MS Outlook and signatures

[Bill Parker]

Does anyone familiar with Outlook know how to manually insert the defined signature into the email body while the user is typing the message?

It is easy to do this manually in Outlook Express, just Insert -> Signature. But I can't find similar in Outlook.

The problem is that when email_client_external() opens the new email the signature is not inserted, as it is when a new email is started from within Outlook. Also the message parameter in email_client_external() does not take html formatted text, so I can't build it myself (image, bolding, etc.).

Now that I think about it, the Outlook object model probably supports this and the issue may be some setting in email_client_external(). so I might be able to roll my own email_client_external(). That function uses MAPISendMail. Has anyone done automation with this?

Bill.

[crimmelcp]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

Bill:
Open outlook
Tools
Mail Format
Button on middle right for signature.

[Bill Parker]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

We might have different versions. In my Outlook 2003 there is Tools, Options, Mail Format, Signatures at bottom.

That is for creating a signature. would be very agravating for a user to have to go there to copy and paste the signature each time they wanted to add it to an email started by Alpha. The MS Help file says to do just that if Word is being used as the email composer.

I have looked briefly at parameters for MAPISendMail and it does not look promising for html format. Probably need to find an Outlook automation person to answer that.

Bill.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

I didn't see anything promising in the OLE Automation Browser.

[crimmelcp]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

Bill:
In one of my purchasing applications the users send email with attached pdf.
Each user logs into the application and their ID is stored in a variable.

There is a button on a form that calls a script based on the logged on user.
Each user has their own script.
it opens outlook 2003 attaches a file and the signitues can be unique for each user.

'-----Code Script :-------
'Date Created: 20-Dec-2007 07:19:30 PM
'Last Updated: 15-Oct-2009 05:12:51 PM
'Created By : Charlie
'Updated By : Robert
dim global vname as c
dim global vdept as c
dim global vcomp as c
dim global voffice1 as c
dim global voffice2 as c
dim global vfax as c
dim global vcell as c
dim global vemail as c
dim global vbcc as C
dim global vbcc2 as C
dim global param_to as C
dim global param_cc as C
dim global param_subject as C
var->vname = ""
var->vdept = ""
var->vcomp = ""
var->voffice1 = ""
var->voffice2 = ""
var->vfax = ""
var->vcell = ""
var->vemail = ""
var->vbcc = ""
var->vbcc2 = ""

var->vname = ""
var->vdept = ""
var->vcomp = ""
var->voffice1 = "[email protected]"
var->voffice2 = "[email protected]"
var->vfax = ""
var->vcell = ""
var->vemail = ""
var->vbcc="[email protected]"
var->vbcc2="[email protected]"

t1=table.current(1)
dim global vfilename as C
dim global vpath as C
dim global vsaveas as C
var->vfilename=""
var->vpath=""
var->vsaveas=""
if a5_is_path_valid("C:\Alpha5v9\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF") = .F. Then
file.dir_create("C:\Alpha5v9\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF")
end if

if a5_is_path_valid("Y:\Alpha5v9\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF")= .T. then
var->vpath="Y:\Alpha5v9\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF"+chr(92)
else
var->vpath="C:\Alpha5v9\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF"+chr(92)
end if
'var->vpath="Y:\Alpha5v8\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF"+chr(92)
var->vfilename=trim(Poheader->PO_NUMBER)+"-"+substr(DTOC(Poheader->Date),1,2)+substr(DTOC(Poheader->Date),4,2)+substr(DTOC(Poheader->Date),9,2)+".pdf"
var->vsaveas=var->vpath+var->vfilename
'Print a report, label, letter, form or browse layout. You can specify which records to print.
record_number = current_record_number()
'query.filter = "recno() = " + record_number
current_filter = "recno() = " + record_number
current_order = ""
query.filter = current_filter
query.order = current_order
':Report.SaveAs("POPDF","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"testrfq.pdf",.F.)
:Report.SaveAs("POPDF","PDF",query.filter,query.order,var->vsaveas,.F.)


