As of my last knowledge update, which includes information up to early 2023, Dynamics 365 Customer Insights - Journeys (formerly Dynamics 365 Marketing) does not have a direct, built-in "export to PDF" feature within the email builder itself.
The primary focus of the email builder is on creating interactive and personalized HTML emails for digital delivery. Exporting to a static PDF format isn't a standard workflow because PDFs don't retain the dynamic and interactive elements of HTML emails.
However, there are a few workarounds and methods you can use to achieve your goal of reviewing and approving email layouts in PDF format:
Workarounds to Export a Drafted Email to PDF:
- Print to PDF from a Browser Preview: This is likely the easiest and most common method.
- Preview Your Email: Within the Customer Insights - Journeys email builder, use the "Preview" functionality to see how your email will render in a web browser.
- Use Browser's Print to PDF: Once you have the email preview open in your browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.), use the browser's built-in "Print" function (usually Ctrl+P or Cmd+P).
- Select "Save as PDF" as the Destination: In the print dialog, change the "Destination" or "Printer" option to "Save as PDF" (or a similar option depending on your operating system and browser).
- Adjust Settings (Optional): You might want to adjust the layout, margins, and background graphics settings in the print dialog to get the desired PDF output.
- Save the PDF: Click "Save" and choose a location to save your PDF file.
Pros: Simple, uses standard browser functionality, no additional tools required.
Cons: May not perfectly replicate how all email clients will render the email (especially regarding interactive elements), might require some adjustments to print settings for optimal layout.
- Use Third-Party "Save as PDF" Browser Extensions: Many browser extensions are available that offer more advanced options for saving web pages as PDFs. These might provide better control over the final PDF output compared to the browser's native functionality. Search for extensions like "Save as PDF" in your browser's extension store.
Pros: Potentially more control over PDF output.
Cons: Requires installing a browser extension, reliability and quality can vary between extensions.
- Send a Test Email and Print to PDF from an Email Client:
- Send a Test Email: Send a test version of your drafted email to an email address you have access to (e.g., your own or a dedicated testing inbox).
- Open in Email Client: Open the test email in a desktop email client (like Outlook, Thunderbird, etc.).
- Print to PDF: Use the email client's "Print" function and select "Save as PDF" as the printer.
Pros: Shows how the email renders in a real email client.
Cons: Adds an extra step of sending and receiving the email, might still not perfectly represent all email clients.
- Use Online HTML to PDF Conversion Tools (Less Recommended for Sensitive Content): Numerous online tools can convert HTML to PDF. You could potentially copy the HTML source of your email (if accessible) and paste it into one of these tools.
Pros: Can sometimes provide more control over the conversion process.
Cons: Security and privacy risks if the email contains sensitive information, as you'd be uploading the content to a third-party service. Layout accuracy can vary significantly.
Why No Direct Export?
The focus of modern email marketing is on dynamic and interactive content that adapts to different devices and email clients. A static PDF loses this interactivity and responsiveness. Therefore, a direct "export to PDF" feature isn't a primary requirement for most email marketing workflows.
Recommendation:
For your review and approval process, the "Print to PDF from a Browser Preview" (Method 1) is likely the easiest and most practical approach for most scenarios. Ensure you preview the email in a responsive view to get an idea of how it will look on different screen sizes.
If you need a more accurate representation of rendering in a specific email client, sending a test email and printing to PDF from that client (Method 3) is a good option.
Avoid using online HTML to PDF converters for sensitive email drafts due to potential security concerns.
While a direct "export to PDF" feature would be convenient, the available workarounds should allow you to generate PDF versions of your email drafts for review and approval purposes. You might want to establish a standard process using one of these methods for your team.
