Making sure your new email designs look and work exactly as you want is a must. That's why our OrderlyEmails app offers the option to send test emails to yourself or a colleague.
Additionally, once you've exported the email templates code to your Shopify admin Notification section, you're given the option to preview and send a Shopify test email when previewing the notification template.
The preview and test emails are meant for you to verify the distribution of elements and sections included in each one of your notifications. However, it's highly important to know that both Shopify test emails and OrderlyEmails test will contain some simulated data, and dynamic links and buttons may not work as you'd expect in test emails.
OrderlyEmails tests
The app's test will be based on the same information you see on the app editor, which corresponds to the last order you placed through your online store. If you don't have any orders in your store yet, we'll use a fake order.
The email editor and test emails sent from within the app will use fake information as placeholders so all users can see what it'd look like on a real email. E.g.
DHL will be used as the carrier, and 123456789 will be used as the tracking number on the Shipping Confirmation email.
The pickup location will be simulated. So, it always just displays the first one created in your store.
Also, some dynamic buttons and links won't direct you to a working page as it's just a test, and there's not enough information to recreate it.
However, this is something that happens in the app editor preview and test email. Once Shopify sends these emails on a real order, then they will have working links, the correct pickup location, the right carrier and tracking number used, etc.
Shopify's tests and preview
Shopify's preview and test emails will miss some order details such as the Order Date, the actual Order Number, and the correct order currency; plus, the dynamic links and buttons may not link to a working page, etc.
Additionally, it will use "fake" order data as placeholders because it won't generate test emails or previews using a real order. This is the reason why you might see 'unexpected' details such as:
"John" as the customer's name
Order number #9999
Discount (PROD5) (FREESHIPPING) (ORDER5)
"Generic Shipping" as the shipping method
UPS as the shipping method
"Welcome to our shop, hope you enjoyed the experience" as the custom message after the customer's name on the 'abandoned checkout', 'contact customer', 'customer activation', and 'draft order invoice' emails:
The good news is that this only happens when previewing or sending a test email from within the Shopify admin and not when real emails are being sent. So, you could safely ignore strange order information or links not redirecting to a working URL in the test emails. Real emails going to customers won't contain mockup data, and they will correctly reflect the Order number and date, correct prices, working links, buttons, etc.
We suggest placing a test order in your Shopify Store so the emails you receive contain information from a real order. To place a test order, you may follow this Shopify guide.
If you notice any strange behavior in the emails generated for real orders, please get in contact with our support team, and we'll be happy to help!