Launching mailto from Photoshop

[Whatevermajorloser]

Is this at all possible? Either when a user presses a button or just getting the script to do it automatically? Would love to be able to do this with recipient address, subject and message.

[matias.kiviniemi]

In general if you can "launch an URL" then a "mailto:name@domain.com?subject=title&body=body" _should_ open default mail app with that address and title/body prefilled. I have never tried this from inside a .jsx script, but from a HTML panel CSInterface.openURLInDefaultBrowser(url) should do it.

Note that it's not 100%, user/OS needs to have a mail client and an account ready.

[Whatevermajorloser]

Yup, you are right! This launches a mailto in my default app:

function openURL(url) {
  var fname = "shortcut.url";
  var shortcut = new File(Folder.temp + '/' + fname);
  shortcut.open('w');
  shortcut.writeln('[InternetShortcut]');
  shortcut.writeln('URL=' + url);
  shortcut.writeln();
  shortcut.close();
  shortcut.execute();

};

openURL('mailto:name@domain.com?subject=title&body=body')

Only annoying thing is, it also opens safari, which then becomes the forefront window instead of Outlook.

[SuperMerlin]

You could try using vb script

VBScript:-

Dim strTo, strSubject
Dim objoutlookApp, objmessage
strTo = Wscript.Arguments.Item(0)
strSubject = Wscript.Arguments.Item(1)
strMessage = Wscript.Arguments.Item(2)
Set objoutlookApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
Set objmessage = objoutlookApp.CreateItem(olMailItem)
objmessage.TO = strTo
objmessage.Subject = strSubject
objmessage.HTMLBody = strMessage
objmessage.display
set objmessage = Nothing
set objoutlookApp = Nothing
wscript.quit

Javascript:-

#target photoshop;
//path to vbs script
var cmd = "e:/vbs/outlook.vbs ";
var To =  "supermerlin@wizard.com";
var Subject = "Subject Line";
var Message = "Outlook Message";
cmd += " \"" + To + "\" \"" + Subject + "\" \"" + Message + "\"";
app.system(cmd);

[Whatevermajorloser]

Thanks for this, although I am on a Mac so not sure if it would work? I tried it out by saving the VBScript as a .vbs file and then linking that to the Javascript in EST and it just printed 'Result 32256' in the console.

[SuperMerlin]

Ah, sorry VB is Windows only. You might be able to do something simular with AppleScript?

[Whatevermajorloser]

Good idea. I haven't really used AppleScript much, but that'll probably let me just launch a new message in Outlook directly rather than having to do it by opening a mailto URL. Will look into it - thanks!

[JJMack]

I use windows am an old f a r t...  I wrote one for myself to launch what old men use Thunderbird  a cheep drunk I am and still use DOS bat files. send email with the document I working on attached.

/* ==========================================================

// 2014  John J. McAssey (JJMack)

// ======================================================= */

// This script is supplied as is. It is provided as freeware.

// The author accepts no liability for any problems arising from its use

/* Help Category note tag menu can be used to place script in automate menu

<javascriptresource>

<about>$$$/JavaScripts/email/About=JJMack's email .^r^rCopyright 2014 Mouseprints.^r^rScript email active document if saved</about>

<category>JJMack's Script</category>

</javascriptresource>

*/

// enable double-clicking from Mac Finder or Windows Explorer

#target photoshop // this command only works in Photoshop CS2 and higher

// bring application forward for double-click events

app.bringToFront();

// ensure at least one document open

if (!documents.length) alert('There are no documents open.', 'No Document');

else {

  // declare Global variables

  main(); // at least one document exists proceed

  }

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//                            main function                                  //

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function main() {

  // declare local variables

  var orig_ruler_units = app.preferences.rulerUnits;

  app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS; // Set the ruler units to PIXELS

  try {code();}

  catch(e) {alert(e + ': on line ' + e.line, 'Script Error', true);} // display error message if something goes wrong

  app.preferences.rulerUnits = orig_ruler_units; // Reset units to original settings

}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//                           main function end                               //

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function code() {

  var to="";

  //var to="jjmacks@hotmail.com";        // Bypass prompt and send home

  var cc="";

  var cc="jjmacks@hotmail.com";        // Copy Myself

  var att = "";                        // declare attachment var                      

  try {att=decodeURI(app.activeDocument.fullName);}

  catch(e) {alert("Document " + app.activeDocument.name + " needs to be saved"); return;}

  if (!app.activeDocument.saved) {alert("Document " + app.activeDocument.name + " needs to be saved"); return;}

  var testatt = new File(att);                                                         // Test if backing file still exists

  if(testatt.exists){                                                                       // convert full file name and path to windows standard form

  att = att.replace("/","");                                                              // Strip off leading "/" or the one after the leading "~"

  if (att.substr(0,1)== "~" ) {att=att.replace("~", $.getenv("USERPROFILE") +"\\");}      // user space

  else {att = att.replace("/",":\\");}                                                   // Device root :\\

  while (att.indexOf("/")!=-1 ) { att = att.replace("/","\\"); }                 // Replace "/" with "\" need two to get one

  if (to=="") {to=prompt("Enter email address",to);}                           // Prompt for email address if no default

  if (to!="" && to!=null) {emailer(to,cc,att);}                                       // If addressed emails current document backing file

  }

  else{alert('File = "' + att +'" not found');}

}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//                                emailer  function                          //

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function emailer(to,cc,file){

  var pgm = "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Mozilla Thunderbird\\thunderbird.exe";  // Hard coded need to be correct

  var mailer = new File(pgm);

  if(!mailer.exists){alert("Unable to find Thunderbird\rYou will need to modify Emailer.jsx\rand correct the path"); return; }

  //thunderbird -compose "to='john@example.com,kathy@example.com',cc='britney@example.com',subject='dinner',body='How about dinner tonight?',attachment='C:\temp\info.doc,C:\temp\food.doc'"

  var option ="";

  option += " -compose";

  option += ' "';

  option += "to='"

  option += to;

  option += "'";

  if(cc!="") {

  option += ",cc='"

  option += cc;

  option += "'";

  }

  option += ",subject='" ;

  option +=  "The file you requested" ;

  option += "'";

  option += ",body='";

  option +=  file ;

  option += "'";

  option += ",attachment='";

  option +=  file ;

  var file2 = "E:\\My Files\\Pictures\\JJMack.png";

  option +=  "," + file2 ;

  option += "'";

  option +='"';

  //alert('app.system("CMD /Q /C Start "Thunderbird" /B /MIN "' + pgm + '" '  + option);

  //app.system('CMD /Q /C Start "Thunderbird" /B /MIN "' + pgm + '" '  + option );

  //alert('app.system(Start "Thunderbird" /B /MIN "' + pgm + '" '  + option);

  app.system('Start "Thunderbird" /B /MIN "' + pgm + '" '  + option );

/*

  var batch_file = new File(Folder.temp + "/send_email.bat");

  batch_file.open("w");

  //alert('"Start "Thunderbird" /B /MIN "' + pgm + '" '  + option);

  batch_file.write('Start "Thunderbird" /B /MIN "' + pgm + '" '  + option );

  batch_file.close;

  batch_file.execute();

*/

};

[Whatevermajorloser]

Thanks JJMack, this looks interesting. I'll have a play around with it and see if I can get it to work for me!