[SalesForce] How to send an Email Template via Apex

Goal

I'm attempting send a good looking HTML from Apex code, here's a stripped back screenshot .
Based on the documentation I've reviewed, with Apex we can leverage SalesForce email templates using merge fields. I hope I'm understanding this correctly?
In this case I want to merge in Contact.FirstName.

I'm using the below code.

EmailTemplate et = [SELECT Id FROM EmailTemplate WHERE DeveloperName =:emailTemplateName];
List<string> toAddress = new List<string>();
toAddress.add(primaryEmail);
Messaging.SingleEmailMessage mail = new Messaging.SingleEmailMessage();
    mail.setTemplateId(et.Id);
    mail.setToAddresses(toAddress);
    mail.setSubject('test subject');
    mail.setTargetObjectId(primaryContact);
    mail.setWhatId(primaryAccount);
    mail.setSaveAsActivity(false);
    mail.setUseSignature(false);
List<Messaging.SingleEmailMessage> allmsg = new List<Messaging.SingleEmailMessage>();
allmsg.add(mail);

try {
    Messaging.sendEmail(allmsg,false);
    return;
} catch (Exception e) {
    System.debug(e.getMessage());
}

Properties

mail.setTemplateId(et.Id); – I'm finding my email template in SalesForce. The template's "Available for Use" checkbox is thrown
mail.setToAddresses(toAddress); – I'm receiving the email at the address I'm sending to. I'm confident this is correct.
mail.setSubject('test subject'); – this is correct
mail.setTargetObjectId(primaryContact); – the recipitient's Contact.Id.
mail.setWhatId(primaryAccount); – the recipient's Account.Id.

Result

I'm successfully receiving the email, subject is coming across as I expect, but the body is empty.
In SaleForce > Email Tematples, when I click the Send Test and Verify Merge Fields button, it works as expected, email looks great and that Contact.FirstName merges.

Moving Forward

I'm going to keep poking and hopefully answer my own question, but wondered if anyone has tackled this and gotten back a good looking HTML email with merged SalesForce data?

Best Answer

In your code you need to bring in a slight change. Where you setting AccountId in setWhatId() method, change it to

mail.setWhatId(ContactId);

A brief explanation from the docs.

setWhatId(whatId) If you specify a contact for the targetObjectId field, you can specify an optional whatId as well. This helps to further ensure that merge fields in the template contain the correct data.

Related Solutions

[SalesForce] Messaging.sendEmail fails with TargetObjectId, WhatId, and SaveAsActivity

I'm going to try to hit on several things here that may or may not prove fruitful for you. First, from the Winter 14 Apex Code Developer's Guide:

setSaveAsActivity(Boolean)

Optional. The default value is true, meaning the email is saved as an activity. This argument only applies if the recipient list is based on targetObjectId or targetObjectIds. If HTML email tracking is enabled for the organization, you will be able to track open rates.

setTargetObjectId(ID)

Required if using a template, optional otherwise. The ID of the contact, lead, or user to which the email will be sent. The ID you specify sets the context and ensures that merge fields in the template contain the correct data.

Signature

public Void setTargetObjectId(ID targetObjectId)

Parameters

targetObjectId

Type: ID

Return Value Type: Void

Usage

Do not specify the IDs of records that have the Email Opt Out option selected. All email must have a recipient value of at least one of the following:

• targetObjectIds

• toAddresses

• ccAddresses

• bccAddresses

• targetObjectId

Are your recipients valid contact ID's? I'm assuming they are and that when you tested, you set the IsActive flag on them to true.

setHtmlBody(String)

Optional. The HTML version of the email, specified by the sender. The value is encoded according to the specification associated with the organization. You must specify a value for setTemplateId, setHtmlBody, or setPlainTextBody. Or, you can define both setHtmlBody and setPlainTextBody.

Email Template

A form email that communicates a standard message, such as a welcome letter to new employees or an acknowledgement that a customer service request has been received. Email templates can be personalized with merge fields, and can be written in text, HTML, or custom format.

I notice you're using a VisualForce template. Have you attempted resolving your problem by using an HTML or Text based template instead? Your problem could easily be related to a problem in your VisualForce that wouldn't at all be apparent.

Another thing that may be of relevance to your issue is the following:

EventRelation allows a variable number of relationships, as follows:

If you’ve enabled Shared Activities for your organization, an event can be related to up to 50 contacts or one lead. If you haven’t enabled Shared Activities, an event can be related to only one contact or lead.

An event can also be related to one account, asset, campaign, case, contract, opportunity, product, solution, or custom object.

TaskRelation allows a variable number of relationships, as follows:

A task can be related to one lead or up to 50 contacts.

A task can also be related to one account, asset, campaign, case, contract, opportunity, product, solution, or custom object.

Available in API versions 24.0 and later. Available only if you’ve enabled Shared Activities for your organization.

Have you enabled Shared Activities for your org? If not, that could be at the root of the issue you're having. In essence, the TargetObjectid is the WhoID and the RelatedToType is the WhatID of your email/activity. I see from what you've posted above that you've specified both the RelatedToType and the WhatID. That in itself may very well be the actual source of your problem.

Finally, if this doesn't help you resolve your issue, I'd highly recommend you post a copy of the gist of your template that includes all of the fields (please remove any confidential or identifying information). Its possible there's something about a field you're using in it that's creating a conflict which isn't readily obvious.

[SalesForce] How to send Mass Email from List View in Contact Or Lead using custom button

Assuming you have this button on a related list/list view, you can use the {!GETRECORDIDS} javascript function to get the list/array of id of the selected records. You can then send this array to your apex class and then query the email field to get the email. YOu can do something like this:

{!REQUIRESCRIPT("/soap/ajax/28.0/connection.js")}
{!REQUIRESCRIPT("/soap/ajax/28.0/apex.js")}
var recordIdArray = {!GETRECORDIDS($ObjectType.Contact)};
console.log('the record Ids are' + recordIdArray);
var retStr = sforce.apex.execute("outbound_Emails", "SendEmailNotification",{conId: recordIdArray});

global class outbound_Emails{
        webservice static void SendEmailNotification (list<id> conId){
            list<contact> conList = [SELECT name,email FROM contact WHERE id IN : conId];
            system.debug('the selected contacts are  ' + conList);
            //you can iterate over this list to get the email and send the mail
        }
}