Substitution Strings - Revision history

RevampBot: Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

2026-07-17T12:00:00Z

Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:00, 17 July 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Substitution strings are special ~~things~~ you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands ~~to put in~~ the information before ~~it sends the message~~. You can ~~put~~ them in the body or subject of a standard message.		Substitution strings are special terms you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands with the relevant information before sending. You can use them in the body or subject of a standard message.

	It's a ~~really~~ good idea to use these in your standard messages from the start – they ~~can~~ make ~~your~~ messages more useful and friendly, and ~~they also help you~~ share ~~your messages~~ with other moderators or use them on other communities.		It's a good idea to use these in your standard messages from the start - they make messages more useful and friendly, and make it easier to share them with other moderators or use them on other communities.

	'''Note''': ~~These~~ strings are only expanded at the ~~time when~~ you click a button, e.g. in Pending Messages, to generate ~~one of the~~ standard ~~messages~~. If you then edit the message before sending it, '''don't''' paste in any substitution strings and send ~~it like that~~, because ~~the strings~~ won't be expanded on sending.		'''Note''': these strings are only expanded at the moment you click a button - e.g. in Pending Messages - to generate a standard message. If you then edit the message before sending, '''don't''' paste in any substitution strings and send as-is, because they won't be expanded on sending.

	====Strings====		==Strings==
	*$origsubj ~~expands to~~ the original subject line of the message.		*$origsubj - the original subject line of the message
	*$membermail ~~expands to~~ the real email address ~~of the member.~~		*$membermail - the member's real email address
	*$groupname ~~expands to~~ the name of your community (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). ~~You can use~~ this to make your standard texts apply to multiple communities~~. You can~~ also ~~use this one~~ in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupname - the name of your community (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). Use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple communities - also usable in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$owneremail ~~expands to~~ the email address ~~of the owner of the community~~, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org		*$owneremail - the community owner's email address, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$groupemail ~~expands to~~ the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupemail - the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$groupurl ~~expands to~~ the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK). Use this rather than ~~giving the~~ URL ending ~~with~~ /$groupname, ~~because~~ the latter ~~would break~~ if it includes ~~any~~ spaces. ~~However,~~ $groupurl is not expanded in [[admins]].		*$groupurl - the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK). Use this rather than a URL ending in /$groupname, since the latter breaks if the name includes spaces. Note that $groupurl is not expanded in [[admins]]
	*$myname ~~expands to~~ the value in Settings->Personal.		*$myname - the value in Settings > Personal
	*$recentwanted ~~expands to~~ a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and		*$recentwanted - a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and $numrecentwanted - the number of such messages
	*$numrecentwanted to the number of such messages.		*$recentoffer - a list of recent OFFER messages from that member, and $numrecentoffer - the number of such messages
	*$recentoffer ~~expands to~~ a list of recent OFFER messages from that member, and		*$recenttaken, $numrecenttaken, $recentreceived, $numrecentreceived - work the same way, for taken/received items
	*$numrecentoffer to the number of such messages.		*$recentmsg - a list of recent messages from that member, and $numrecentmsg - the number of messages
	*~~You can guess what~~ $recenttaken, $numrecenttaken, $recentreceived, $numrecentreceived ~~do.~~		*$duplicatemessages - any suspected duplicates of this message
	*$recentmsg ~~expands to~~ a list of recent messages from that member, and $numrecentmsg to the number of messages.		*$networkname - the network name
	*$duplicatemessages ~~expands to~~ any suspected duplicates of this message.		*$groupnonetwork - the community name with the network removed
	*$networkname ~~expands to~~ the network name		*$nummembers - the number of members of your community
	*$groupnonetwork ~~expands to~~ the community name with the network removed.		*$memberreason - (pending member messages only) the reason the member gave for joining
	*$nummembers ~~expands to~~ the number of members of your community.		*$membersubdate - (pending member messages only) the date the member applied to join
	*$memberreason ~~expands~~ (~~for~~ pending member messages only) to the reason the member gave for joining ~~the community.~~		*$otherapplied - (pending member messages only) any other communities the member has applied to. Be careful - using this reveals to members that you can do this check, which may make them try harder to circumvent it if they're evil
	*$membersubdate ~~expands~~ (~~for~~ pending member messages only) to the date the member applied to join ~~the community.~~
	*$otherapplied ~~expands~~ (~~for~~ pending member messages only) to any other communities ~~which~~ the member has applied to. Be careful ~~– by~~ using this ~~you're revealing~~ to members that you can do this check, which may make them try harder to circumvent ~~this checking~~ if they're evil.

	====Example ~~Message==~~==		==Example message==
	Here's an example ~~of a~~ message ~~which uses~~ substitution strings.		Here's an example message using substitution strings.

	Dear $memberid,<br>		Dear $memberid,<br>
Line 34:		Line 32:
	$recentwanted		$recentwanted

	As we say in the welcome message you'll have received when you ~~join~~, you should wait a week before sending a WANTED again for the same item. Please can you wait before		As we say in the welcome message you'll have received when you joined, you should wait a week before sending a WANTED again for the same item. Please can you wait before reposting it, to allow people time to respond?
	reposting it, to allow people time to respond?

