The Correspondence Management workflow consists of four phases:
The following graphic shows a typical workflow for creating a correspondence template.
In this workflow:
Form Designers create layouts and fragment layouts using Adobe Forms Designer and upload them to a CRX repository. The layouts contain typical form fields, layout features such as a header and footer, and empty “target areas” for the placement of content. Later, Application Specialists map the content that is required for these target areas. More information on designing layout.
Subject Matter Experts from Legal, Finance, or Marketing departments, create, and upload content such as text clauses disclaimers, terms and conditions, and images such as logos, that are reused in various correspondence templates.
Application Specialists create correspondence templates. The Application Specialist
Author previews the letter and submits it for post processing. More information about post processing.
Instead of creating a layout template from scratch, you can choose to modify and reuse the templates that Correspondence Management provides. You can use designer to quickly modify the branding and the data and content fields of the templates to suit your organization’s needs. For more information on Correspondence Management templates, see Reference letter templates.
Document fragments are reusable parts\components of a correspondence using which you can compose letters\correspondence.
The document fragments are of the following types:
A text asset is a piece of content that consists of one or more paragraphs of text. A paragraph can be static or dynamic. A dynamic paragraph contains references to data elements, whose values are supplied at runtime.
List is a series of document fragments, including text, lists (the same list cannot be `` added in itself), conditions, and images. The order of the list elements can be fixed or editable. While creating a letter, you can use some or all the list elements to replicate a reusable pattern of elements.
Conditions enable you to define what content gets included at correspondence creation time, based on the supplied data. The condition is described in terms of control variables. The variables can be either a data dictionary element or a placeholder. When you add a condition, you can choose to include an asset based on the value that the control variable has. Conditions have a single output based on an expression. The first expression is found to be true, based on current condition variable. Its value becomes the condition’s output.
A layout fragment is a layout that can be used within one or more letters. A layout fragment is used to create repeatable patterns, especially dynamic tables. The layout can contain typical form fields such as “Address” and “Reference Number.” It also contains empty sub forms that denote target areas. The layouts (XDPs) are created in Designer and then are uploaded to Forms and Documents.
There are two ways to generate the correspondence that is sent to your customers: user-driven and system-driven.
Customer-facing employees such as claims adjustors or case workers can create customized correspondence. Using a simple and intuitive letter-filling interface, business users can add optional text to the correspondence, personalize editable content while previewing the correspondence in real time. They can then submit the customized correspondence to a back-end process.
The correspondence generation is automated, driven by event triggers. For example, a reminder notice sent to a citizen prompting her for advance tax filing, is generated by merging the predefined template with citizen data. The final letter can be emailed, printed, faxed, or archived.
The final correspondence can be sent to a back-end process for postprocessing. The correspondence can be:
The following graphic provides an overview of an example architecture of the Letters Solution.
This Notice of Cancelation document is an example of a typical correspondence:
Letter elements | Description | Formed with |
Data from back-end Enterprise systems | Data that is sourced from backend enterprise systems. The data is merged dynamically with the correspondence template. | The Data file created based on a Data Dictionary |
Data Entered by front-line Employee |
Data that can be supplied by a front-line employee who is customizing the letter before sending it out. |
Unprotected DD elements |
Pre-Approved Text Paragraphs |
Pre-approved text content. Experts in Legal, Finance, or a line of business who understand the business context of the letter, typically author the text content. Content such as header, footer, disclaimers, and salutation would be common to most of the letters. However, content such as "reason for termination" would be specific to the particular letter. | Text\Lists\
|
Data Based on Custom Logic ? |
For some letters, such as a letter to request more information regarding a claim, users such as the Claims Adjustor can add custom text content. | Document Fragment of type Condition |
Stored Images from Central Repository |
Images such as logos and signature images. Images such as corporate logos would appear in most or all correspondence. Signature images are specific to the letter and to the person on whose behalf the letter is sent. | Images stored in AEM assets (DAM)
|
Analyze every letter to uncover the various pieces that make up the letter. The Application Specialist analyzes the correspondences that are generated.
Which parts of the correspondence are static and which are dynamic. The variables that are filled from backend data sources or by end users.
The order in which the various text paragraphs appear in the correspondence such as whether a business user can change paragraphs during correspondence creation.
Is the correspondence system-generated or does it require an end user to edit the correspondence? How many correspondences are system-generated and how many require user intervention?
