Email2send or Mandrill

[chadbrown]

Any thoughts on which is more reliable I have a ton of spots that i use the 2send function but lately it has been a little unreliable. Most of my spots are in grids, which I have not tried the Mandrill style yet.
Anyone find that the Mandrill is faster and easier to use? But mostly is it reliable.

Thanks

[Steve Workings]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Chad - I send a lot of emails every day from my biggest application with Email_Send2() and have no problems at all. I can't speak to any comparison with Mandrill though.

[chadbrown]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Thanks Steve, I do a ton of them too but seems to be buggy these days. I just tried the mandrill it seems to work great so far. I like being able to see all the emails send in a dashboard so this seems maybe to be the answer. I am going to play with the errors now which could seal the deal for me.

[chadbrown]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Hi everyone, here is a tidbit of code from my playing around with mandrill which works awesome I must admit. I am using this on a grid.

session.mandrillerror = ""
dim message as p
dim vto as c = ""
vto = session.emp_email+","+session.mgremail+","+session.storemail+
message.from_email="[email protected]"
message.send_to=vto
message.subject ="Subject Line"
message.message_text = "Message text"+crlf(1)+" "+crlf(3)+e.dataSubmitted.whatever+""
dim pResult as p
pResult=email_send_mandrill("mandrillkey",message)
			if pResult.error = .f. then 
				pFlagSent.error =  .f.
				pFlagSent.errorText = "Emails were sent"
			else
				pFlagSent.error = .t.
				if eval_valid("pResult.result.message") then 
					pFlagSent.errorText = pResult.result.message
				else
					pFlagSent.errorText = "Unspecified error"
				end if 
			end if 
session.mandrillerror = pFlagSent.errorText


////////xbasic function declarations//////

function emessage2 as c (e as p)
   txt = " " + session.mandrillerror + ""
   msg = "A5.msgBox.show('Submitted...','<div style=\'padding: 20px;text-align:center;\'>" + txt + " <br /><img src=\"candybar.gif\"></div>','none',function() {});"
   emessage2 = msg
end function



//////aftergridsubmit///////

{grid.object}.runAction('emessage');

[Progytech]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Hi Chad,
I use Mandrill and so far is just great, application works fine, not overhead by sending email and as you found out, Mandrill site will show you the list of emails sent and better yet, if there are any problem with your emails.

[Bill Parker]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

I am testing Mandrill also. Emails send fine, but with some email clients, e.g. Outlook the "from" address of the received email displays as - [email protected]; on behalf of [email protected]"

The mandrill docs talk about adding SPF and DKIM records to the sending domain, i.e. xxxx.com. I have never messed with these, so my questions are
1. do others get a similar From address.
2. is there a way for From to just show [email protected]?

Bill.

[Progytech]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Hi Bill,
I have not experience that issue. Here is one of my functions I use to send email with Mandrill, be aware that many other things are happening in this function, but it could be a good example.

This function is call from an Ajax callback in a grid.

function xbSendEmail as c (e as p)
		
	dim fromAddress as c = e._currentRowDataNew.ParentProgressReportReplyToEmail
	dim fromAlias as c = e._currentRowDataNew.CompanyName
	dim sendToAddress as c = e._currentRowDataNew.eMail
	dim bccAddress as c = e._currentRowDataNew.ParentProgressReportReplyToEmail
	
	dim cfpReportDueNow as L = convert_type(e._currentRowDataNew.cfpReportDueNow, "L")
	dim ReportSigned as L = convert_type(e._currentRowDataNew.ReportSigned, "L")
	dim ReviewCompleted as L = convert_type(e._currentRowDataNew.ReviewCompleted, "L")
	dim SignatureDate as d = convert_type(e._currentRowDataNew.SignatureDate, "d")
	
	dim cfpStudentName as c = e._currentRowDataNew.cfpStudentName
	dim cfpFullName as c = e._currentRowDataNew.cfpFullName
	dim cfpProvidersDueDate as d = convert_type(e._currentRowDataNew.cfpProvidersDueDate, "d")
	dim CompanyName as c = e._currentRowDataNew.CompanyName
	
	'-- The sendToAlias could be the Provider Name or the CompanyName
	dim sendToAlias as c = e._currentRowDataNew.cfpFullName
	
	dim emailBodyTemplate as c = ""
	
	dim reportTitle as c = "Parent Progress Report"
	dim subjectPrefix as c = reportTitle + " for " + cfpStudentName

	dim ms as p
	
	if ReviewCompleted = .T. then
		'-- eMail sent from Company
		ms.subject = subjectPrefix + " - Review Completed"
		emailBodyTemplate = a5w_GetFromWebAppRepository(reportTitle + " - Review Completed")
	else
		if ReportSigned = .T. then
			'-- eMail sent from Provider
			ms.subject = subjectPrefix + " - Signed"
			emailBodyTemplate = a5w_GetFromWebAppRepository(reportTitle + " - Signed")
			fromAddress = e._currentRowDataNew.eMail
			bccAddress = e._currentRowDataNew.eMail
			fromAlias = cfpFullName
			
			sendToAddress = e._currentRowDataNew.ParentProgressReportReplyToEmail
			sendToAlias = CompanyName
		else
			if cfpReportDueNow = .T. then
				'-- eMail sent from Company
				ms.subject = subjectPrefix + " - Due Now"
				emailBodyTemplate = a5w_GetFromWebAppRepository(reportTitle + " - Due Now")
			end if '-- cfpReportDueNow = .T.
		end if '-- ReportSigned = .T.
	end if '-- ReviewCompleted = .T.

	'-- Add Alias to the Sender email.
	if sendToAlias <> "" then
		'-- Add the email alias if not empty
		ms.send_to = sendToAddress + ":" + sendToAlias
	else
		ms.send_to = sendToAddress
	end if
	
	ms.from_email = fromAddress
	ms.from_name = fromAlias
	ms.send_to_bcc = bccAddress
	ms.send_to_cc = ""
	
	'-- Make sure the email body template is evaluated to get the field values
	'   stored in the template variables.
	ms.message_html = evaluate_string(emailBodyTemplate)
'	ms.message_text = "Plain text version of the message"
	
	'-- No attachements needed by this process.
	'ms.attachments = "c:\files\mychart1.pdf,c:\files\mytext1.txt"

'debug(1)

	'--////////////////////////////
	'-- Validate email addresses
	'--////////////////////////////
	dim jsReturnCommand as c 
	dim validateErrorFound as l
	dim errorMessage as c

	'-- If for any reason the a5Repository record does not have a message body template, then
	'   exit this function.
	if alltrim(emailBodyTemplate) = "" then
		validateErrorFound = .t.
		errorMessage = "The email body template is empty and email could not be sent."
	end if
	
	if alltrim(fromAddress) = "" then
		validateErrorFound = .t.
		if alltrim(errorMessage) = "" then
			errorMessage = "The Sender email is empty and email could not be sent."
		else
			errorMessage = errorMessage + "<br>The Sender email is empty and email could not be sent."
		end if
	end if
	
	if alltrim(sendToAddress) = "" then
		validateErrorFound = .t.
		if alltrim(errorMessage) = "" then
			errorMessage = "The Recipient email is empty and email could not be sent."
		else
			errorMessage = errorMessage + "<br>The Recipient email is empty and email could not be sent."
		end if
	end if
	
	if validateErrorFound = .t. then
		jsReturnCommand = <<%html% 
			A5.msgBox.show('Send email status...','<div style="height: 1in; padding: 15pt;">{errorMessage}</div>','o');
		%html%
	
		xbSendEmail = evaluate_string(jsReturnCommand)
		return
	end if	

	'--////////////////////////////
	'-- Send email here.
	'--////////////////////////////
	dim pResult as p
	dim mandrillKey as c = ""
	pResult = email_send_mandrill(mandrillKey,ms)

	dim resultMessage as c = ""
	if pResult.error then
		if eval_valid("pResult.result") then
			resultMessage = "There was an error sending your email:<br>Error: " + js_escape(pResult.result.name) + "<br>Message: " + js_escape(pResult.result.message)
		else
			if eval_valid("pResult.errorText") then
				resultMessage = "There was an error sending your email:<br>Error: " + js_escape(pResult.errorText)	
			end if
		end if
	else
		resultMessage = "Your email was sent successfully to:<br>" + sendToAlias + " (" + sendToAddress + ");"
		
		'-- Now that message has been sent, update the arLasteMailReminderSent
		dim conn as SQL::Connection
		dim sqlStmt as c
		dim rs as SQL::ResultSet	
		dim args as sql::Arguments

		args.add("PK_ParentProgressReport", convert_type(e._currentRowKeys[1],"N"))
		args.add("LasteMailReminderSent", now())

		sqlSelect = "UPDATE ParentProgressReport SET LasteMailReminderSent = :LasteMailReminderSent WHERE PK_ParentProgressReport = :PK_ParentProgressReport"
		
		if conn.Open("::Name::MyConnection") then
			if conn.execute(sqlSelect, Args) then
				'-- Update some fields in the grid detail form.
			end if
		
			'-- Make sure the connection is closed.
			conn.close() 
		end if
	end if
	
	jsReturnCommand = <<%html% 
		A5.msgBox.show('Send email status...','<div style="height: 1in; padding: 15pt;">{resultMessage}</div>','o');
		{grid.Object}.refreshRow({e._currentRow});
	%html%

	' Return the javascript command to the Ajax callback	
	xbSendEmail = evaluate_string(jsReturnCommand)
	
end function

There are some validations in this functions that have nothing to do with sending email, but I rather post the whole function for clarification.
Feel free to ask more questions if you need to.

[Bill Parker]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

I found this on the Mandrill site -
If your recipients use Outlook, Hotmail (and other Microsoft webmail services), or Gmail, they may see an indication in the email that it was sent by Mandrill on your behalf instead of just your 'from' name and address. Add SPF and DKIM records to your sending domains to remove the 'on behalf of' or 'via' information.

Unfortunately I also found that SPF records prevent use of forwarding addresses, which I use. The Godaddy support person was not real helpful. Still searching...

Bill.

[Progytech]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Hi Bill,

I found this on the Mandrill site -
If your recipients use Outlook, Hotmail (and other Microsoft webmail services), or Gmail, they may see an indication in the email that it was sent by Mandrill on your behalf instead of just your 'from' name and address. Add SPF and DKIM records to your sending domains to remove the 'on behalf of' or 'via' information.

I double checked the emails in one of my customers and yes I noticed that for some of the senders it will use the "on behalf of Mandrill..." but in my case using MS Outlook client, it will also show the name of the sender properly and if I reply to this email, it will show the sender's email properly ex [email protected].

Probably that is why I have not received any complaints from customer because email just work even with this extra information.

[Bill Parker]

Re: Email2send or Mandrill

Edhy,

Actually I had not taken the simple step of replying to the email! Yes, that works fine, so maybe not so bad a problem. Thanks.

Bill.