Secure Email Output

The Secure Email Output task sends SMTP email messages with SSL (2.0, 2.3 or 3.0) or TLS (1.0, 1.1 or 1.2) encryption.

Note that this plugin cannot be used on a Windows instance that uses a multi-byte language (e.g. Japanese, Chinese). The workaround is to either use a different Windows language or use the standard Email Input/Output plugins.

Also note that this task doesn't merge data records with a PlanetPress Connect template, like the Create Email Content task does.

Input

Any data file.

Processing

While an email is always sent by this task (or at least attempted to be sent), the contents of the email and presence of attachments depends on the selected options.

Once the contents of the email and attachments are determined, the email (including any attachments) is sent directly to the selected mail server.

Output

This task doesn't have any output other than the email that is sent to the recipient(s).

Task properties

Recipients Tab

The fields on this tab are variable property fields, which means the values may change with each job at run-time. You can use any combination of text, variables and data selections; see Variable task properties.

When specifying multiple recipients for the To, CC and BCC fields, separate the e-mail addresses with semi-colons (;).

  • To: Enter the email address(es) of the recipient(s).
  • Cc: Specify addresses to which a copy of the generated emails are to be sent.
  • Bcc: Specify discreet addresses (other recipients will not be able to see these addresses) to which a copy of the generated emails are to be sent.
  • Subject: Enter the subject of the email. Note that if you use a data selection in this field, you must be sure that the data that will be selected at run-time will not contain any parentheses, as this would cause the task to fail. If you suspect that the data may contain parentheses, you should use a Run Script action task (see Run Script) with a Strip() function to strip them out.
  • Message: Enter the content of the email message. This may be text or HTML based.
    Note that since this is a variable property field, its content is parsed at run-time. If HTML code is entered or pasted in this box, percent (%) and slash (/) HTML characters must be doubled, otherwise they will be disregarded.

    Different email clients have different support for various features, especially with HTML emails (see HTML Email challenges in the PlanetPress Connect Online Help). In most cases, if you want to send your email as an HTML message, your very first line should start with <html> or <!doctype html>. It should not be any other character.
    PlanetPress Connect has a tool to design HTML email templates: the Designer. To generate email output from a template you would use the Create Email Content task.

    Also note that it is currently not possible to send both an HTML and plain-text version of your message.

Attachments Tab

Use this tab to specify what files to attach to the e-mail.

  • Attach input job file: Select to attach the current job file to the email that the task sends.
  • Rename to: Check this option to rename the job file before attaching it to the email, and enter a name. You may use text, variables and data selections (see Variable task properties).
  • File: Select additional or more additional files to include as attachments. You may enter the file name directly and use text, variables and data selections (see Variable task properties). You may also use the Browse button to navigate and select the file. To add the file to the list of files to attach, click the Add file to Attach list button (the downward pointing arrow).
  • List of files to attach: Lists the files that will be attached to the email. Selecting the Attach output file(s) option adds these files at the top of the list. Any other file that may have been added using the File box (above) is also listed here.
    To remove a file from the list, select it, then right-click and select Remove from the list.
Login Tab

The fields on this tab are variable property fields, which means the values may change with each job at run-time. You can use any combination of text, variables and data selections; see Variable task properties.

  • Enter the sender's name, organization (optional), and email address, and the reply address (optional). This information will be visible to the recipient of the email.
  • Enter the address of the outgoing mail server (SMTP), and the port and encryption method (SSL 2.0, 2.3, 3.0 or TLS 1.0, 1.1, 1.2) that will be used. Note that hovering the mouse over the Port field will show a list of the most common ports used.
    The timeout value specifies (in seconds) after how long the plugin drops the connection and fails with a "Read time out" error if the server didn't reply anything. Defaults to 30 seconds.
  • Enter the account credentials: the account name on the mail server, and the password required to unlock the selected account.
  • Select the level of priority and sensitivity. The default value is Normal.

On Error Tab

For a description of the options on the On Error tab see Using the On Error tab.

Miscellaneous Tab

The Miscellaneous tab is common to all tasks.

It contains a text area (Task comments) that lets you write comments about the task. These comments are saved when the dialog is closed with the OK button and are displayed in The Task Comments Pane.

Check the option Use as step description to display the text next to the icon of the plugin in the Process area.

The tab also provides an option to highlight the task in The Process area with the default color, set in the Preferences (see Colors), or the color selected or defined under Highlight color on this tab.
To revert the selected highlight color to the default color, open this tab, turn the Highlight option off and close the dialog with the OK button; then turn highlighting back on.
Highlighting can also be turned on and off via the task's contextual menu and with the Highlight button on the View ribbon.