Several questions.
1. What version of SQL Server are you using SQL 2000, SQL 2005 or SQL 2008?
2. What Edition of SQL Server ? Express, Workgroup, Standard or Enterprise
3. if SQL 2000 is SQL Mail correctly configured?
4. If SQL 2005 are you using SQL Mail or Database Mail?
5. If SQL 2005 and database mail, are you running SQL Server 32 bit, or SQL Server 64 Bit?
6. If SQL 2005 on 32 bit with Database mail, have you replaced the stored procedure necessary (
A. Do you have any other Business Alerts, and are they working?
B. Once you have saved the Business Alert, have you checked the list of jobs in the SQL Agent jobs list?
This should show the scheduled job having a name of your Business Alert ID.
If not present, in the Business Alert maintenance window, select the ID, unmark the "Enable Alert" and SAVE.
Select the ID again, this time makr the "Enable Alert" and SAVE. Recheck the SQL Agent job list (after refreshing it).
Now that the SQL job is present (if not present, have you selected the correct SQL instance?), choose "Start Job" to manually initiate it.
Now check the job history. Does it show has having completed?
Did the run have a status of success or failure?
If failure, extract the sql statement from the job step and manually execute within a Query Analzyer window. What error message is reported?
If success, does the job history description state that an email was sent? If not, then no data matched the criteria entered in the Business Alert condition.
If success, and states email sent, then you should get an email WITH data attachment (if that had being configured in Business Alert), rather than just a test email.
If no email received, you need to check the properties of the SQL Server Agent within Entereprise Manager (if using SQL 2000) has had a mail profile configured.
The TEST ALERT uses the SQL Service credential to send the test email.
A scheduled Business Alert runs under the SQL Agent credentials. The test email may work, yet the scheduled job may not work because of this.
This assumes that the SQL Agent is running (this will not be the case if you are using Express Edition).
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Robert