Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message?

[Bill]

Hi All,
I'm trying to create a "send layout via email" script, but I keep getting a script error message when I run it if the email message exceeds a paragraph (an approximation, didn't do an actual count).

Is this a formatting issue (can't use hard enters or have line spaces, etc.) or is there a limit on the number of characters that can be used?

If it matters, I'm using the default email client (Outlook).

Thanks

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Bill,

What is the error message you are getting? Are you sending data via the body of the email or as an attachment?

[Bill]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Cheryl,
The message is in the body of the email, not an attachment

Script:CanDepart : line 42
:report.send(blah blah blah)

The thing is; the error message only fires when the message is long (don't know how long) so it doesn't seem to be an issue with the code if a shorter message doesn't cause that to happen.

Thanks for the response

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Hi Bill,

The <OBJECT>.SEND() method emails a layout as an attached file, it does not include the data in the body message of the email. Perhaps your ISP or Outlook has limitations on the size of attachments that can be sent out?

I would suggest first creating an Alpha email profile and try running your same script using the Alpha internal email and see if you get the same error. If not, then your trouble is either with Outlook or your ISP.

[DaveM]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Bill,

I send this email exactly like this and it has a lot of code built in every day using the outlook oor eudora setting at the bottom. I don't know how long yours is.

We Know How Important it is to "DO IT YOUR WAY!"

Dave Mason
Dealership
1233 main st
crystal river, FL 34448

352-555-6800 or 877-745-2299
My Cell 352-302-2015
email dealer@lotrun.com
www.dealership.com

Dear James Schum,

Thank you for your interest in the 2007 GMC YUKON 4WD via the Internet. I have some Great Rebates/Incentives on selected models and I will also include these for you.

If you wish a price with equipment, please respond with a list of equipment and colors or you will be priced exactly for what you sent in with no options.

I will handle everything for you. I am the only one here that handles the Internet vehicle requests and have a financial arrangement made so that I do not have to make a profit to make a paycheck. I would be happy to meet with you at your convenience to answer any questions, as well as provide the keys for a test drive. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached either by replying to this e-mail or
352-555-6800 or 877-745-2599 or My Cell 352-302-2015
.
If the "BEST" price you recieve is not what you expected, please do not hesitate to let me know. I also keep a great selection of preowned vehicles in stock.

Thank you.
Dave Mason </STRONG>
BuyPower/Internet Manager
352-555-6800 or 877-746-2599 or My Cell 352-302-2015

PS We Know How Important it is to "DO IT YOUR WAY!"

[Bill]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Cheryl,
The attachment isn't the issue, it's the message (size or formatting) in the body of the email that fires the error. I use the default emailer because I want the emails to show up in my Outlook "sent" folder (and I am, admittedly, ignorant as to how the A5 mailer works).

I did notice that there is a "type" designation (under "result" in the expression builder window for creating the message) that changes from "C" to "B" if more than 1,023 characters, counting spaces, are entered. And that seems to be the point at which this happens.

Dave,
Is that ad contained in the message body of your emails, or is it an attachment? (FYI; I did a character count on your message and it came back as 1,362).

I ask because the formatting, or "look", is important to me, but so isn't the recipient's ability to read the message when they open the email, instead of having to open an attachment. I hate opening attachments to see what an email is about, and I'm guessing other people feel the same way. To say nothing about the fears of opening something that might contain viruses.

[MikeC]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Bill,
It seems that you are using a variable then for your message....And Dave may very well be as well but the difference could be he is using more than one variable for various parts of the message and so actually the 1023 count is not being exceeded (and so the variable is not being automatically converted to a blob).

So a few of ways around your dilemma.

Create smaller messages! :p

Use more than one variable for you messages

Write the blob to a file with file.writeb() and then use Field.memo_read_from_field() when the number exceeds 1023.

I am hoping for an easier method to surface.

[DaveM]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Bill,

I didn't know there was a 1023 limit. I guess I exceeded it on most of my emails, but they get sent. Maybe it is because it is from a template? 2349 letters 2742 if spaces count

Is that ad contained in the message body of your emails, or is it an attachment? (FYI; I did a character count on your message and it came back as 1,362).

In the body of the message. I don't use attachments as most will not open them(in my business). I have used graphics in the past too, but they load too slow and the reciever would just drop it.


Here is the exact code from the body as best I can copy it.

Dave Mason 
Eagle Buick Pontiac GMC 
1275 S Suncoast Blvd
Homosassa, FL 34448
352-795-6800 or 888-745-2599
My Cell 352-302-2015
email [email protected]
www.eaglebuickpontiacgmc.com  

Dear  <<trim(First)+" "+trim(Last)|>>, 

You requested a price for a <<trim(Year)+" "+trim(Make)+" "+trim(Model)+" "+trim(Trim)+" "+trim(Body)+" "+" "+trim(Special)+" "+trim(Colors)+" "+trim(Engine)+" "+trim(Special_Features)|>>. 


With all Possible Incentives your price could be as low as:  $<<cash-(Reb1+Reb2+Reb3+Reb4+Reb5)||10|2>> purchased from our stock.  Price is good for <<Ilead->Hoursgood||10|2>> hours or until <<Ilead->Pricegoodtil|>> whichever comes first(incentives do change and I can generally protect for 3 days)** 
A Savings from MSRP up to: $ <<(Msrp-Cash)+(Reb1+Reb2+Reb3+Reb4+Reb5)||10|2>> !

