---
title: "Personalizing Decision Letters with Content Blocks"
slug: "content-blocks-within-decision-letters"
updated: 2026-03-20T19:40:59Z
published: 2026-03-20T19:40:59Z
canonical: "knowledge.technolutions.net/content-blocks-within-decision-letters"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Personalizing Decision Letters with Content Blocks

[Content Blocks](https://knowledge.technolutions.net/docs/content-blocks) are used in decision letters much like they are in mailings. Instead of referencing a recipient list query, they pull data from the default merge fields in the decision letter template or from a [**MergePublic** query](https://knowledge.technolutions.net/v1/docs/displaying-custom-fields-in-decision-letters-mergepublic-queries).

Using Content Blocks allows multiple templates to be consolidated into a single decision letter template. This simplifies year-over-year maintenance, since updates can be made directly within the Content Blocks rather than across multiple letters.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-KBDLZGQ6.png)

## Creating content blocks for decision letters

1. Create the Content Block information. See [Content Blocks](https://knowledge.technolutions.net/v1/docs/content-blocks)
2. Go to **Letter Templates** and choose the specific decision letter where this content should be displayed
3. Ensure that necessary merge fields are accessible either on the right navigation panel or in your [**MergePublic** query](https://knowledge.technolutions.net/v1/docs/displaying-custom-fields-in-decision-letters-mergepublic-queries)
  1. ***Exports used through the MergePublic query will not show in the right navigation panel within the Letter Templates.***

## Inserting content blocks

1. Within the **Edit Template**view of the decision letter template, go to where the Content Block content should be merged.
2. Use the following format to enter the text:

```plainText
{{NAME OF EXPORT | block: "KEY OF CONTENT BLOCK"}}
```
3. Replace **NAME OF EXPORT** with the name of the export in the default merge fields or the MergePublic query.
4. Replace **KEY OF CONTENT BLOCK** with the key of the Content Block you created that contains the codes to merge into the message. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-IHYAND95.png)
5. Select **Save.**

## Staff signatures

Different staff signatures can be dynamically merged into decision letters based on programs the student applied to through content blocks.

When previewing this letter, the content block merge field dynamically displays the content corresponding with that record's data currently present in the `program` export. For instance, if a sample record has a program of *Oil Painting*, the content block content with the value of `Oil Painting` displays:

```plainText
{{program | block: "faculty_signatures"}}
```

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-H41CI75J.png)

##