Skip to main content

Exploring SendX Email Editors: Drag-and-Drop, Plain Text, and AI Editor

D
Written by Deepak
Updated this week

SendX offers three email editors to help you create campaigns. Each editor serves a different workflow, whether you prefer visual building, working with HTML code, or generating content with AI assistance.


When to Use Each Editor

Drag-and-Drop Editor
Best for most users. Build visually appealing emails by dragging content blocks onto a canvas. No coding required. Choose from over 1,000 templates organized by theme (holidays, promotions, newsletters, and more).

Plain Text / HTML Editor
Best when you already have HTML code or want to paste and edit raw content directly. You can see changes in real-time as you edit the HTML. Also works for simple plain text emails.

SendX AI Editor
Best when you have an idea but need help turning it into content. Use slash commands to insert elements and let the AI Writer generate text based on your description. Modern, block-based interface.

All three editors are available on every SendX plan at no extra cost.


How to Choose Your Editor

When you create a new campaign, you'll reach a "Type" step where you select which editor to use. You can also set a default editor in your account settings so your preferred option is pre-selected every time.

To set a default editor:

  1. Go to Settings in your SendX account

  2. Find the Editor section

  3. Select your preferred default editor

  4. Save your changes


Using the Drag-and-Drop Editor

The Drag-and-Drop Editor lets you build emails visually without touching any code.

Getting started:

  1. Select Drag-and-Drop Editor when creating your campaign

  2. Browse templates by category (Christmas, Black Friday, Welcome Series, etc.) or start from scratch

  3. Click a template to load it into the editor

The editor layout: Your email canvas appears on the left. The right sidebar contains content blocks you can drag onto your email, plus settings for each block.

Adding and editing content:

  1. Drag a content block (text, image, button, divider, etc.) from the right sidebar onto your email

  2. Click any block to select it

  3. Use the settings panel to adjust font size, text color, alignment, and spacing

  4. Edit text directly by clicking on it in the canvas

Working with images:

  1. Drag an Image block onto your email

  2. Click to open the image manager

  3. Upload new images (any format, up to 10MB) or select from your existing library

  4. Organize images into folders for easy reuse across campaigns

  5. Adjust placement and alignment using the settings panel

Personalizing with merge tags:

  1. Click into any text block

  2. Look for the Merge Tags option

  3. Select a custom field like First Name, Last Name, or Email

  4. The tag appears in your text (example: {{first_name}}) and gets replaced with each contact's actual data when the email is sent

Using columns and rows:

  1. Go to the Rows section in the sidebar

  2. Drag a pre-made row layout onto your email (2 columns, 3 columns, etc.)

  3. Drop content blocks into each column

  4. To save a custom row for future campaigns, select the row and click Save

  5. Access saved rows from the Saved Rows section

Global settings: Click the Settings tab to adjust email-wide options like content width, background color, default font, and alignment.

Preview and test:

  1. Click Show Preview to see how your email looks on desktop, tablet, and mobile

  2. Toggle between light mode and dark mode

  3. Click Send Test Email to receive a copy in your own inbox before sending to your list


Using the Plain Text / HTML Editor

This editor is for users who want to work directly with HTML code or paste content from another source.

Getting started:

  1. Select Plain Text Editor when creating your campaign

  2. Choose a starter template or begin with a blank canvas

  3. The editor loads in Preview mode, showing you how the email will look

Editing your content:

  1. Click Edit Mode to switch to the code view

  2. Paste or write your HTML in the left panel

  3. Watch the preview update in real-time on the right as you make changes

  4. Switch back to Preview mode when you want a cleaner view

Preview and test:

  1. Review your email in the preview panel

  2. Click Send Test Email to check how it renders in actual email clients


Using the SendX AI Editor

The AI Editor combines a modern block-based interface with AI-powered content generation.

Getting started:

  1. Select SendX AI Editor when creating your campaign

  2. Choose a template to load a starting format, or start fresh

Adding content with slash commands:

  1. Click where you want to add content

  2. Type / (forward slash) to open the command menu

  3. Select from options like Text, Heading (various sizes), Image, Button, and more

  4. The element appears and you can edit it directly

Using the AI Writer:

  1. Type / and select AI Writer

  2. Enter a description of what you want (example: "Christmas 2025 sale in New York with festive imagery and urgency")

  3. Choose a tone for the generated text (professional, casual, friendly, urgent, etc.)

  4. Click generate and wait a moment

  5. Review the generated content

  6. Click Insert to add it to your email, Edit to modify it, or Discard to try again

The AI Writer has no usage limits, so feel free to generate and refine until you're happy with the result.

Adding merge tags:

  1. Position your cursor where you want personalized content

  2. Use the merge tag option to insert fields like first name or email

  3. Each contact receives a personalized version when the email is sent

Adding images:

  1. Use the slash command to insert an image block

  2. Upload or select an image from your library

  3. Add a caption if needed

Preview and test:

  1. Click Show Preview to see your email across devices

  2. Send a test email to yourself to verify everything looks right


Important Notes and Limitations

You cannot switch editors mid-campaign.
Once you start designing in one editor and want to switch to another, you'll need to start over. Your content does not transfer between editor types. Choose your editor before you begin, or accept that switching means rebuilding from scratch.

Merge tag fallbacks.
If a contact doesn't have data for a custom field (like first name), SendX uses the fallback value you specify when inserting the merge tag. Always set a sensible fallback to avoid awkward blank spaces.

Image uploads.
All common image formats are supported. Maximum file size is 10MB per image.

Saving templates.
After creating a campaign, you can save its content as a template. Go to your campaign and look for the option to save as template. This saved template will appear in your template library for future campaigns.

AI generation errors.
If the AI Writer fails to generate content, you'll see a notification. This is rare, but if it happens, try again with a simpler or clearer prompt. There's no penalty for retrying.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use all three editors on any plan?
Yes. The Drag-and-Drop Editor, Plain Text/HTML Editor, and SendX AI Editor are all available on every SendX plan.

Is there a limit on how many times I can use the AI Writer?
No. The AI Writer is unlimited. Generate as many drafts as you need.

What happens if I switch editors after I've started designing?
Your current content will be lost. You'll start fresh with the new editor. This only applies when creating new campaigns, as you cannot change editor type when editing an existing campaign.

Can I save my custom designs for reuse?
Yes. In the Drag-and-Drop Editor, you can save individual rows. For any editor, you can save your finished campaign as a template to use as a starting point for future campaigns.

What if a contact is missing their first name?
When you insert a merge tag, you can specify a fallback value (like "there" or "friend"). If a contact's field is empty, the fallback appears instead.

How do I know my email looks good on mobile?
Use the Preview feature in any editor. You can toggle between desktop, tablet, and mobile views, as well as light and dark mode.

Can I import my own HTML template?
Yes. Use the Plain Text/HTML Editor, paste your HTML code, and see it render immediately in the preview pane.

Did this answer your question?