Specifications

ManualsBrandsCrestron ManualsComputer equipmentSW-MAIL

100

Crestron e-control Mail SW-MAIL

94 •• Appendices Installation & Reference Guide — Doc. 5798

SendNow

Applies to

e-Mailer signal blocks

Description

Sends the e-Mail message.

Direction

system-to-server

Type

Digital

Value

Pulse (actually, leading edge is the trigger; trailing edge is ignored)

Expected Reply Done pulse

Comments

You must select a name and a message before sending. If no value was specified

for the subject header, or no signal was issued to set a recipient address, the mail

is not sent, and an error code along with the following message is sent to the

control system (via the ErrNumber, ErrString, and ErrTrigger signals), as

described in SetAddr, SetSubj, and LookupRcpt, and LookupMsg.

SendNow performs an implied NewMail after the message is successfully sent. If

the message fails to send, the NewMail is not performed. Therefore, if you are not

checking for an error code, you must send your own NewMail signal. For this

reason, in practice it is best to send an explicit NewMail before starting a new

message.

Messages can be sent in either of two ways, depending on the state of the Queue

messages checkbox in the e-Mailer signal block definition:

Immediate mode. The Database Manager itself contacts the SMTP (outgoing mail)

server and carries on the dialog. This method unfortunately ties up the Database

Manager until the dialog is complete. Although this typically only takes a few

seconds, it could take longer — especially when the domain name of the SMTP

server is unknown to the local DNS server. In such a case, it is possible that the

Database Manager app’s input buffers could overflow and incoming signal data

from control systems could be lost. Even if all incoming data is buffered intact,

there will a noticeable delay in touchscreen response if service is requested while

the server is tied up talking to the SMTP server. This is more an issue when the

server is serving multiple touchscreens. In a single touchscreen environment, while

the “Send” button is highlighted, the user is aware of the process (sending his mail)

and is usually content to wait.

Queued mode. The Database Manager submits the mail to the SMTP Express

application which carries on the SMTP dialog independently of the server. This

solves all of the problems with the other method. However, this method requires

the downloading and installation of SMTP Express and the separate purchase of a

license for same from Quicksoft. Queued mode is invoked by checking Queue

messages in the e-Mailer signal block definition. If this option is checked but

messages cannot be queued (usually due to SMTP Express not being properly

installed), the Database Manager then tries to send it using the immediate mode

method (above).

The Done pulse should be used to de-highlight the touchscreen button that

originated the SendNow signal. Keeping the screen button highlighted while the

server is busy keeps the user better informed and encourages his patience.