Emailing Reports

[michaelwpayton]

I'm having a mental block this morning.

I have a report layout that is used to print fairly typical looking client statements. I need to be able to email each statement (i.e. each page of the report) to a different email address.

How best does one accomplish this kind of thing?

Also, and/or in addition, looking at it a little differently; if the user is viewing a Browse of accounts... how would I let them mark the ones they wish to email and click once to make that happen?

The email address is part of the account data, by the way.

Thanks,

[forskare]

Re: Emailing Reports

I'm having a mental block this morning.

I have a report layout that is used to print fairly typical looking client statements. I need to be able to email each statement (i.e. each page of the report) to a different email address.

How best does one accomplish this kind of thing?

Also, and/or in addition, looking at it a little differently; if the user is viewing a Browse of accounts... how would I let them mark the ones they wish to email and click once to make that happen?

The email address is part of the account data, by the way.

Thanks,

Hi Michael,

Use Action Scripting to email the report. Select Reports on the left side and emali a layout on the right side (bottom)

You can put buttons on a browse to mark and/or print and/or email the report.

kenn

[michaelwpayton]

Re: Emailing Reports

Thanks Ken... but I that only seems to work for one statement/email at a time. I'm trying to enable the user to mark multiple accounts (i.e. rows on the browse) and "walk away," while each statement is emailed to it's email address.

[MikeC]

Re: Emailing Reports

Michael,
I believe you will have to use an xbasic routine for this. There have been a few code snippets on the messageboard that will give a big head start in doing this. If you cannot find them I will see what I can find...

BTW, gMail and Alpha do not get along very well yet so hopefully you or clients are not using it.


EDIT: Here is one from my help file I gleaned....guess it is for sending multiple attachments.

'Send a report, label, letter, form or browse layout as an attachment to an e-mail message. You can specify which records to send.

lst=""

dim shared lst as c
if tablecount("YOUR TABLE","YOUR CHECKBOX FIELD NAME")>0
	lst=table.external_record_content_get("YOUR TABLE","alltrim(YOUR EMAIL FIELD NAME)","","YOUR CHECKBOX FIELD NAME")
    lst=crlf_to_comma(lst)

  else
    ui_msg_box("Attention!","You have not selected any clients!")
end if

query.filter = ""
query.order = ""

to_param = a5_eval_expression(lst,local_variables())
cc_param = a5_eval_expression("",local_variables())
bcc_param = a5_eval_expression("",local_variables())	
subject_param = a5_eval_expression("TEST_MULTI-MAIL",local_variables())	
message_param = a5_eval_expression("",local_variables())


:Letter.Send("YOUR SAVED LETTER","RTF",query.filter,query.order,"default",to_param,subject_param,message_param,cc_param,bcc_param)

[michaelwpayton]

Re: Emailing Reports

Thanks Mike...

That code looks like it sends the same letter/layout to multiple clients (i.e. all of the checked records). I need to produce a different pdf for each account and send that pdf to each account's email address.

I guess I'll have to use ReportSaveAs and one of the email "send" functions to do it myself. I really thought there was an easier way. But, I guess, if there was an easier way... no one would buy Report Mailer, LOL.

[MikeC]

Re: Emailing Reports

Mike,
You can get all marked records into a list. Once that is done you can iterate through the list using the code that sends out one mail at a time. This method is used for so many things in Alpha (creating a list and then processing it) that it will help you immensely in your ability to use Alpha.

Use "list processing" in the help's index tab (without quotes). But know there are many scripts and samples here on the messageboard also---does not have to be concerning email specifically...just processing a list. I will check for a specific email script but will have to be later today--maybe someone else has one handy.

[michaelwpayton]

Re: Emailing Reports

Thanks Mike... I'll check out "list processing."

[forskare]

Re: Emailing Reports

Thanks Ken... but I that only seems to work for one statement/email at a time. I'm trying to enable the user to mark multiple accounts (i.e. rows on the browse) and "walk away," while each statement is emailed to it's email address.

You need to set the table on which the report is based to a single table or if in a set, to the parent table. That will allow the option to print/email the current record (Action Script).

I have a browse with a conditional button that allows the user to print/email the record which has focus, i.e. whatever row has focus.

kenn

[G Gabriel]

Re: Emailing Reports

looking at it a little differently; if the user is viewing a Browse of accounts... how would I let them mark the ones they wish to email and click once to make that happen?

First you need to isolate the marked ones, either with a query, or if you do it frequently, with an index (less preferable even if you do it frequently. Other conditions need to be considered but Ceteris Paribus use a query).

The query will produce a table with the marked records only.

Iterate over the records using while..end while to send a report to each email.

Here is a mock script:

t=table.open("..your_table")
t.query_create("t",marked())
t.fetch_first()
while .not. t.fetch_eof()
..here use the script that sends the email with the report.
..the report needs to be filtered according to the current record
end while
t.close()

The above will send a report, one page each, to each recipient.

The idea of generating a report then sending one page to each record sounds interesting to me in that the report is generated once not to mention the query is also run once (or so I thought, but not so). To accomplish this you will have to override the printing setting to first print page 1 then page 2 etc. Not difficult. The key is to match the recipient with the page. Again, not difficult so long as the filter used to generate the report is the same one used to query the table.


Here is a mock script for this one:
In the OnPrint event of the report (or just just before you run the report):

dim x as n=1'make it global if run before running the report.

In the OnRecord event of the report:

..put the script overriding printing options to print page x to the current recipient
x=x+1

After the report is generated and as it prints (or previewed), for each page (record) in the report, it will send an email to the matching recipient with that page only.
In essence, the report itself (via its OnRecord event) will generate a report for each page to be emailed to the current recipient. So,we are back to the first script where a separate report, one page each, is generated for each recipient. Six of one half a dozen of the other. In the first instance, you would use t.open(), run a query etc to iterate over marked records. In the second script, you generate a report using a filter matching the query, then generate a separate report for each page.
Take your pick. In my mind, there is no difference except that overriding printing setting is cumbersome so I would stick with the first script. In fact, I am not even sure if it is doable in practice due to timing issues.

[forskare]

Re: Emailing Reports

Hi Gabe,

I like your first picture much better.

kenn

[michaelwpayton]

Re: Emailing Reports

Thanks Kenn... but I want them to select mutliple records, then click to have all the layouts/emails sent.

I have it sending one layout/email at-a-time now. The user wants to mark/select multiple records (maybe 50 or 60 at a time) and then walk-away while they are all sent.

They don't want to:

mark/select
click to send
wait for layout to be produced/sent

mark/select
click to send
wait for layout to be produced/sent
...

Instead, they want to:

mark/select
mark/select
...
click to send
wait for all to be produced/sent

I think I will have to:

Let them use the Browse to Mark what to send.
Give them something to click to indicate they are ready to send.
Get the RecNo and Email Addresses they Marked into a List.
For each RecNo/Eamil Address in the List:
ReportSaveAs
Send the Email

[G Gabriel]

Re: Emailing Reports

Which one? The one before the cosmetic surgery?

[michaelwpayton]

Re: Emailing Reports

Thanks Gabe... I was typing my last post while you were posting.

[forskare]

Re: Emailing Reports

Which one? The one before the cosmetic surgery?

The one about a year and a half ago. A fine picture of her.

[MikeC]

Re: Emailing Reports

Mike,
Another question....are you to mail the same reports/statements to all the recipients....or specific (and different) reports/statements to each recipients??


If different how do you have it set up to determine which ones?