How do I automate mailing attachments?
Chris Plachta
I'm trying to figure out a way to script the process of mailing file
attachments, rather than having to do it through Netscape mail.
Let me give a little background on my problem. I run a small business
that provides text file reports to my customers. I run a Linux box
using Redhad software. The software that I write is primarily in perl.
I've tried to send these reports in the body of a email message by
simply using the "mail" command, but many users would not receive the
email properly.
I found that if I manually go into Netscape mail and send the text file
as an attachement, these problems go away. The problem is, I don't want
to have to do this by hand! I have a feeling that if I can create a
mail message with the appropriate headers, I can trick "mail" or "pine"
sending the message in the same manner that netscape mail does.
I hope this makes sense. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Chris Plachta
Chris Plachta
John Stanley wrote:
>
> In article <3515D140...@idt.net>, Chris Plachta <sta...@idt.net> wrote:
> >Let me give a little background on my problem. I run a small business
> >that provides text file reports to my customers. I run a Linux box
> >using Redhad software. The software that I write is primarily in perl.
> >I've tried to send these reports in the body of a email message by
> >simply using the "mail" command, but many users would not receive the
> >email properly.
>
> simple text sent via "mail" properly, how can you have any hope that
> they can process the text as attachments? I mean, it doesn't get much
> simpler than this.
It seems that some mail systems (for example, some corporate sites)
have a maximum size that they will allow for an email. This is
understandable. However, what I don't understand is that these systems
seem to have different criteria for mail messages that contain
attachments, i.e., if I send two mail messages, one with a text file in
the body of the message and one with the same text file as an
attachment, the attachment makes it ok and the "regular" message
doesn't. This is one problem that I have encountered.
>
> >I have a feeling that if I can create a
> >mail message with the appropriate headers, I can trick "mail" or "pine"
> >sending the message in the same manner that netscape mail does.
>
> Well, I guess the first thing to do is find out what these non-standard
> mail systems require in order to receive mail and then talk to sendmail
> directly, creating whatever it is that they need. Myself, I would tell
> your customers that the price of admission to your service is a real
> mail system.
From what I've seen, you need to have a PhD from MIT in order to talk
to sendmail directly. I wouldn't even know where to begin. The problem
with requiring people to have a "real" mail system is that many of my
customers use AOL (horrid) and many simply use their employers email
system. You know how it is....the customer is always right!
Thanks for your help.
Chris
andy
Try using the MIME-Lite or MIME-tools modules for Perl5. MIME-Lite is made
just to make attachments, MIME-tools has much greater functionality. You
can get them from you friendly local CPAN.
Chris Plachta wrote:
> I'm trying to figure out a way to script the process of mailing file
> attachments, rather than having to do it through Netscape mail.
>
> Let me give a little background on my problem. I run a small business
> that provides text file reports to my customers. I run a Linux box
> using Redhad software. The software that I write is primarily in perl.
> I've tried to send these reports in the body of a email message by
> simply using the "mail" command, but many users would not receive the
> email properly.
>
> I found that if I manually go into Netscape mail and send the text file
> as an attachement, these problems go away. The problem is, I don't want
> to have to do this by hand! I have a feeling that if I can create a
> mail message with the appropriate headers, I can trick "mail" or "pine"
> sending the message in the same manner that netscape mail does.
>
Mike O'Connor
In article <3522F790...@murren.org>, andy <an...@murren.org> wrote:
:Try using the MIME-Lite or MIME-tools modules for Perl5. MIME-Lite is made
:just to make attachments, MIME-tools has much greater functionality. You
:can get them from you friendly local CPAN.
Another option would be to use the mpack tool:
ftp://ftp.andrew.cmu.edu/pub/mpack/
It's not perl-based, but might make more sense if you're happier
with just issuing a system() call.
:
:Chris Plachta wrote:
:
:> I'm trying to figure out a way to script the process of mailing file
:> attachments, rather than having to do it through Netscape mail.
:>
:> Let me give a little background on my problem. I run a small business
:> that provides text file reports to my customers. I run a Linux box
:> using Redhad software. The software that I write is primarily in perl.
:> I've tried to send these reports in the body of a email message by
:> simply using the "mail" command, but many users would not receive the
:> email properly.
:>
:> I found that if I manually go into Netscape mail and send the text file
:> as an attachement, these problems go away. The problem is, I don't want
:> to have to do this by hand! I have a feeling that if I can create a
:> mail message with the appropriate headers, I can trick "mail" or "pine"
:> sending the message in the same manner that netscape mail does.
:>
:> I hope this makes sense. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
:>
:> Chris Plachta
:
:
:
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