Preferred Name Attribute and Merge Tags

Preferred first names are supported on all 12twenty sites. Your site may come pre-configured with "First (Preferred) Name;" although, sites created prior to June 2022 will need to be reconfigured.

Preferred Name can be supported as a student or alumni user's First Name and used in custom emails, email templates and automated notifications.

New sites created after June 2022

Attributes

First (Preferred) Name:

• The "First (Preferred) Name" attribute should be utilized for a student or alumni user's preferred first name. If their preferred first name is the same as their legal name, please upload their legal name into this field. 
  
  
• By default, this field is not editable by students. This can be altered to allow students and alumni to edit the value by contacting 12twenty Support and creating a new ticket to request this change.

 

Legal First Name:

• The "Legal First Name" attribute is enabled by default on all sites. It is not visible to students or alumni but can be made visible at your discretion. Use this field for all new student uploads or updates to store a student or alumni user's legal name even if it is the same as their preferred name. 

• "Legal First Name" is not editable by students or alumni users even if it is made visible. This cannot be changed.

Merge Tags

First Name

• The merge tag "First Name" references the value in "First (Preferred) Name" to insert a student or alumni user's name into an email. This applies to all custom emails, email templates, and automated notifications.
   
• Automated notifications already use the "First Name" merge tag and do not need to be updated.

Sites created before June 2022

Attributes

First (Preferred) Name:

• The "First (Preferred) Name" attribute can be utilized for a student or alumni user's preferred first name. If their preferred first name is the same as their legal name, please upload their legal name into this field. 
  • Please contact 12twenty Support to request this change. 
    
    
• By default, this field is not editable by students. This can be altered to allow students and alumni to edit their first name.
  • Please contact 12twenty Support to request this change. 

Legal First Name:

• The "Legal First Name" is created from the already existing "Preferred Name" attribute that is a default in your platform. Please change the short and long display names of the "Preferred Name" attribute using the steps outlined below.
  1. Navigate to Student Attributes
     • Site Management > Site Settings > "Students & Alumni" > "Attributes
  2. Select the "Preferred Name" attribute
     • If the "Preferred Name" attribute is not visible on your site, toggle "Show Enabled Only" to the Off position
  3. Toggle "Enabled" to the On position
  4. Edit the Short and Long names to display "Legal Name" 
     
     
• It is not visible to students or alumni but can be made visible at your discretion. Use this field for all new student uploads or updates to store a student or alumni user's legal name even if it is the same as their preferred name. 

• "Legal First Name" is not editable by students or alumni users even if it is made visible. This cannot be changed.

Merge Tags

First Name

• The merge tag "First Name" references the value in "First (Preferred) Name" to insert a student or alumni user's name into an email. This applies to all custom emails, email templates, and automated notifications.
   
• Automated notifications already use the "First Name" merge tag and do not need to be updated.

Migrating Your First Name and Preferred Name Data

If your site was created before June 2022, you will need to reorganize your data to accommodate the changes to the First Name and Preferred Name fields. 

1. Create a custom report and include the following attribute columns: First Name, Last Name, Preferred Name and Email Address (or 12twenty ID). Export and save the file for use in Step 5.
   
   
2. Email 12twenty Support and request a change from "First Name" to "First (Preferred) Name." Once complete, proceed to Step 3.
   
   
3. Edit the pre-existing "Preferred Name" attribute (via Site Management > Site Settings > "Students & Alumni" > "Attributes") and change both the Short and Long Display Names to "Legal First Name"
   
   
4. Download a new Student Upload Template (via Site Management > Data Uploads)
   
   
5. Transfer data from your Custom Report Export (Step 1) to your recently downloaded Student Upload Template
   • Using your data export from Step 1, copy and paste the values from the "Email Address" or "12twenty ID" column into the "Student Identifier (Email or 12twenty ID)" column (Data Upload Template).
   • Copy the values from the "First Name" column (Custom Report) and paste them into the "Legal First Name" Column (Data Upload Template).
   • Copy the values from the "Preferred Name" column (Custom Report) and paste them into the "First (Preferred) Name" column (Data Upload Template).
     
     • For students without a "Preferred Name" value, copy the value from the"First Name" column (Custom Report) and paste into the "First (Preferred) Name" column (Data Upload Template).
       
       
6. Save your Data Upload Template and upload it to your site (via Site Management > Data Uploads > "+ New Upload") by selecting "Type" = "Student" and "Upload Method" = "Update Existing"