FileMaker 7 Server Advanced, Sendmail w/o FM 7 Pro

[Patchsmyle]

Here is the question...

Without using a copy of FileMaker 7 Pro, how can FileMaker 7 Server Advanced send an email. Rules: Can use MacOS X, preferably MacOS X Server. Solution is not to require a user to be logged in. Solution can have any module/element (short of FM 7 Server) crash and be restarted, and the solution will begin to function again.

I have a few ideas, I would like to get other people's opinions and feed back before I post my ideas (My idea is untested and may not be the best way....)

[Reed]

How about writing a shell script (perl?) that queries server advanced either through it's web publishing engine or ODBC? The script could pull down the necessary data and pass it to a sendmail server.

[Tim Walker]

I have tried everything I can think to do something very similar.

My end result was to have Server and Pro running at the same time with Pro's purpose to sit there with the mmscript plugin and perform regular scripts.

I don't like this approach myself. I think the ability to automate and execute scripts should be an integral part of server. I mean if I was running mysql I could use cron + perl DBD to do exactly that. But not for FM7 it seems.

There isn't a DBD for perl that I'm aware of to access FM7 Server.

ODBC on Server on the Mac I'm not even convinced is working yet.

I toyed with writing a java gateway with JDBC, but even then I'm not convinced.. and it's yet-another-point-of-failure.

Also as far as I can see there is no ODBC connectivity for Excel 2004 on mac + FM7 and the default FM support is for 6 only.

Thats my wrap. If you find a better soln, let me know, please!

Cheers

Tim

[Patchsmyle]

Well, I have spoken with some friends, and they have suggested the following. Create a perl script that leverages 'Fetchmail' to download the emails in a stream. Pipe the stream through the perl script to perform the following two steps: 1) parse the emails to change the MIME headers into XML headers 2) send the stream as an XML feed into FileMaker.

This is the flow of the idea. Add a feature for the perl script to query the FM DB for all email accounts (and communication information) and then go through the email accounts.

If any one has any email MIME experience, perl scripting, and/or time, please let me know. What ever is produced I would like to publish free or donation ware (the authors getting a fair cut) back to the FileMaker community. This 'gateway' tool will move filemaker into a mass email system. Local SMTP is optional, not required. (flexible, functional, and recyclable)

Any Takers?