate it later when attaching it to the population you are sending it to.

Folder: Select the most appropriate folder related to your message. Typically this is the office or dept the message is coming from.
Communication Mode: Do not touch this
Communication Method: Select
Valid From/To: Typically you do not need to have a “valid to” date.
Would you like to share this template?: Select “Yes”
Click “save”

5. Once you have clicked save you will be brought to a new screen. Click on the email content tab at the top of the screen.

6. In the email content tab, you can create the message you are sending. To begin creating the message click on the “Edit” icon on the top right part of the screen.

7. Once you are in edit mode you can type your message directly into the large textbox or copy and paste if already created elsewhere. If copying and pasting from another source just review to make sure all formatting is correct and anything hyperlinked is still linked.

Hint: (To enter a $ into a message, you must enter a \ first so it would look like: "\$". This is because BCM uses $ in their insert data field code. You will be unable to publish an email template containing a $.)

8. Once you are done creating your message you will need to add the subject and fill in the “To” field.

Make sure your the cursor is clicked in the “To” filed like shown in the image below
Select “Insert Data Fields”

Select “CM_General”
Next, select “MC_EMAIL_UNI” and then Insert
When it is inserted, your “To” filed should look like this

Note that you can use the data fields in the body of your message as well to personalize your email.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of the screen and select “Save”

9. Select “Publish” at the top of the screen after click Save.

Adding the Population

At the top of the screen select “Communication Management”

Select “Populations”

Select “+Add” at the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Name your population the same thing that you named your template.
1. Select the appropriate folder
2. Share the population
3. A message will pop up asking you to re-confirm you are sharing the population. Select “Yes”.

Click save

It is recommended that you click the “Add From File” icon and upload your CWIDs via a spreadsheet.

Select “browse” to upload the spreadsheet containing the CWIDs. Next, select “Continue”.

A window will popup, asking you to indicate which column the CWIDs are in. Make sure you also indicate if the column has headers. Next, click “Import”.

You will receive a popup letting you know how many entries were received and if there were any issues reading any of the CWIDs. Select, “Finish”

Next, you need to attach the population to the message you created. To do this select the “Create Message” at the top right side of the screen.

Name the Communication
Select appropriate Organization (where message is coming from)
Search for the name of the template you created earlier.
Select your desired sending schedule
Click Send on the bottom.