Mail client to read message and send automated reply

[Andrew]

I’m using Internet survey software that sends me an email to the same
designated address each time a specific survey is completed. The mail body
contains a name and email address which will be the target destination for an
automated reply. I would like to set up my mail client to read the content
of these messages which will have a well defined pattern to enable reading
the name and email properly. My mail client would then send an automated
message to the name and address in the content of the email.

Which Microsoft mail client would allow me to do this?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

To do what you want to do could be done with Outlook, but only with custom programming code or a third-party tool (maybe from http://www.slipstick.com/addins/auto.htm)

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Andrew]

Will replies be sent irrespective of whether my Outlook is running or not?
If not, is there another Microsoft product that would be a better alternative?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

That would depend on your email account configuration and how the reply is being generated. The only scenario in which a reply would be sent automatically with Outlook not running would be if you are using Exchange as your mail server and you use the "have server reply" rule with no conditions that require the Outlook client to be running.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Brian Tillman]

Will replies be sent irrespective of whether my Outlook is running or
not?

If you are connected to an Exchange server and the rule is a server-side
rule, then no. Otherwise, yes.

If not, is there another Microsoft product that would be a better
alternative?

There are better tools for conducting surveys by mail, but none are from
Microsoft.

 

[Andrew]

My webhost supports MS Exchange and also supplies it. Which edition/product
would I need? Would I be able to use the "have server reply" rule if I pay
for it through my webhost? Could I apply this rule to one address only as I
have several with the same domain?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

If you have an Exchange mailbox with your host, they should be able to provide you with the latest version, which is Outlook 2003, but any version of Outlook will do. The rule could apply to one address or many. It's your choice.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Andrew]

Would it be possible for a custom programming code to do this using a hosted
MS Exchange server as opposed to owning my own? Does using an Exchange
server mean that the code will be more difficult to create?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

This was your original question:

The mail server has nothing to do with client operations such as the one you describe.

Now if your question had been "which Microsoft mail server would allow me to do this?" then Exchange would have been the answer and you would have been directed to turn to http://msdn.microsoft.com/exchange/ for programming resources and the microsoft.public.exchange.development newsgroup for discussions of Exchange application development.

But if your Exchange server is hosted, the first question you need to ask of your host is whether they'll permit event sinks. Chances are that they won't, which brings you back to a client application, running in Outlook.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Andrew]

Which event sinks should I specifically be asking if they permit?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Store event sinks, on mailbox folders.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers