M$ Access 2003 + Outlook (or Thunderbird)

[Zambini]

Is there a way to manage and maintain a database via Microsoft Access and have stuff like Name, Number, and email address, and then use said database to produce AND mail (via smtp email server) an email to everyone in that database?

I've done some googling and I haven't come up with anything useful.


My boss wants to use some e-company that charges $15/mo for this and I think its bunk and I can totally do it via access + outlook/thunderbird


Thanks :)

[Dread]

You could do it in linux with an SQL database and the mail command.
Do some googling on Linux + mail.

[Reloadron]

Actually $15 a month isn't bad depending on the service. There are also some reasonably priced software packages out there.

However, for the do it yourself types there are a few ways to go about it. I messed with some scripts awhile back to do it. The basic script can be written in Notepad and saved as a .vbs file extension.

Something like this:

Dim oOApp As Outlook.Application
Dim oOMail As Outlook.MailItem
 
Set oOApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
Set oOMail = oOApp.CreateItem(olMailItem)
 
With oOMail
.To = "name@domain.com"
.Subject = "Daily Report"
.Body = "email message"
.Attachments.Add "File Path Goes Here For Attachment", olByValue, 1
.Send
End With

Another good example can be found here:

Send E-mail Using Microsoft Outlook Automation

Look for simple code samples to automate Outlook. That is the starting point.

The trick in your case is to populate the .To line with the recipients. I would start with the basic code sample above and work from there. I used it to send the same file daily by saving the program to my desktop and then running it as a scheduled task daily. I left the attached document with the same name but changed it daily.

A Google of "Send Mail .VBS Scripts will yield more code samples plus the one provided can be modified and expanded upon. I think I have more of this stuff at home (at work now).

Ron

[Zambini]

Well if there's lines of code to be written I think I'll just stick with the online service. I need my boss to be able to do it too, and he's.... not too savvy when it comes to computers.

:)
Thanks though. I'll dabble a little in this if I have some free time. :) Maybe I can get it to work for him easily

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Dread

You could do it in linux with an SQL database and the mail command.
Do some googling on Linux + mail.

Exactly what I was going to suggest.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Zambini

Well if there's lines of code to be written I think I'll just stick with the online service. I need my boss to be able to do it too, and he's.... not too savvy when it comes to computers.

:)
Thanks though. I'll dabble a little in this if I have some free time. :) Maybe I can get it to work for him easily

Depending on exactly what needs done the code is pretty much a copy & paste. Nobody would need to really "write" code to any extent, more like fill in the blanks in Notepad and save the file to a desktop (or location of choice). Then again, as mentioned, depending on what will be sent (attachments etc.) and to whom, at $15 the online service is not that bad of a deal.

I would experiment a little with things as time allows.

Ron

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Dread

You could do it in linux with an SQL database and the mail command.
Do some googling on Linux + mail.

Wouldn't that require the machine to be running Linux?

Ron

[Zambini]

Well I told him about the code and he said he already had paid for a year's subscription to the service.
Email Marketing Solutions from Constant Contact
is the website btw.

So it looks like I'm gonna git busy with them over the next couple days

[Reloadron]

Cool, as long as it works for the boss.

The merit of using a site like that is that it can also function as a business campaign site.

Mass mailings to customers can have several purposes, like introducing new products and such. Really depends on the business and what you want things to do for the business. Hell, you are looking at $180 a year which is cheap at the price and they offer a 60 day free trial.

Ron

[Dread]

Originally Posted by Reloadron

Wouldn't that require the machine to be running Linux?

Ron

err...yes....

Linux has a great many applications written for it and *nix os' that do exactly, or close to what he wants done. Even my linux-depleted cranium wrote a
script that mailed changes to the f@h log to my regular email account in it.
If I can do it, almost anyone can.