callstate
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Sending email from Access using Outlook
I have browsed many of the solutions here only to find bits that lead me in other directions .... what I am trying to do is automate sending emails from a Access database that we use to track prospective customers. Currently I have several 'drafts' setup in Outlook and we manually forward a 'formletter' type email in Outlook, then tab over to Access to copy an email address stored there, then back to Outlook to paste the address in the to: field and manually modify a few fields before sending.
The upside is this process allows us to pre-define colorful HTML messages with graphics and store for sending later.
The downside is it is obviously labor intensive to do one, and doesn't lenditself well to a mass email project.
Can someone help me with an idea of how to merge fields from my Access database (name, address, email address, etc.) into the to: field of an Outlook message while retaining an HTML body?
The upside is this process allows us to pre-define colorful HTML messages with graphics and store for sending later.
The downside is it is obviously labor intensive to do one, and doesn't lenditself well to a mass email project.
Can someone help me with an idea of how to merge fields from my Access database (name, address, email address, etc.) into the to: field of an Outlook message while retaining an HTML body?
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ASKER
After I posted the question I was wondering if it was very clear ....
I have emails already created as Drafts in Outlook. I want to shove info from my access databas into those and send ... kinda like a mailmerge does with a Word document.
I have tried the code snipets to create the message in code, and send via Outlook. That kinda works, except I lose my embedded graphics and I have to create the message, save it as HTML, and cut/past the HTML code into a field into a table to make it work.
Ideally all I need is a form that displays a list of pre-defined email messages that the user can choose to send using the personal information stored in the databas - but I do ot want to lost the formatted text and embedded pictures.
I have emails already created as Drafts in Outlook. I want to shove info from my access databas into those and send ... kinda like a mailmerge does with a Word document.
I have tried the code snipets to create the message in code, and send via Outlook. That kinda works, except I lose my embedded graphics and I have to create the message, save it as HTML, and cut/past the HTML code into a field into a table to make it work.
Ideally all I need is a form that displays a list of pre-defined email messages that the user can choose to send using the personal information stored in the databas - but I do ot want to lost the formatted text and embedded pictures.
callstate,
There are several factors here.
Most of the code available for outlook does not go much farther than creating and sending a basic email.
The key to your issue is that you have a template.
This template may contain elements that are not easily automated.
Creating an email from this Template is another issue altogether, as well
I could probably only get you to where you could have formatted text and insert saved graphics into the body of the email.
If you really would like to use the template then you will have to wait and see if any Outlook or Exchange Experts chime in.
(Did you requset that thoes Zones be added to this question yet?)
Anytime I read anything about Outlook Automation, this book is never far behind:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Programming-Jumpstart-Administrators-Developers/dp/B001C4MYSO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216302114&sr=1-2
JeffCoachman
There are several factors here.
Most of the code available for outlook does not go much farther than creating and sending a basic email.
The key to your issue is that you have a template.
This template may contain elements that are not easily automated.
Creating an email from this Template is another issue altogether, as well
I could probably only get you to where you could have formatted text and insert saved graphics into the body of the email.
If you really would like to use the template then you will have to wait and see if any Outlook or Exchange Experts chime in.
(Did you requset that thoes Zones be added to this question yet?)
Anytime I read anything about Outlook Automation, this book is never far behind:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Programming-Jumpstart-Administrators-Developers/dp/B001C4MYSO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216302114&sr=1-2
JeffCoachman
ASKER
Thanks Jeff!
Having a template is not necessarily necessary .... I would be open to saving something in the database that could be editable by the user.
What I want is an easy way to click a button, and send a 'form letter' by email to a prospective customer using data we have collected in the form. I would like this formatted with color, and possibly graphics.
HTML preferred, RTF second
We use pics in our emails now, and I didn't want to lose that to accomplish this.
Having a template is not necessarily necessary .... I would be open to saving something in the database that could be editable by the user.
What I want is an easy way to click a button, and send a 'form letter' by email to a prospective customer using data we have collected in the form. I would like this formatted with color, and possibly graphics.
HTML preferred, RTF second
We use pics in our emails now, and I didn't want to lose that to accomplish this.
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Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is a rapid application development (RAD) relational database tool. Access can be used for both desktop and web-based applications, and uses VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) as its coding language.
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It is difficult because I don't exactly know what you mean by:
"colorful HTML messages with graphics"
Colorful text, or colorful graphics, or both.
By graphics do you mean stored images, email stationary, or something else entirely?
Also, please click the "Request Attention" link in your original question and ask that a link to this question be placed in the Outlook and Exchange Zones, since this question involves thoes Applications as well.
JeffCoachman