Automator workflow to send email from a file.

Discussion in 'Mac Programming' started by aapl1, Sep 4, 2011.

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  1. aapl1, Sep 4, 2011

    aapl1 macrumors newbie

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    Aug 25, 2011
    #1
    I run my business with a Filemaker database and am wanting a way to be able to send multiple emails, maybe 15 tops a day in apple mail from a file.

    So I could export email records from my Filemaker database and I will have a certain file.

    Then if automator would be able to read the file and send an email to each email address in the file.

    This would be ideal rather than me copying and pasting email addresses over and over.

    Each email must be sent on its own, I cannot send one email addressed to multiple clients.


    Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction here,

    Many thanks,.
     
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  2. subsonix, Sep 4, 2011

    subsonix macrumors 68040

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    Feb 2, 2008
    #2
    The first thing I would look for is if Filemaker provides any Automator actions. Should be available in the left pane in the Automator interface. If this is not the case, what format is this e-mail address file in?
     
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  3. aapl1, Sep 4, 2011

    aapl1 thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Aug 25, 2011
    #3
    There aren't any Filemaker actions from what I can see. And Filemaker can export the records in a number of formats, at this point I don;t know which will be easiest.

    I can export as a Tab-Seperated, Comma-Seperated, XML, or excel.
     
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  4. chown33, Sep 4, 2011

    chown33 macrumors 604

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    #4
    Why don't you just buy a product that integrates mailing to FileMaker? Or maybe there's a free download. Or an existing online service.

    Have you tried searching for such products? If so, what did you find? Why didn't those products meet your needs?

    Just doing a few googles:
    filemaker mail
    filemaker send mail
    filemaker mailchimp

    I can see there is no shortage of products that allow FileMaker to send emails. Why would you want to write one yourself, especially if you're not a programmer?
     
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  5. aapl1, Sep 4, 2011

    aapl1 thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Aug 25, 2011
    #5
    I am wanting to send the email through Mail as I already have HTML stationary set up within the app.

    I am just looking for a way for automator to work through a list of emails.

    You cannot send HTML email through filemaker directly. There are plug-ins but I already have my HTML mail set up through Apples Mail app.
     
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  6. foidulus, Sep 4, 2011

    foidulus macrumors 6502a

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    #6
    You could try "watch me do", I have had *some* success with it, but not a whole lot. Plus watching your mouse move uncontrollably across the screen all of a sudden can be a bit disconcerting.

    Anyway, if there are no automator actions for it, you will either have to google for them, or if you think you are up to it, write some Applescript to send the emails. You will have to see how much control FileMaker gives you, my guess is probably a lot but I havent used it so I cannot say for sure.

    I do know that it is pretty easy to use applescript to tell mail to send an email, so that part of the equation is pretty straightforward.
     
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  7. subsonix, Sep 4, 2011

    subsonix macrumors 68040

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    Feb 2, 2008
    #7
    This could potentially be easier to do with Applescript I think. But what is it that is constant here, the email recipients or the attachments or none? Anyway I found this Applescript guide for Mail that you could have a look at. It shows how to send messages and add attachments, with that you should be almost there it seems.

    http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.21/21.09/ScriptingMail/index.html
     
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