How frequently does the correspondence template change? Will it be updated yearly, quarterly, or only when a particular legislation changes? What type of changes is expected? Is it a change to fix typographical errors, a layout change, adding more fields, adding more paragraphs, and so on.
When planning your correspondence requirements, assemble the list of new correspondence templates. For each correspondence template, you require:
The conditions under which business users such as claims adjustors or case workers modify content or portions in the letter.
Scenarios are narratives that describe the user experience, requirements, and benefits of using the Letters Solution.
Scenarios also provide:The required skill sets and tools you require for your project.
Best practices for planning your implementation. ``High-level implementation overview.
Content reuse You have a consolidated list of new content required for generating correspondence. Much of the content such as headers, footers, disclaimers, and introductions are common to many letters and can be reused across various letters. All such common content can be created and approved by experts once and then reused in many pieces of correspondence.
Building the data dictionary There will be data values such as “Customer Id” and “Customer Name” that are common to many letters. You can prepare a consolidated list of all such data values. Typically someone from the enterprise middleware team is consulted when planning the structure. This forms the basis for building the Data Dictionary.
Sourcing data from backend enterprise systems You will also know all data values that are needed and from where the enterprise system data is obtained. You can then architect the implementation to extract the data from the enterprise system and feed to the Letters solution.
Estimating the complexity of letters It is important to determine how complex it will be to create a particular correspondence. This analysis helps in determining the amount of time and skill sets that will be required to create the letter templates. This in turn will help in estimating the resources and cost of implementing the Letters solution.
The complexity of correspondence can be determined by analyzing the following parameters:
Layout complexity How complex is the layout? Letters such as Notice of Cancelation have simple layouts. Whereas letters such as Claims Coverage Confirmation has a complex layout with several tables and more than 60 form fields. Creating complex layouts takes more time and requires advanced layout design skill sets.
Number of text paragraphs and conditions A loan contract can be 10 pages long and contain more than 40 text clauses. Many of these clauses would depend `` loan parameters. Based on the exact terms and conditions, the clauses would be included or excluded from the contract. Creating such letters requires thorough planning and careful definition of the complex conditions.
This table provides some guidelines that you can use to classify your letters:
Complexity level |
Layout complexity (subjective) |
Number of text paragraphs |
Number of conditional texts or images |
Required skill set |
Low complexity |
Low. Layout has few form fields (<15). Typically one page. |
8 |
1 |
Medium Designer skills. |
Medium complexity |
Medium complexity layout. Includes structures such as tables. Typically more than one page long. |
16 |
2 |
Medium Designer skills.
Capability to create complex expressions using user interfaces. |
High complexity |
Complex layout. Can be greater than three pages. Contains tables and more than 60 form fields. |
40 |
8 |
Expert Designer skills.
Capability to create complex expressions using user interfaces. |
You need the following in place first to create a correspondence:
Select Forms > Letters.
Select Create > Letter. Correspondence Management displays the available layouts (XDPs). These layouts come from Designer. The layouts also include the letter templates that Correspondence Management provides out of the box. For more information on Correspondence Management templates, see Reference letter templates. To add your own layouts, create XDP (layout) files in Designer and then upload them to AEM Forms.
Select a layout by tapping it and select Next.
Enter the properties for the Correspondence and select Save:
The system displays a message: “Letter created successfully.” (in the alert message) Select Open to configure the data modules and layout fragments in it. Or select Done to go back to the previous page.
Next: When you select Open, Correspondence Management displays a representation of the layout with all the components in the layout (XDP) listed. Go ahead with inserting the Data Modules and Layout Fragments and Configuring them.
When after creating a correspondence, you select Open, Correspondence Management displays a representation of the layout with all the subforms/target areas in the layout (XDP) listed. In each of the target areas, you can choose to insert either a Data Module or a Layout Fragment (and then data modules in the layout fragment).
You can also choose to select Edit icon for a letter in the Letters page to Insert data modules and layout fragments in a letter and configure them.
Select Insert for each of the subforms and select Data Modules or a Layout Fragment to insert in each of the subforms.
Select Data Module or Layout Fragment for these options for each of the subforms and then choose the Data Modules or the Layout Fragments to insert. A layout fragment lets you further insert data modules or layout fragments in it according to its design (up to four levels).
