GoAnywhere Custom HTML Email Template Editor

Overview

The editor is designed for GoAnywhere MFT XML email templates. It loads the HTML inside a template's <message> element into a Monaco code editor, displays a live browser preview, and places the edited HTML back into the original XML when downloaded.

The application supports built-in server templates, files selected from your computer, formatting helpers, GoAnywhere variable insertion, account self-service, email verification, password recovery, and administrator-managed users and SMTP settings.

Quick start

Accounts and sign-in

Signing in

1. Open the application URL.
2. Enter your email address and password.
3. Select Sign in.

Usernames must be valid email addresses. Access is denied until the account is verified. Accounts created by an administrator are already marked verified, but their temporary password must be changed at first sign-in.

Creating your own account

1. Select Create an account below Sign in.
2. Enter an email address and a password of at least six characters.
3. Open the verification message sent by the application.
4. Follow the link within 24 hours, then return to Sign in.

Forgotten passwords

1. Select Forgot your password?
2. Enter your account email and select Send reset link.
3. Open the link in the email within one hour.
4. Enter and confirm a new password.

For privacy, the application gives a generic response whether or not the email address is registered.

Editor workspace

Changes are held in the browser until you download the template. Leaving or refreshing the editor can discard unsaved work.

Opening templates

Templates button

Select Templates to browse XML files configured on the application server. Files are grouped by their folder: root-level templates appear under main, and files in subfolders appear under that folder's name. Select a filename to load it. Select the × button or the shaded area outside the dialog to close it.

Open File button

Select Open File to choose an .xml, .html, or .htm file from your computer. The browser reads the file locally.

How message extraction works

If the file contains a <message> element, only its contents are shown in the editor. CDATA markers surrounding that message are hidden while editing and restored on download. If no message element exists, the complete file contents are edited as HTML.

Editing tools

Select existing text before using a tool to wrap it. With no selection, paired tags are inserted and the cursor is placed between them where supported.

You may also edit any HTML directly and use Monaco features such as syntax highlighting, selection, find, undo, and redo. Common browser/editor shortcuts such as Ctrl+F and Ctrl+Z generally apply while the editor has focus.

GoAnywhere variables

The Variables menu is populated from the application's configured HTML variables list.

1. Place the cursor where the variable belongs, or select text to replace.
2. Select Variables.
3. Type in the search field to filter the list.
4. Select a variable to insert it and close the menu.

Variables are inserted exactly as stored. Confirm that each variable is supported in the GoAnywhere context where the template will be used. NOTE: Not every variable is available in every template used by GoAnywhere.

Previewing

The preview updates from the current HTML as you edit. Select Refresh Preview to recreate the preview frame when a forced reload is useful. The frame is sandboxed and is intended as a convenient rendering check, not a substitute for testing in actual email clients.

Downloading and saving

Download

After loading a template, select Download. The application rebuilds the original XML by replacing the contents of its message element, preserves CDATA wrapping when it was present, and downloads the result with the original filename. For a local HTML file without a message element, the edited content is downloaded as the selected filename.

The Download button is disabled until a template or local file has been loaded.

Server-side save support

The backend supports saving XML files to its configured editable-files directory, with paths restricted to that directory. The current editor toolbar does not expose a Save As control, so the standard user workflow is browser download.

Light and dark mode

Select the moon icon in the editor toolbar, or Dark mode on account and administration pages, to switch themes. In dark mode the control changes to a sun or Light mode. The choice is saved in the browser and shared across application pages.

The Monaco code editor remains dark in either application theme. Theme selection changes the application interface, not the colors of the email being edited or previewed.

Account settings

Select Account from the editor toolbar.

Change email

Enter a new valid email address and your current password, then select Update Email. Your email is also your username, and the active session is updated to the new address.

Change password

Enter your current password, a new password of at least six characters, and the same new password again. Select Change Password.

Logging out

Select Logout to end the current session and return to the sign-in page. Log out when using a shared computer.

User administration

Administrators can select Users in the editor toolbar. The table shows each email, whether the initial password has been changed, admin access, verification status, and available actions.

Create a user

1. Select Create User.
2. Enter a valid email address and temporary password of at least six characters.
3. Optionally enable Admin access.
4. Select Create.

Administrator-created users are marked verified. They must replace the temporary password the next time they sign in.

Reset a password

Select Reset Password, enter a temporary password of at least six characters, and select Reset. The user must change it at next sign-in.

Grant or remove administrator access

Use the Admin Access switch. Administrators cannot remove their own administrator access.

Delete a user

Select Delete and confirm. Deletion cannot be undone. Administrators cannot delete their own active account.

Email settings

Administrators can open Email Settings from User Management or Account. SMTP is used for verification, password reset, and connectivity-test messages.

Select Save Settings before testing. Under Test Connectivity, enter a recipient email and select Send Test Email. A successful send confirms that the SMTP server accepted the message; it does not guarantee inbox delivery.

First-run setup

When no administrator exists, visitors are directed to the setup wizard. There is no default admin/admin account.

1. Email server: Enter SMTP host, port, optional credentials, sender address, application URL, and STARTTLS/SSL choice. Save to continue.
2. Test connectivity: Send a real test message to an address you can check. Continue becomes available after a successful send.
3. Admin account: Enter the initial administrator's email and matching password entries.
4. Verify: Open the verification email and follow its link within 24 hours. The administrator cannot sign in before verification.

After the first administrator is created, setup endpoints are locked and the setup page redirects to sign-in.

Troubleshooting

Security and limitations

• Use only templates and URLs you trust, and never place credentials or secrets in an email template.
• Downloaded files can contain GoAnywhere variables that resolve to sensitive data. Store and share exports appropriately.
• The preview is a browser approximation and may request remote images referenced by the template.
• SMTP credentials are administrator-managed. They are not returned to the browser after storage.
• Use Logout on shared systems and protect access to the application's public URL.
• This editor is not provided or supported by Fortra. Validate exported templates before production use.

Product behavior described here reflects the current application implementation.