Understand the QCBM Email Notification Templates

QC Backup Manager stores editable templates for the main backup, export, and restore notifications. All QCBM notification delivery is HTML, but Basic builds that HTML automatically from the editable plain-text body while Pro, Max, and All Access can use custom HTML.

Templates must remain published if you expect QCBM to send them.

Default Templates

QCBM seeds four core notification templates:

  • Backup Success — sent after a Backup Set completes and verifies successfully when success notification is enabled.
  • Backup Failed — sent when a backup job fails or cannot be verified when failure notification is enabled.
  • Off-Site Export Failed — sent when a local backup is valid but an off-site export fails.
  • Restore Notice — used for supported restore activity notifications.

Template Fields

Each template has a Template title, optional Description, Subject, Format, Published state, Plain-text body, and—when the plan allows it—an editable HTML body.

Built-In HTML from Plain Text

On Basic, QCBM takes the editable plain-text body and wraps it in QCBM's responsive white-label HTML renderer. The message uses the site's name and Joomla mail configuration without QuantaCade branding.

This means Basic users can still customize the words and subject even though the custom HTML editor is locked.

Custom HTML

Pro, Max, and All Access can choose Custom HTML and edit the HTML body directly. QCBM sanitizes the saved HTML and still resolves supported tokens at send time.

Published State

If a template is unpublished, QCBM skips that notification type even when the underlying event occurs and recipients exist. Check the Published column before diagnosing an apparently missing message.

Template Preservation During Tier Changes

If an installation previously used custom HTML and later runs without custom-HTML entitlement, QCBM preserves the stored custom HTML but sends the built-in HTML generated from plain text. Re-upgrading can make the preserved customization available again.

Preview and Test

The editor provides realistic sample token values for preview/testing. Send Test uses the same renderer as live delivery and sends to the current administrator's email with a [QCBM Test] subject prefix.

Do Not Diagnose Templates Before Joomla Mail

If every template test fails, first verify Joomla's mail configuration. Template editing cannot repair invalid SMTP credentials, blocked outbound mail, DNS/provider restrictions, or a missing administrator email address.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCBM feature? Visit the QC Backup Manager Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.