We have over 600 preowned vehicles to further satisfy your needs availeable.

To get a credit application to us, please provide the following in email or phone call:

Legal full name, Full address, date of birth,driver license number,social security number


***NO information from you will be sold, given away or otherwise put in other hands.  I will not know your credit score, but will be able to communicate the likelihood of financing!***

**NO vehicle is held on the basis of a bid unless answered prior to the vehicle being sold. *Incentives are subject to change without notice and usually do at the end of each month. Incentives may be different according to location and you may receive more or less Incentives.

Factory or Dealer installed options could raise the final price. Finding a vehicle In-Stock can save you money!  State Fees, Locate Fees(not freight), Taxes(can vary according to your zip code) and Dealer Fees must still be added. We DO NOT have an Internet fee!  All prices are set to coincide with the unit you requested with no options or with the options you asked for.  I will be happy to locate the vehicle of your choice if I don't have it in stock and bring it here.  

Dave Mason 

BuyPower/Internet Manager
352-795-6800 or 888-745-2599 or My Cell 352-302-2015 

We Know How Important it is to "DO IT YOUR WAY!"

PS, Please don't hesitate to call if you think the price or equipment is different than expected.

Acadia is here!    Enclave is here!

<<if(isblank("Usedmake"), "", "Possible Pre-Owned Alternatives")|>>  

<<if( isblank("Usedmake"), "", "Year= "+trim(Usedyear)+" Make= "+trim(Usedmake)+" Model= "+trim(Usedmodel)+"  "+trim(Usedother)+" Miles= "+trim(Usedmiles)+" Internet Price= "+trim(str(Usedprice,10,2)))|>>

<<if( isblank("Usedmake2"), "", "Year= "+trim(Usedyear2)+" Make= "+trim(Usedmake2)+" Model= "+trim(Usedmodel2)+" "+trim(Usedother2)+" Miles= "+trim(Usedmiles2)+" Internet Price= "+trim(str(Usedprice2,10,2)))|>>

.

[glenschild]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

The limitation is also present when using netmailer! If you create the email body using the expression builder within the genie the "type" changes from Character to Blob and the error fires when attempting to run the job.

I must admit I would expect the NetMailer addin to handle this but clearly it does not.

[DaveM]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Glen,

Why does mine work? There are 3 if statements.

.

[glenschild]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Dave

If I knew the answer to that I would not have posted:)

I am using a mixture of plain text and expressions to pick up names etc

[MikeC]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Dave,
As you said, you have a template in which most of the message body has already been composed--probably a memo or rtf field or analogous to them I would guess....the variables you are using within the template have a character count of under 1023 I imagine.

Glen,
Unless you are also using such a template then there is no comparison between what you are doing and what Dave has done. More info is needed but again, I am guessing that you are using a character variable for pretty much most, if not all, of the email's message.

Either that or I have missed the entire reasoning/cause behind it.

[glenschild]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Mike

I may have mislead. The error occurs when I use action scripting and the "send a layout via email" option. I create the email body as per image eg1 and if it it contains too many characters and becomes a blob then I get the error message as per imae eg2.

[DaveM]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Glenn,

As you said, you have a template in which most of the message body has already been composed--probably a memo or rtf field or analogous to them I would guess....the variables you are using within the template have a character count of under 1023 I imagine.

None of the above. It is typed in text, fields off a form/table. NO RTF, Memo, or variables at all.

The particular email I showed you has three if statements that show table fields that exist on the form calling the template.

I really don't understand what I may have done if there really is a 1023 limit.

Also, it is in version 7 and has been used in v8 and v9 with no changes.

You cannot see the email in v7 when using vista, but it sends fine when tested.

If you are sending by xbasic, there may be different limits??

Below is the form that calls the template. It is the send first button.

Again, I am not trying to tell anyone they are either right or wrong, just trying to understand why the error is happening. Others may need the info, including me.


.

[MikeC]

Re: Is there a limitation on the # of characters that can be used in an email message

Hi,

As I mentioned Dave you're using a template and so there is no variable to be converted to a Blob and so no mismatch of variable types when the amount of data exceeds the 1023 limit and converts the once character variable into a blob type. And for an unbeknownst reason to me, even though a memo field can be either have character or blob data, a memo field won't accept the data from a character variable that has been automatically converted to a blob variable.

I believe Glen is using a variable as his expression has to equal something.

After looking at the help files regarding templates, it states that Netmailer cannot use them. But after looking at the help files for Netmailer I found that the email message can be inserted via a file---so if it were me, I'd set the expression Glen has for the message to a variable, write it to a file (using the file.writeb() function) and use the file. I don't know offhand if this can be done completely using Action Script.

Glen, I agree that this should not have to be done, especially when using a special piece of software dedicated to sending emails---unless someone comes forward with another explanation, what I said is how I would approach the problem.

...and I really wish someone would show a different way or approach to how to use the data within the variable when a character variable becomes a blob...I will be watching with all others now just for this.