Email Options 2

[cascot]

I am shortly going to need to incorporate Email functionality into an Access 2003 application. Ultimately this application will become a runtime. I mention that as it may have an impact on possible solutions, though from what I understand, programs such as SageKey can greatly reduce the problems related to ActiveX controls, etc when distributing Access runtimes).

I am looking for anyone who has experience of implementing Email functionality, in terms of what approach they took and what, if any, 3rd party components they made use of.

I had been looing at the Total Access Emailer from FMS, but once I looked more closely it is really aimed at bulk Emailing rather than a more typical day to day use of Email. It also appears to only offer outgoing functionality. Nothing for receiving Email.

More recently I came across a components called Chilkat Email (

http://www.chilkatsoft.com/Email-ActiveX.asp).

Any opinions on either of these components, or any others, plus any other general views on Access Email would be much appreciated.

 

[Ed2020]

Cascot,

What email client are your users currently using?

What exactly are you trying to achieve with your code?

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[cascot]

Ed2020,

Thanks for your reply.

The ultimate aim is to distribute the application so the Email clients of the end users can't be known for sure. Yes it would be possible to make something like Outlook Express a requirement, but I would rather have the program function as independently as possible.

In terms of functionality I would want to be able to send Email messages with attachments including an ability to CC and BCC copies. An ability to send Email in HTML format would also be nice. I would also want the option to receive Email if it were possible (thus maintain a record of incoming mail as well as outgoing mail).

 

[AccessGuruCarl]

Hi cascot,

Take a look at

http://www.ostrosoft.com

They have an SMTP & POP3 component that I've implemented, and it works great for our needs.

Give a hollar if you have a questions....


Carl

AccessGuruCarl
Programmers helping programmers
you can't find a better site.

 

[cascot]

Hi Carl,

Thank you so much for pointing me to the website for these components. They look very promising.

Have you had an problems with them, any apparent bugs, or anything else of note?

Thank you again for your help. It is much appreciated.


Cascot

 

[Ed2020]

Nice find Carl. Have a star.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[cascot]

Oops, just as well you mentioned that Ed, I'd forgotten about the ability to award stars.

Now taken care of, thanks again Carl. I'll look forward to any other feedback you may be able to offer on the components.


Cascot

 

[AccessGuruCarl]

Hi cascot,

Believe it or not, I have not had any issues.

Was very easy to implement as well. I replaced this with the standard SMTP component in Win 2000 and so far It's working great.

Hats off to Ostrosoft..........

Thanks for the Star!

Carl



AccessGuruCarl
Programmers helping programmers
you can't find a better site.

 

[rkasnick]

cascot, have you figured out a solution to the other half of your question, how to receive email into the app programmatically?
I would be interested in knowing what approach you used to accomplish this.

 

[cascot]

rkasnick,

As yet I haven't done any Email related coding. I guess this was a somewhat rare example of decent forward planning - enquiring about somethign more than 5 minutes before you need it. I will be starting work on the Email functionality quite soon and I plan to try the Ostrosoft components suggested by AccessGuruCarl for both POP3 and SMTP. I haven't spent much time looking at the specifics but the POP3 component sounds like it will cover all the bases I need in terms of checking a POP3 mailbox, retrieving any messages, clean-up, status checking, etc