Preview Custom Fields in the Sparkforge Email Builder

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

Click Preview on the Email Builder's top toolbar to see exactly how custom fields and merge tags render against real contact data — before you hit send.

Broken merge fields kill personalization. "Hi {{first_name}}," landing in 5,000 inboxes is a brand-credibility problem and a deliverability problem. Sparkforge's Preview button shows you what each contact will actually see, so you catch the broken merge before send.

What Preview verifies

  • First name, last name, and other contact fields resolve to real values.
  • Address merge fields (including full address via {{contact.full_address}}) render correctly.
  • Custom fields you've defined on the contact return their stored values.
  • Conditional content (if/else blocks) shows the correct branch for the contact you preview.

Steps

  1. Open the email in the Email Builder.
  2. Look at the top menu bar in the editor.
  3. Click Preview (next to Save).
  4. Review the rendered email — confirm every merge field resolves to the expected value.
  5. For full-address fields, test against a contact who has a complete address on file.
  6. If something renders wrong, close Preview, fix the source content or test data, and click Preview again.
  7. When everything looks right, continue editing or move to send/schedule.

Tip

Preview lives on the top toolbar for one-click access. You no longer need the three-dot kebab menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Preview button in the Email Builder?
On the top menu bar of the editor, right next to Save. One click opens Preview without going through the kebab menu.
Will Preview show me real contact data?
Yes. Preview resolves merge fields against actual contact values so you can see exactly what the recipient will see.
Can I preview address merge fields like full address?
Yes. Use {{contact.full_address}} and pick a contact who has a full address on file. Preview will render the resolved address.
What if a merge field doesn't render?
Close Preview, check the field name and the contact's stored value, then click Preview again. The most common cause is a typo in the merge tag or a missing value on the contact record.

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