OverviewThis guide includes a step by step tutorial describing the installation of eBirdMail. It is addressed to users installing and configuring the application. eBirdMail is a console application and it only interacts with the user while it is being configured. Once configured and tested, it can run unattended as described in the Scheduling section. For a more general description on what eBirdMail is visit the product information website. Note that sections of this guide also include advanced user topics that go beyond the installation of the product. PrerequisiteseBirdMail runs and is supported under the following Operating Systems:
Sending Email requires at least one of the following to be available:
Installation
Notes for Vista and later versions of Windows
Getting StartedConfiguration of eBirdMail starts automatically. A wizard interface will walk you through the configuration process. Once configured, eBirdMail can be setup to run automatically and unattended as a console application. |
eBirdMail is designed to support multiple configurations and allow for composing email based on different data sources, email templates and delivery ways. The Free edition supports only spreadsheets and csv files as data sources. |
It can run with a configuration of your choice, and often scheduled according to the day of the week or type of application. |
Connection types are based on the system where eBirdMail is installed. Below is the list of data connection choices for the Free edition:
Selection of the data source is dependent on the chosen connection type and it can be a database table or a file. In case of a database source, both server and database name are required, as well as login information. If the data source is a file, selecting a new file is done by clicking on the folder icon. Next, select a worksheet from the drop down below the Data Source. Clicking the Rebuild button creates a new connection string. The Test Connection button verifies that you can connect to the selected data source. |
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Data preview is automatic, after a Data Source is selected and accessible. The preview also provides filters to select and limit the data input to the email generation steps. Either And or Or type filtering can be applied to any date, numeric and character fields. In this example <>Empty is entered to process only records with non-blank email addresses. Alternatively, entering =Empty in a character field will select records with blank or null values in that field. |
Field names for merging into a Template can include only alphanumeric characters, spaces and underscores (_). |
Data filters are static in the Free edition and are defined in Data Preview.
Email Content is generated by merging data from the Data Source field names into predefined Email Body Templates and into Email Headers.
Click on the folder icon to select a template file, which can be either text
or html formatted. A pair of unique Delimiters is required,
as template tags for data content to be merged. These can be brackets If Attachments are to be sent, including reports, check the Include box at this time. Details about the attachments will be collected in a later step by the wizard. Email Headers entries can be fixed or include content from the data source fields. Select a field from the list, then drag or paste it into an email header entry. |
The To, From and Subject Email Headers entries above are required - the rest are optional. |
Email Templates are used for merging data from the Data Source to generate the content of the email body. Templates can be created and edited using the build-in editor, as shown here, or any external text or HTML editor of your choice.
Click on the New or Save buttons to create or save a template file. The file can be either plain text (with .txt file name extension) or HTML formatted (.html file extension.) The Editor button lets you select an external text or HTML editor or your choice. Select a field from the data fields list, then drag or paste it into the template body. You can also enter your own delimited tags and use custom scripts to provide the data for them.
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The are many sources for good text and HTML editors and many editors are free, both for online and local system use. |
Previews show the results from merging the filtered source data with the template and email headers. Click the Preview button to view the text of the next email, keeping in mind any the filters you may have applied. To preview the associated Email Header information mouse over the Details box.
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This feature is not available in the Free edition.
This feature is not available in the Free edition.
Email Delivery requires a server type selection and requires
a server type selection and a server setup. However, unlike the Data Connection
setup steps, the configuration wizard does not attempt to validate the email server
setup parameters. Users should examine eBirdMail's
log file for success or failure messages associated with the actual delivery of
the email to the configured server.
Click the ose from one of the six server types:
The form fields for setup change according to the selected type of server. |
SMTP server setup |
The MS Outlook setup requires an Outlook client installation on the same system where eBirdMail is installed. eBirdMail will use the configured Outlook account for sending emails. Check the Send to Draft Folder box to allow for preview of the email in Outlook.
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eBirdMail produces a log with informational, warning and error data when it runs. The log is a text file named |
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eBirdMail is a console application and it only interacts with
the user while being configured. Before creating a schedule check the
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This License Agreement window will appear until the product is registered and you select the Accept option and click on the Finish button to continue.
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infoSpectrum Software License Agreement.
This document is a legal agreement between you and infoSpectrum Inc., (infoSpectrum). Please read this Agreement carefully. By installing, copying, or otherwise using the Software Program, you agree to be bound by the terms of this license agreement.
1. Copyright
The Software Program (the "Program") is owned by infoSpectrum , and is protected by the applicable laws in the country where you are resided and international treaties and conventions on copyright matters.
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3. Limited Warranty
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5. General
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6. Other Licensing Terms
A. Some of the tools deployed in the Program are public domain, others are covered by the following license terms: (1) The Code Project Open License (CPOL 1.02) published by The Code Project. Its main points subject to the terms of the license are: - Executable Files can be used in commercial applications; - Executable Files can be redistributed and Source Code can be modified to create derivative works. - No claim of suitability, guarantee, or any warranty whatsoever is provided. The software is provided "as-is". (2) BSD License - Terms at http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php (3) GNU GPL - Terms at http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php
In time, you may want to install a new version of the application or uninstall eBirdMail.
Navigate to the Control Panel item to Add or Remove Programs then click on the Remove button for eBirdMail.