Working with Images in the TargetX Communication Planner

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Before You Start: Access & File Requirements

To use images in Communication Planner email templates, users must have access to the TargetX Communication Planner Images file library.

When the Communication Planner package is installed, a File library called TargetX Communication Planner Images is created, along with custom library permissions (TargetX Communication Planner Images, TargetX Library Author, TargetX Library Administrator).
Only the installer is added by default, so the user must add all other members who will design templates or manage images.

Supported file types and size limits:

Allowed formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP.
Maximum file size: 3 MB per image.
File extensions are case-sensitive (for example, image.Jpeg may fail where image.jpeg succeeds).

To add users to the TargetX Communication Planner Images library:

Navigate to Files > Libraries and select the TargetX Communication Planner Images library.
Click Manage Members, then add the Users/Groups who need access and assign the appropriate access level.

Adding Images to Communication Planner Templates

Communication Planner pulls images from the TargetX Communication Planner Images File library when you build email templates.

To insert an image into an email template:

Go to the Communication Planner tab, click the Templates icon, and choose Email.
Create or edit a template, then in the Editor, add a Row where you want the image to appear.
Drag an Image content block onto the row.
In the Image block, either:
- Drag and drop an image into the content block, or
- Select Browse and choose an image stored in the TargetX Communication Planner Images library.

Additional options and behaviors

You can choose an image by:
- Using Browse in the content block to open the image dropdown.
- Clicking Choose Image from the Content tab and selecting from the dropdown.
- Entering a URL for an externally hosted image.
Images must be stored in the TargetX Communication Planner Files library, unless you are intentionally using an external URL.
You can attach an action to an image, such as opening a web page or launching an email when the image is clicked.

Versioning Note: if you upload a new version of an image file, templates do not automatically update; you must reselect the updated image in each template and re-save.

Recommended Image Dimensions

Communication Planner’s email editor renders responsive layouts and lets you customize the image column widths.

The Template Builder automatically adjusts image widths by default. However, you can manually set an image's width as a percentage. Additionally, you can modify the default width of the overall content within the 'settings' section of the template. By default, the size is set to 500 pixels.

Recommended Widths (by layout section)

The default content width settings in the Template Builder are based on the dynamic row configurations in your template. This means the available pixels will be distributed according to each row's specific sizing. For instance, in a 3/4 column layout positioned to the right, the larger block will occupy 375 pixels, while the smaller block on the right will take up 125 pixels. It is important to note that these pixel values may change depending on the default content width settings in your template builder.

One-column section: 500 px wide.
Two-column section: 300 px wide per column.
Three-column section: 200 px wide per column.
3/4 Column Left or 3/4 Column Right: 400 px wide for the larger block, 200 px for the smaller block.

General Image Guidelines

Keep file size below 3 MB to avoid issues with upload and email load times.

Troubleshooting Issues with Images

If images are not displaying in your Communication Planner email preview or sent message, follow these steps to diagnose and resolve the problem.

Steps to Resolve

Verify that the image file exists in the TargetX Communication Planner Images library and that the file type/extension is supported and properly capitalized.
Edit the template and ensure:
- The Image widget has a valid file selected or a working URL in the Image Source/URL field.
If you recently uploaded a new version of an image:
- Re-open the template, reselect the file from the library, and re-save the template so the new version is used.
If using an external URL:
- Verify the URL is publicly accessible and correctly entered (including http:// or https://).

If issues persist, verify that the user testing the email

Has access to the TargetX Communication Planner Images library.
Is viewing the email in a client that does not automatically block images by default.

Best Practices for Images in the Communication Planner

Following these practices helps ensure your emails remain accessible, on brand, and run smoothly.

Use consistent widths that match your chosen column layout (for example, 600 px hero images in single-column layouts).
Keep images optimized: under 3 MB, compressed where possible, and in a supported format (JPEG/PNG for most content, GIF only when animation is necessary).
Add descriptive alt text in the Image widget so screen readers can describe the image content.
Use Saved Rows or Saved Synced Rows for reusable header/footer sections that include your logo or other recurring graphics.
Establish internal naming conventions for images and folders (for example, dept_header_fa2026.png) to make assets easy to find.

Understanding Salesforce Content Limits

Salesforce imposes several content limits that can affect how TargetX Communication Planner and Email use Salesforce Files and other assets. This overview highlights the key concepts and points you to Salesforce documentation for full, current details.

Types of Salesforce Content Limits

Salesforce enforces multiple relevant limit categories when using images and files in TargetX:

File size limits: Maximum size per file uploaded to Salesforce Files or CRM Content (for example, images used in templates).
Storage limits: Overall file storage available to your Salesforce org, which email images, documents, and other shared files can consume.
Content delivery and bandwidth limits: Controls on how often and how much published content (including externally shared Files) can be accessed in 24 hours.

For detailed values and the latest platform limits, see Salesforce’s “Content file size limits” article.

External file views and bandwidth

When images or files stored in Salesforce are referenced externally (for example, an image hosted in Salesforce and displayed in an email or web page), Salesforce tracks those requests as part of Content Delivery Bandwidth usage.

Key points to understand

Salesforce limits how many times published content can be accessed externally within a rolling 24-hour window.
Exceeding that bandwidth limit can cause externally hosted images or files to stop rendering until the usage falls back under the threshold.
This can impact TargetX communications that rely on Salesforce-hosted image URLs (for example, images in Communication Planner or Email templates).

To analyze which items are consuming bandwidth and how close you are to your limits, use the Salesforce “Determine which published contents consumed the Content Delivery Bandwidth limit” article.

File size and storage considerations

Even before bandwidth is reached, large or numerous files can affect performance and usability in TargetX:

Larger image files increase email load time and can count more significantly toward Salesforce file storage.
Salesforce sets a maximum single file size for uploads to Salesforce Files and for files shared via Experience Cloud or Content Delivery.
TargetX recommends optimizing images (compression, appropriate dimensions) so they remain within Salesforce and email best practice guidelines.

See Salesforce’s Content file size limits documentation for specific numeric limits by feature (Files, classic CRM Content, Experience Cloud, etc.).

Monitoring and best practices

To stay within Salesforce content limits while using TargetX:

Monitor usage: Use Salesforce’s reporting and monitoring tools described in the “Content Delivery Bandwidth limit” article to understand which content is most frequently accessed externally.
Optimize images and files:
- Keep images sized for email (for example, 600 px width for single column layouts) and compressed to a reasonable file size.
- Avoid using unnecessarily large files as background images or headers in multiple templates.
Plan for high-volume sends:
- If sending large campaigns that rely on Salesforce-hosted images, be aware that high open rates can translate into many external file views within a short window.
- Consider using a dedicated image hosting solution for extremely high volume or public web traffic if bandwidth limits become a recurring issue.

For the most up-to-date and detailed limits, always refer to Salesforce Help:

Content Delivery Bandwidth and monitoring: Determine which published contents consumed the Content Delivery Bandwidth limit
File size and related constraints: Content file size limits