Is there no username variable for use in the newsletters?

[katrinak]

Seems odd to me that there is only the user ID available... which I can't imagine that much use for, and no username variable.

I pre-registered all my members, and I'd like to insert the users login name in a welcome email...

Am I missing something obvious? 

[Arantor]

Sure there is, it's right there in the little pop up that tells you what all the variables are... {$member.name}

[katrinak]

Hi Arantor - Thanks so much for helping me out...

That variable seems to enter their display name, rather than their login name (which i've spent a good deal of time making different from their logins).

For example, a person whose (example) name is Marissa Von Komfenhagen-Schotlz, has a login of simply marrissa.v , whereas their display names are their big long annoying real names.

Don't tell me people can login with their display names... spaces and all??? 

[Arantor]

Ahhh, I see what you mean. It wasn't clear that you wanted their actual username as opposed to their display name.

That said, there is one option for you: use their email address. SMF is quite happy to accept either a username or email address for login purposes, and {$member.email} should do the trick there.

[katrinak]

Aha... Ok.. i will try that. Thanks!

Seems odd that their isn't a username option... seems like a very useful one... 

[Arantor]

It actually isn't that useful. Most of the time, users create their own usernames and so don't need to be told what it is by way of a newsletter - and if you are sending a newsletter to everyone, you probably want to use their current display name for personalisation.

Ultimately it's the fact that you're using it in a way that is not consistent with how it was designed to be used.

[katrinak]

I totally understand that... but i'm sure lots of people use the forums in this way... (set them up with members ahead of time)... as they are not meant for the general public. My forum, for example, is for a program of 100 people who are involved in a project.

My newsletter goes something like:

Dear Karen,

Welcome to the forum. your login details are as follows:

username: karen.white
password: abracadabra

please login at myforumaddress.com.

So, i do use the other variables too, for personalization.

I'm imagining there must be a good reason not to include it, that has something to do with it being difficult to implement, otherwise not including it because it's not the way the forum was intended to be used doesn't seem to make much sense. That would be excluding lots of people like me who think the forum/software is perfect for our needs... and just want this little bitty feature added.

No?

[Kindred]

It actually isn't that useful. Most of the time, users create their own usernames and so don't need to be told what it is by way of a newsletter - and if you are sending a newsletter to everyone, you probably want to use their current display name for personalisation.

Ultimately it's the fact that you're using it in a way that is not consistent with how it was designed to be used.

As arantor said....

Actually, most people do NOT use it that way. You are one of the ONLY one I have Ever seen request this.

And most people do not use the newsletter like that. They use the standard welcome email templates, which do have much of that.

Also, of course, sending the login and password in an email is bad, insecure process

[Arantor]

And since you can use the email address anyway, you *can* do this without any changes.

[katrinak]

I did find another thread discussing/requesting the same thing.

I'll use the email option, as it will work for my needs.

Thanks to you both for your help

[Arantor]

So one other person in the last 2 years - out of the tens of thousands of people who've asked for help here in that time - has encountered the same thing.

SMF cannot implement something in the core that only 1 out of 1000 people will use. Imagine if every little request got implemented under the same justification.