Send a Report Via E-Mail

[psamuels56]

Hi Everyone-

I know I'm missing something obvious, but I can't find an Action Script to do what I want.

I've created a report that users can preview, on their screen, for the record they're viewing. I've added a Button onto the report that will "attach that 1-page report to an Outlook e-mail message."

I have one problem: The only Action Script option that does what I want is called "Send a Layout via E-mail". That option is almost PERFECT. It attaches a report file, linked to the "Invoice #" (InvNum) field on the displayed report, to a new e-mail message in Outlook. The user can add his "To" address and send it (I've even pre-filled the subject).

Here's the problem: When I try to add the report that I want to the Button's Action Scripting, it finds only the reports listed on the standard "Control Panel," NOT the Reports listed in Reports section the "Web Projects Control Panel". I've looked all over for a way to point to the reports I've created in the Web Projects Panel... OR to find a similar Action Script that called "Send a Report Via E-mail", which would use the Web Projects Panel, but that option isn't on the list (see image below). I've even tried to duplicate/copy my report to the Standard Control Panel, so that I could use it, but I couldn't figure out an easy way to do that, either.

Alpha email.jpg

Perhaps, there's a better way to accomplish this, than to place a Button right on the report, but I couldn't think of a good way to do it. I can easily send an e-mail with XBasic, but I couldn't find a way to simply attach the report to an e-mail message that the user can add address, subject, etc.

I'm looking for any help/suggestions that you can offer.

Thanks,
Phil

[psamuels56]

Re: Send a Report Via E-Mail

I thought this was something simple, but, so far, I haven't had any replies. Is there anyone who can help me with a simple process of attaching a report to an e-mail. I want to be able to click a button to e-mail an attached receipt for an order. The button to display/print the receipt works perfectly. I'd like to be able to have that document attach to an Outlook Message where the user can type the address, subject and/or "body" text... OR I can have a UX Popup with the fields for Address, Subject and Body text and have it send.

Whichever is easier. I just don't know how to make that report (linked to the current row) attach to an e-mail.

I sure would appreciate any help or suggestions.

[CharlesParker]

Re: Send a Report Via E-Mail

Phil (depending on which version of AS your using) you should find a checkbox option to email your report in the ActionScript action "Open a Report, Label, or Letter Layout" complete with the fields you need.
report-label-letter.JPG

[psamuels56]

Re: Send a Report Via E-Mail

Hi Charles-

THANK YOU for taking the time to write! I did check that box, but the message did NOT send. ALSO, even if it did work, that option doesn't give the user any control over who it's address to (e.g. I can "hard code" the address, OR I could use a field in the current record, but it's out of the control of the user). And, there's certainly no option for the user to add information in the body of the e-mail text.

FYI, I'm using version Build 5271.

Check out "send a layout via e-mail". That simply attaches a file to an Outlook message that the user can address, etc. That would be great. BUT, I can't figure out how to make that work with a report tied to the current record.

I guess, if you can help me make the e-mail checkbox you referred to work, I can get by with that. When I tried it with Live Preview/Working Preview and click the button, nothing happens.

Thanks for your help. If you have any additional thoughts, I'd appreciate them.

[psamuels56]

Re: Send a Report Via E-Mail

This is what I get, when I try to send an e-mail in "Live Preview". Maybe this will help.

e-mail error.jpg

[CharlesParker]

Re: Send a Report Via E-Mail

Well I am certainly no expert but I can share what I have.
To set the send to fields and such using a UX btw, I run 2 xbasic functions because this is a multi-tenant app but the idea would be similar regardless. The target should be set to an xbasic function.
here are the two I use but you can set your values how you like.

function setmailto as c (e as p)
	session.mailedto = e._currentRowDataNew.EMAIL
	session.sentto = session.mailedto + " " + Date()
	'session.mailfrom = e._currentRowDataNew.REPLYEMAIL
	session.mymsg = e._currentRowDataNew.CUSTOM_MESSAGE
	session.sentto = session.mailedto + " " + Now()	

end function
	

function ReportForEmail as c (e as p)    debug(1)
dim key as c 
key = e.fileSessionKey
dim b as b 
'get the binary day for the report
session.GetDataFromFile(b,key)
dim size as n 
size = b.size()
if size = 0 then 
    ReportForEmail = "alert('Report was not sent.');"
    exit function
end if 

'dim mysecretkey as c = ""   'if you leave this blank the key value is read from a setting in Project Properties
dim ms as p
dim date as d
ms.send_to = session.mailedto
    if session.mailedto = "" then
        ReportForEmail = "alert('Email Address is missing or invalid!');"
        exit function
    end if
ms.from_email = "[email protected]"
ms.subject = "Wildlife Control Invoice/Estimate"
ms.message_html = "Please find the attached invoice and or estimate." + "<br>" + session.mymsg + crlf()+\ 
"<br>""<br>""<br>""<center><b>Confidentiality Notice:</b> This e-mail message, including any attachments,is for the sole use of the intended recipients." + crlf()+\
"It may contain confidential and privileged information or may be otherwise protected by law." + crlf()+\
"Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited." + crlf()+\
"If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message." + crlf()+\
"If you received this email by mistake, send complaints/concerns to [email protected]</a>This email is generated using NWCOPRO software.</center>" 


dim ms.attachmentsArray[1] as p
ms.attachmentsArray[1].name = "Wildlife Control.pdf"   'if the report was an html report, use the .html extension
ms.attachmentsArray[1].type = resolve_mime_type("pdf") 'if the report was an html report, use the 'html'
ms.attachmentsArray[1].content = base64encode(b)


dim pResult as p
pResult = wt_email_send_sparkpost("",ms)
?"RETURNED: " + pResult.body + "<hr>"
?"POSTED  : " + pResult.json + "<hr>"
?"HASERROR: " + convert_type(pResult.error,"C")
?"APIERROR: " + convert_type(pResult.error,"C") + "<hr>" '==True IF SPARKPOST RETURNED AN ERROR OF ANY KIND
if pResult.error = .f. then
	ReportForEmail = "alert('Your Invoice/Estimate was sent.');"
	save_to_file(pResult.body + crlf(2) + pResult.json,"H:\a5\bodysent.txt") 
else
	ReportForEmail = "alert('Your Invoice/Estimate was not sent.');"
	save_to_file(pResult.body + crlf(2) + pResult.json,"H:\a5\bodynotsent.txt")
end if
end function

I test live in my app and really only using working or live preview to check visuals because I filter the records by session vars based on groups and users company_ids - if do test such stuff locally I have to hard code those values so it's just easier to setup a test page for testing live on my server, but that's just me. Hope this helps!
As I said, I am not an expert and probably over use session vars but this works for me in my situation.

In the open a pdf action script I run "ReportForEmail" the other xbasic (sendmailto) I run prior. attached shows the order I run them. It could be laid out more efficiently to combine stuff but it was easier for me to debug as I built it and was learning.
actions.JPG

[psamuels56]

Re: Send a Report Via E-Mail

Charles... Once again, thank you for your response. I will try two things:

1. I love your XBasic Code for the UX... Looks perfect for what I'm trying to accomplish (you're too modest about "not being an expert"... it looks great!). I will give that a try to see if it works the way I want it to.
2. I will try uploading the "Send e-mail" code (from the Action Script) to a "live" server to see if it works that way. It makes sense to me, rather than Live or Working Preview.

I will work on this within the next day and I'll let you know how they work.

It was very generous of you to give your time to answer my question. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Phil