Sometimes the batch preview shows 0 recipients even when you know there should be matches. This is almost always due to merge tags in conditional logic.
Why It Happens #
- The Mass Email Conditional section in feed settings lets you filter by target-form values.
- If you use merge tags (like pulling a date from the control form), the preview engine can’t resolve them.
- As a result, the preview estimate displays 0 recipients.
What Actually Happens #
- At send time, those merge tags are filled in with real values from the control form.
- The batch then queries the target form entries using those resolved values.
- The correct recipients are included, even though the preview couldn’t show them.
Example #
- Control form includes a date field:
{EventDate:3}. - Target form filter: “Registration Date is after {EventDate:3:meff}.”
- Preview shows 0, but once submitted, all matching entries are pulled.
Tips #
- Don’t panic if you see 0 in preview with merge tags in filters.
- Test with a simpler static filter first to verify logic works.
- If unsure, create a small test form and run a sample batch.
This is a known limitation of previews — actual sending always uses the proper recipients.