If you insert a layout fragment, the name of the layout fragment appears in the subform. And according to the selected fragment, nested subforms appear in the subform.
After the chosen Data Modules are inserted in the layout, you can select configure mode and set the following after tapping the Edit icon for each of the modules:
To edit a module, select the Edit icon next to it. After editing the modules, select Save.
In this page, you can also do the following for the subforms:
In this page, you can also do the following for each of the assets in the subforms:
Select Next.
The Data page details how data fields and variables are used in the template. Data can be linked to data sources such as a data dictionary or user input. Each field defines properties from which data dictionary maps data or what caption is displayed for user input fields.
Linkage:
Following are some main fields in the linkage:
Multi-line: You can specify if the data entry for a field or variable is multi-line. If you select this option, the input box for the field or variable displays as multi-line input box in the Data Editing View. The field or variable also displays as multi-line in the Data and Content views in the Create Correspondence user interface. The multi-line input field is similar to the field for entering a comment in a TextModule. The multi-line option is available only for fields and variables with linkage type User or unprotected Data Dictionary Elements.
Optional: You can specify if the value for field or variable is optional or not. The optional field option is available for fields and variables with linkage type User or unprotected Data Dictionary Elements.
Field / Variable Validation: To provide enhanced validation of the value of a field or variable, you can assign a validator to the field or variable. This option is available only for fields and variables with linkage type User or unprotected Data Dictionary Elements.
Caption and Tooltip: Caption is the label of the field that appears before the field in the CCR user interface. This option is available for fields and variables with linkage type User or unprotected Data Dictionary Elements.
Following are the types of validation you can use for the fields:
String Validator: Use the String Validator to specify a minimum and maximum length of the string entered in field or variable. When you create a String Validator, ensure that you specify valid validation parameters. Enter a valid length for both the minimum and maximum values. For String validator, you can specify the min and max length of the value that can be entered. If the value entered is not according to the min and max specified, the relevant field in the CCR user interface is marked in red color.
Number Validator: Use the Number Validator to specify the minimum and maximum numeric value entered in a field or variable. When you create a Number Validator, ensure that you specify valid validation parameters. Enter numeric values for both the minimum and maximum values.
Regular Expression Validator: Use the Regular Expression Validator to define a regular expression that is used to validate the value of a field or variable. In addition, you can customize the error message. When you create a Regular Expression Validator, ensure that you specify valid regular expression.
The field and variable validators are only available on fields or variables with linkage type User or unprotected Data Dictionary Elements.
After specifying linkage, select Next. Correspondence Management displays the Attachments screen.
Select Add Asset.
In the Select Asset screen, select the assets to attach with the letter and select Done. You need to have the assets first uploaded to Assets. It is recommended that you attach only PDF and Microsoft Office documents, but you can also attach images. For more information on uploading assets in DAM, see Uploading Assets.
To lock the order of the assets in the list so that the Claims Adjustor cannot change the order, select Lock Order. If you do not select this option, the Claims Adjustor can change the order of the list items.
To change the order of the assets, drag-and-drop an asset holding the reorder icon for an asset ( ).
Select Edit in front of an attachment and specify an attachment as Mandatory if you do not want the author to be able to delete it. Specify an attachment as Selected if you want it to be preselected in the CCR interface.
Select Library Access to give the access to the library. If Library Access is enabled, the Claims Adjustor can access content library while creating a letter and insert attachments.
Select Attachments Configuration and specify the maximum number of attachments.
Select Save. Your correspondence is created and listed on the Letters page.
After a letter template is created in Correspondence Management, the end user/agent/claim adjustor can open the letter in the CCR user interface and create a correspondence by entering data, setting up content, and managing attachments. For more information, see Create Correspondence.
The following table describes which types of linkage are available for various types of fields.
The following values in the table
Literal | Asset | Data Dictionary | Ignore | User | Field | Variable | |
date | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
time | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
datetime | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
integer | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
N/A | N/A |
float | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
N/A | N/A |
richtext | Yes | text only | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
plain text | Yes | text only | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
image | No | image only | No | Yes | No | N/A | N/A |
signature | No | No | No |
Yes | No | N/A | N/A |
You can use an existing letter template to quickly create a letter template with similar properties, content, and inherited assets, such as document fragments and data dictionary. To do this, copy and paste a letter.