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M
MarcovandenOever
Inspiring
December 29, 2008
Answered

Filter or manipulate mail server data before pulled to email program

  • December 29, 2008
  • 6 replies
  • 604 views
How can i manipulate the data from the mail server before it gets pulled to a mail program like outlook.
For example i want to write mail data to db before it gets pulled into mail program.

Is there a way to set filter like structures that work between the mail server and db?

Of course you can write code with cfpop get header etc, but what if i want to save all mail data on database, how can i make sure to also save a copy of the email that gets pulled to the email program, as i understand once pulled the message is off the server so i wouldn't be able to synchronize the db with the new messages with a sort of scheduled task structure.

Or is this really something you can set up totally by settings of the mail server itself? Then again, in shared or vps setup you probably will not have much settings to set as you're not allowed to server side.

Any idea's will be much appreciated.

Thank you.
    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Newsgroup_User
    a) use a DEDICATED email account, which is NOT checked (=emails
    downloaded) by any email applications
    b) use CFPOP to retrieve emails, parse them as required, store data in
    db and delete the message
    c) use CFMAIL to send a copy of message to another email address that
    DOES download messages for archiving (if necessary at all - you are
    already storing the emails in the db...)
    d) [optionally] based on email headers/subject/body/etc use CFMAIL (or
    an SMS or IM gateway) to notify appropriate staff about new
    request/ticket/whatever

    just some thoughts...

    Azadi Saryev
    Sabai-dee.com
    http://www.sabai-dee.com/

    6 replies

    M
    MarcovandenOeverAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 30, 2008
    Hi Azadi, indeed, i further studied on it and like you state that is the best approach, it's not that hard at all, if you know how to...

    Thanks!
    N
    Newsgroup_UserCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    December 30, 2008
    a) use a DEDICATED email account, which is NOT checked (=emails
    downloaded) by any email applications
    b) use CFPOP to retrieve emails, parse them as required, store data in
    db and delete the message
    c) use CFMAIL to send a copy of message to another email address that
    DOES download messages for archiving (if necessary at all - you are
    already storing the emails in the db...)
    d) [optionally] based on email headers/subject/body/etc use CFMAIL (or
    an SMS or IM gateway) to notify appropriate staff about new
    request/ticket/whatever

    just some thoughts...

    Azadi Saryev
    Sabai-dee.com
    http://www.sabai-dee.com/
    M
    MarcovandenOeverAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 29, 2008
    I meant if the email is saved (read kept) on the mail server, just as default, then it might be useful to use just that, but then again i want a knowledge database so then it might be better to save all to database.

    I just don't know what the common uses are for handling this kind of stuff, if it's common to just use the mail server as resource and knowledge database instead of creating a separate database.

    But a database it is, thanks again!
    N
    Newsgroup_User
    Inspiring
    December 29, 2008
    MarcovandenOever wrote:
    > Hi Mack, thanks for your reply.
    >
    > As for the mail / db version / server, that will be a windows mail server and
    > ms sql or my sql db server.
    >
    > If it is so that messages are as default saved, then it would be much easier
    > to go for a setup without database.

    As default saved where ? By the mail server ? (I'm not sure that you
    want to reverse-engineer the format of the message)

    > Then again, if you would like to create a knowledge database etc, then a setup
    > with db is needed am i right?
    >
    > How would you set this up? A ticket system for client / operator that also
    > need a knowledge database, with or without database?

    CFPOP saving the messages to a database.

    --
    Mack
    M
    MarcovandenOeverAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 29, 2008
    Hi Mack, thanks for your reply.

    As for the mail / db version / server, that will be a windows mail server and ms sql or my sql db server.

    If it is so that messages are as default saved, then it would be much easier to go for a setup without database.

    Then again, if you would like to create a knowledge database etc, then a setup with db is needed am i right?

    How would you set this up? A ticket system for client / operator that also need a knowledge database, with or without database?

    Thanks again!
    N
    Newsgroup_User
    Inspiring
    December 29, 2008
    MarcovandenOever wrote:
    > How can i manipulate the data from the mail server before it gets pulled to a
    > mail program like outlook.
    > For example i want to write mail data to db before it gets pulled into mail
    > program.

    cfpop

    > Is there a way to set filter like structures that work between the mail server
    > and db?

    Generally no.

    > Of course you can write code with cfpop get header etc, but what if i want to
    > save all mail data on database, how can i make sure to also save a copy of the
    > email that gets pulled to the email program, as i understand once pulled the
    > message is off the server so i wouldn't be able to synchronize the db with the
    > new messages with a sort of scheduled task structure.

    Don't delete the e-mail after retrieval (the e-mail is not deleted
    automatically)

    > Or is this really something you can set up totally by settings of the mail
    > server itself?

    Without a specific mail and db server name and version this question
    it's hard to answer.

    --
    Mack
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