I wrote this note on how to create a Template in the Desktop version of Mail on a Mac at the beginning of 2007 but it still seems valid. In fact, it is also relevant to using Mail on the iPhone. Currently, I notice that if I create a draft on the Desktop version of Mail, the Draft is *not* shared via MobileMe to the web nor the iPhone versions of Mail; even though the 'Store draft messages on the server' is checked in Mail Preferences. Drafts created in either web Mail or iPhone Mail *are* synced and available to both these versions of Mail. One way to get a Desktop Draft onto the iPhone (or the web) is to move the Draft to a Mailbox folder then copy the text from the synced email in the Mailbox on the iPhone but it shouldn't be necessary.
Create a draft or template Mail message
• Open
Mail, Click
New button (File > New Message) • Create the template contents in a new email message.
• Click Save As Draft button (File > Save as Draft)
• If desired: Move the draft message to a different mailbox folder e.g. a new one named Templates. (see note 2 and 3)
To use the template
• Click on the template message. (see note 1)
• Click Message > Send Again
• Edit as necessary.
• If desired: Click Save As Draft button again. (see note 4)
• Enter or edit the To: address, as needed.
• Click Send button (Message > Send) to send the final message. (see note 3)
Send Again will work for any message you have, including messages that have been sent or received, not just newly created drafts or "templates".
Note:
1. If the draft template message is in the Drafts mailbox folder — double-clicking the message will open an editable message i.e. the text and message fields can be edited immediately.
2. If a message has previously been sent, received OR moved from the Drafts folder into another mailbox folder — double-clicking the message will open an uneditable message.
• To make the message editable: Click Message > Send Again
• This menu choice can be used with an opened message or on a highlighted message in a mailbox folder.
3. A message sent from the Drafts mailbox folder is immediately removed from this folder (like sending an original letter — you no longer have it once it's posted) but there will be the resulting sent message in the Sent folder.
• If the message is sent with Send Again from any other mailbox folder (i.e. not from the Drafts mailbox folder), the original message is not removed from its folder, and the resulting sent message will be in the Sent folder (like taking a photocopy of the original and posting the photocopy).
• Clearly, having a Templates mailbox folder separate from the Drafts mailbox folder is an advantage for a message that wants to be used again and again because the template will remain in the Templates mailbox.
4. Caution: When editing a template message that is NOT in the Drafts mailbox, Save as Draft will save the newly edited message into the Drafts mailbox not the original's mailbox. It will not overwrite the original message. Therefore, if the template message needs re-editing — make the changes, save the changed then move the undated template message from the Drafts mailbox and into the Templates mailbox.
• Move the saved template from the Drafts mailbox before Sending. Otherwise the updated template in Drafts will disappear. The Sent message will then have to be re-used.
• If the Subject: title has not been changed; the updated version of the template will have a later Date Received date or time in the mailbox folder list.
• Delete the older version.
5. Drafts cannot be moved on the iPhone but they can on the web.
