Automatic emails using database info

[mr_nabo]

Hi,

I have a client who wants a form like this:

<snip> [Form with multiple checkboxes]

But instead of having the option to check the events the user wants to attend, they will have the option to check whether they receive a monthly market update, quarterly bulletin, monthly fact sheet and/or a quarterly fact sheet.

The data for these updates, bulletins & fact sheets comes from the database used for the 'prices', 'deposit rate' and 'valuation' tools accessible on the homepage.

Lastly, the process needs to be automated so that when someone signs up to a specific option using this form, they will automatically receive the information in their inbox on the relevant date (i.e. monthly for the Monthly Market Update and quarterly for the Quarterly Bulletin etc.).

Is that possible using ASP? I only know PHP and a little bit of ASP, but even that seems like it would be complex in PHP and involve some sort of cron worflow to function...

Any advice on the best way to approach this is very welcome.

Thanks,

mn

[edited by: marcel at 12:17 pm (utc) on Jan. 6, 2010]
[edit reason] No specifics please [/edit]

[marcel]

Is that possible using ASP?

This is definitely possible in ASP, you would go about it in basically the same fashion as you would with PHP.

With Scheduled tasks (Windows version of the Cron job) you could schedule the mailings, but this is not always possible with shared hosting, you would have to inform with your hosting provider if this is the case.

[mr_nabo]

Thanks Marcel,

I'll look into Scheduled tasks. I'm assuming there's all the same sort of caveats when sending out emails this way such as avoiding getting blacklisted, preventing abuse of the script and injection attacks right?

Unfortunately, the client is using shared hosting, meaning I expect there will be problems...

[aspdaddy]

Why would you want to do this in ASP?
It would be much quicker, easier to create and maintain using proper software that costs about US$50

Scheduled task will highly likely not be possible on a shared windows host.

You dont actually need to use scheduld task or cron job because its required monthly or quarterly, you just need to login to a secure webpage and run the script each qtr/month.

There are lots of known caveats including Headers, AOL addresses, reverse DNS, Proxys, SMTP servers , number of threads, html vs rich or plain text, logging whats sends/doesnt send, number of attempts. blacklists, white lists, SPAM filters - which is why you should use the proper software as it deals with all these

[mr_nabo]

Hi aspdaddy,

Thanks for getting back to me. Any way you can hint at what the software I should be looking at for that kind of functionality is please?

Is it against TOS to PM me that? If not, please do so.

Thanks,

mn

[aspdaddy]

Here are a couple that I use:

Atomic Mail Sender
Infacta Group Mail

[edited by: marcel at 9:01 am (utc) on Jan. 14, 2010]