	Alternatively, you can try communities further away. If you do this, please mention that you've tried this community - it'll help your message get approved.		Alternatively, you can try communities further away. If you do this, please mention that you've tried this community - it'll help your message get approved.
Line 43:		Line 40:
	$groupname volunteer		$groupname volunteer

			[[Category:Moderating with ModTools]]
	[[Category:~~Admin]]~~
	~~[[category:~~ModTools]]

Neville Reid: Don't paste them when sending

2025-11-12T09:13:39Z

Don't paste them when sending

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:13, 12 November 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Substitution strings are special things you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands to put in the information before it sends the message. You can put them in the body or subject of a standard message.		Substitution strings are special things you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands to put in the information before it sends the message. You can put them in the body or subject of a standard message.

	It's a really good idea to use these from the start - they can make your messages more useful and friendly, and they also help you share your messages with other moderators or use them on other communities.		It's a really good idea to use these in your standard messages from the start – they can make your messages more useful and friendly, and they also help you share your messages with other moderators or use them on other communities.

			'''Note''': These strings are only expanded at the time when you click a button, e.g. in Pending Messages, to generate one of the standard messages. If you then edit the message before sending it, '''don't''' paste in any substitution strings and send it like that, because the strings won't be expanded on sending.

	====Strings====		====Strings====

Neville Reid: /* Strings */ note about groupurl cf groupname

2025-08-07T16:28:14Z

Strings: note about groupurl cf groupname

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:28, 7 August 2025
Line 9:		Line 9:
	*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org		*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK). $groupurl is not expanded in [[admins]].		*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK). Use this rather than giving the URL ending with /$groupname, because the latter would break if it includes any spaces. However, $groupurl is not expanded in [[admins]].
	*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.		*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.
	*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and		*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and
Line 23:		Line 23:
	*$memberreason expands (for pending member messages only) to the reason the member gave for joining the community.		*$memberreason expands (for pending member messages only) to the reason the member gave for joining the community.
	*$membersubdate expands (for pending member messages only) to the date the member applied to join the community.		*$membersubdate expands (for pending member messages only) to the date the member applied to join the community.
	*$otherapplied expands (for pending member messages only) to any other communities which the member has applied to. Be careful - by using this you're revealing to members that you can do this check, which may make them try harder to circumvent this checking if they're evil.		*$otherapplied expands (for pending member messages only) to any other communities which the member has applied to. Be careful – by using this you're revealing to members that you can do this check, which may make them try harder to circumvent this checking if they're evil.

	====Example Message====		====Example Message====

Neville Reid: /* Strings */ $groupurl is not expanded in admins. See https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/is-groupurl-broken/8388

2025-03-11T16:40:38Z

Strings: $groupurl is not expanded in admins. See https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/is-groupurl-broken/8388

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:40, 11 March 2025
Line 9:		Line 9:
	*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org		*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK).		*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK). $groupurl is not expanded in [[admins]].
	*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.		*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.
	*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and		*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and

Neville Reid: /* Example Message */ mod -> volunteer

2023-09-15T16:48:36Z

Example Message: mod -> volunteer

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 15 September 2023
Line 38:		Line 38:

	Regards,<br>		Regards,<br>
	$myname $groupname ~~Moderator~~		$myname<br>
			$groupname volunteer


	[[Category:Admin]]		[[Category:Admin]]
	[[category:ModTools]]		[[category:ModTools]]

Edwh at 08:31, 6 March 2022

2022-03-06T08:31:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:31, 6 March 2022
Line 8:		Line 8:
	*$groupname expands to the name of your community (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). You can use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple communities. You can also use this one in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupname expands to the name of your community (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). You can use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple communities. You can also use this one in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org		*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK~~-volunteers~~@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK).		*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK).
	*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.		*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.

Jacky at 17:59, 4 September 2021

2021-09-04T17:59:08Z

Jacky at 12:15, 26 May 2020

2020-05-26T12:15:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:15, 26 May 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Substitution strings are special things you can put in a standard ~~message~~, which [[ModTools]] expands to put in the information before it sends the message. You can put them in the body or subject of a standard message.		Substitution strings are special things you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands to put in the information before it sends the message. You can put them in the body or subject of a standard message.