'Send an e- mail message using the default external e-mail clilent.
if is_object(topparent.this) then
form_name = topparent.name()+".this"
else
form_name = ""
end if
Dim message_type as c
message_type = ""
to_var = a5_eval_expression("=Vendor_Email",local_variables())
to2_var = a5_eval_expression("=Vendor_Email2",local_variables())
to3_var = a5_eval_expression("=Vendor_Email3",local_variables())
param_to = to_var
subject_var = a5_eval_expression("=\"PO \" + PO_NUMBER",local_variables())
param_subject = subject_var
'-------------------
'param_cc = trim(to2_var) +";"+ trim(to3_var)
if trim(var->to2_var)= "" .and. trim(to3_var)="" then
param_cc = ""
end if
if trim(to2_var)= "" .and. trim(to3_var)<>"" then
param_cc = trim(to3_var)
end if
if trim(to2_var)<> "" .and. trim(to3_var)<>"" then
param_cc = trim(to2_var)
end if
if trim(to2_var)<> "" .and. trim(to3_var)<> "" then
param_cc = trim(to2_var)+"; "+ trim(to3_var)
end if
'-------------------

if trim(var->vbcc)= "" .and. trim(var->vbcc2)="" then
param_bcc = ""
end if
if trim(var->vbcc)= "" .and. trim(var->vbcc2)<>"" then
param_bcc = trim(var->vbcc2)
end if
if trim(var->vbcc)<> "" .and. trim(var->vbcc2)<>"" then
param_bcc = trim(var->vbcc)
end if
if trim(var->vbcc)<> "" .and. trim(var->vbcc2)<> "" then
param_bcc = trim(var->vbcc)+"; "+ trim(var->vbcc2)
end if
'attachments_var = a5_eval_expression("=\"C:\Alpha5v8\Pritchard_Purchase\PDF\R2006-0001-011020.pdf\"",local_variables())
'attachments_var = "="+chr(92)+ trim(var->vsaveas) + chr(92)
trace.clear()
'param_attachments = attachments_var
param_attachments = var->vsaveas
trace.WriteLn("param_attachments = "+param_attachments)
trace.WriteLn("vsave as = "+var->vsaveas)
message_text = <<%a%
Please See Attached PO.


Charlie Crimmel
Purchasing
Pritchard Electric
office:304-759-3655
Fax: 304-759-3500
Cell:
Email: [email protected]


Notice: This transmission is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s)
and may contain information that is confidential and/or privileged.
If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this transmission
and any attachments and notify the sender by return email immediately.
Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.

%a%
param_message = message_text
'Send the e-mail using the external e-mail client
email_client_external(param_to,param_subject,param_message,param_attachments,param_cc,param_bcc)

[Bill Parker]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

Thanks Charlie, I am using email_client_external() also. The problem is that it can't do html email. In a Microsoft article it says MS removed that capability some years ago from the routine that Alpha uses!

Until I figure out some Outlook automation I think I will just create a plain text "signature" file that I will append to the message. Then users can change it. A bit of a poor man's approach for now.

Bill.

[steve745]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

Thanks Charlie, I am using email_client_external() also. The problem is that it can't do html email. In a Microsoft article it says MS removed that capability some years ago from the routine that Alpha uses!

Until I figure out some Outlook automation I think I will just create a plain text "signature" file that I will append to the message. Then users can change it. A bit of a poor man's approach for now.

Bill.

Bill i have a db i designed that will send the email with alpha and i have it just request the file or files to attach. I embed the email info and send it to the smtp server directly. And it does html email. If you would like a sample of my script just lemme know. no other email client needed. And you could code the signitures into variables.

[Bill Parker]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

Steven,

I need to leave the "mostly" completed email open for the user to make any modifications. So the SMTP route will not work.

Bill.

[steve745]

Re: MS Outlook and signatures

Steven,

I need to leave the "mostly" completed email open for the user to make any modifications. So the SMTP route will not work.

Bill.

Are saying they need to be able to change the body of the email
I use a dialog that request the email address to send to then any attachments then they can edit my default body message I'll get you my email to fax script. I'm sure that you could do anything you need to.