Enter records from emails?

[DMHamm]

Please forgive me for asking this before I've learned the program, but I couldn't find anything on this topic in a search and I am hoping I didn't purchase this database for nothing.

Here are the tools I have: iBook running 'Tiger', Excel, Dreamweaver, and FMP 7. (Not sure what all I will need.)

Here is what I would like to do:

1. Set up a web form for users to fill out online.

2. Submit that form as an email to a specific account.

3. Have the FMP database 'somehow' read each new email and create a new record from it.

The 'somehow' part is what is I'm stuck on. Can FMP check an email account? Failing that, could I write an Automator script that directs Mail to collect the email and then convert it into something FMP can use? (Maybe using 'Folder Actions' or something along those lines?) I'm just not sure how to start this project - it's for an online seminar registration.

Thank you in advance for any advise you can offer.

[Reed]

Filemaker pro can check email using a plugin like CNS POP3it, or dacons mail.it

Emails are read into a FMP database from the POP server and can be put into separate records. You can then use scripts and calculations to do whatever you want with the messages.

Of course the Web form that sends the email could be done with filemaker or without.

You could also skip the email server altogether, and just make a web form using Filemaker instant web publishing. Users can fill out this form online, and add data directly to the filemaker database.

HTH,

Dana

[DMHamm]

I would love to use the IWP, but I forgot to mention: the web form will be on a different server than FMP, and I won't have access to that server. That's why I need the web form to send the email, and have FMP pick it up and create a new record from it.

Thank you for your suggestion - I will certainly give that a shot. I'm feeling a little better about taking this on (my first Filemaker project).

[Reed]

Isn't it possible to put a simple link on the web server that directs the user to the appropriate database on the IWP machine?

If you can't do that, and the other web server has no way to access other databases (middleware like PHP, lasso, asp, etc.) then one of the email plugins I mentioned might be the way to go. Both of the plugins I mentioned have free download demos so you can see if they do what you want prior to purchasing them.

Dana

[DMHamm]

Thanks, Dana - I think the plugin route will most likely be my best shot. I appreciate your help!

[Steve T.]

Howdy, D and welcome to FMFORUMS! It's been a while, but back when my office looked at an FM plug-in to create records from mail messages, it just dumped the entire message into 1 field. We had to parse the message ourselves to get searchable header/date stuff and it was a lot of hassle to get even partial success (although I no longer remember why). I hope newer plug-ins can split the headers for you.

Also, in FM4-6 we've used Custom Web Publishing to have remote web forms on other servers that submit to FM via

and it worked great. The "starting" page can be anywhere, it's just the subsquent pages that have to be on your FM web server. But maybe the remote server to which you do not have access is completely foreign and someone else's system that just "sends you an e-mail message"?

Anyway, you're probably right and the plug-ins should be great for you.

--ST