	It's a really good idea to use these from the start - they can make your messages more useful and friendly, and they also help you share your messages with other moderators or use them on other groups.		It's a really good idea to use these from the start - they can make your messages more useful and friendly, and they also help you share your messages with other moderators or use them on other groups.
Line 42:		Line 42:

	[[Category:Admin]]		[[Category:Admin]]
			[[category:ModTools]]

Jacky at 18:35, 3 December 2018

2018-12-03T18:35:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:35, 3 December 2018
Line 5:		Line 5:
	====Strings====		====Strings====
	*$origsubj expands to the original subject line of the message.		*$origsubj expands to the original subject line of the message.
	*$memberid expands to the Yahoo ID of the member.		*$membermail expands to the real email address of the member.
	*$membermail expands to the email address of the member.		*$groupname expands to the name of your group (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). You can use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple groups. You can also use this one in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$groupname expands to the name of your group (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). You can use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple groups. You can also use this one in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $~~groupname_mods~~@~~yahoogroups~~.~~com~~.		*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the group, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the group, e.g. ~~EdinburghFreegle~~-~~owner~~@~~yahoogroups~~.~~com~~.		*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the group, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the group, e.g. ~~EdinburghFreegle~~@~~yahoogroups~~.~~com~~.		*$groupurl expands to the URL of your group (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK).
	*$groupurl expands to the URL of your group (e.g. ~~http~~://~~groups~~.~~yahoo~~.~~com/group~~/~~EdinburghFreegle~~/).
	*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.		*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.
	*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and		*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and

Jacky: /* Strings */

2018-12-03T16:15:48Z

Strings

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 3 December 2018
Line 16:		Line 16:
	*$recentoffer expands to a list of recent OFFER messages from that member, and		*$recentoffer expands to a list of recent OFFER messages from that member, and
	*$numrecentoffer to the number of such messages.		*$numrecentoffer to the number of such messages.
	*You can guess what $recenttaken, $numrecenttaken, $recentreceived, $~~numrecent received~~ do.		*You can guess what $recenttaken, $numrecenttaken, $recentreceived, $numrecentreceived do.
	*$recentmsg expands to a list of recent messages from that member, and $numrecentmsg to the number of messages.		*$recentmsg expands to a list of recent messages from that member, and $numrecentmsg to the number of messages.
	*$duplicatemessages expands to any suspected duplicates of this message.		*$duplicatemessages expands to any suspected duplicates of this message.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:59, 4 September 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Substitution strings are special things you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands to put in the information before it sends the message. You can put them in the body or subject of a standard message.		Substitution strings are special things you can put in standard messages, which [[ModTools]] expands to put in the information before it sends the message. You can put them in the body or subject of a standard message.

	It's a really good idea to use these from the start - they can make your messages more useful and friendly, and they also help you share your messages with other moderators or use them on other ~~groups~~.		It's a really good idea to use these from the start - they can make your messages more useful and friendly, and they also help you share your messages with other moderators or use them on other communities.

	====Strings====		====Strings====
	*$origsubj expands to the original subject line of the message.		*$origsubj expands to the original subject line of the message.
	*$membermail expands to the real email address of the member.		*$membermail expands to the real email address of the member.
	*$groupname expands to the name of your ~~group~~ (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). You can use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple ~~groups~~. You can also use this one in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupname expands to the name of your community (e.g. EdinburghFreegle). You can use this to make your standard texts apply to multiple communities. You can also use this one in the BCC field, e.g. to BCC to $groupname-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the ~~group~~, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org		*$owneremail expands to the email address of the owner of the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org
	*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the ~~group~~, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.		*$groupemail expands to the email address used to send to the community, e.g. ReadingFreegleUK-volunteers@groups.ilovefreegle.org.
	*$groupurl expands to the URL of your ~~group~~ (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK).		*$groupurl expands to the URL of your community (e.g. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/ReadingFreegleUK).
	*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.		*$myname expands to the value in Settings->Personal.
	*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and		*$recentwanted expands to a list of recent WANTED messages from that member, and
Line 19:		Line 19:
	*$duplicatemessages expands to any suspected duplicates of this message.		*$duplicatemessages expands to any suspected duplicates of this message.
	*$networkname expands to the network name		*$networkname expands to the network name
	*$groupnonetwork expands to the ~~group~~ name with the network removed.		*$groupnonetwork expands to the community name with the network removed.
	*$nummembers expands to the number of members of your ~~group~~.		*$nummembers expands to the number of members of your community.
	*$memberreason expands (for pending member messages only) to the reason the member gave for joining the ~~group~~		*$memberreason expands (for pending member messages only) to the reason the member gave for joining the community.
	*$membersubdate expands (for pending member messages only) to the date the member applied to join the ~~group~~.		*$membersubdate expands (for pending member messages only) to the date the member applied to join the community.
	*$otherapplied expands (for pending member messages only) to any other ~~groups~~ which the member has applied to. Be careful - by using this you're revealing to members that you can do this check, which may make them try harder to circumvent this checking if they're evil.		*$otherapplied expands (for pending member messages only) to any other communities which the member has applied to. Be careful - by using this you're revealing to members that you can do this check, which may make them try harder to circumvent this checking if they're evil.

	====Example Message====		====Example Message====
Line 35:		Line 35:
	reposting it, to allow people time to respond?		reposting it, to allow people time to respond?

	Alternatively, you can try ~~groups~~ further away. If you do this, please mention that you've tried this ~~group~~ - it'll help your message get approved.		Alternatively, you can try communities further away. If you do this, please mention that you've tried this community - it'll help your message get approved.

	Regards,<br>		Regards,<br>