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I have a small problem I'd like to run past you
guys for some pointers.
A former client of mine called earlier this
afternoon to ask for some updates to an old application I wrote for him some
years ago. He's been collecting email addresses from his clients for some
time now, and he'd like to now add the capacity to pull these addresses out of
the database in order to send them news on "specials" and such. (And the
clients have previously agreed to receive these emails, so there's no spam
issues involved, thank goodness)
Problem is, the database is an old dBase V for
Windows application, and I don't know what email package he's currently using,
so there's no easy way to tie one in to the other.
So... anyone know of any email packages that will
let me import addresses from either a dBase format .dbf file, or from a text
file such as a pure .txt text file or a .csv file or such? I need to be
able to import the addresses right into the email, not into an address book
(that rules out Outlook Express) since addresses do change.
Now I know some of you are thinking "just rewrite
or update the application into something more modern that ties directly to an
email package!" Not a bad idea, but he won't want to pay for my time to do
it -- and he's generally happy with the app as is, so talking him into a
complete rewrite just to do one thing probably won't fly. And he's not the
most computer literate of people out there, so not only won't he be unwilling to
relearn the app, but I'm going to have to try and automate as much as
possible.
Something web based also won't work right
now. Again, someone would have to maintain the list (and no, he won't put
me on retainer!). I have been trying to nudge him into a simple web site
for years, and he just can't see it. That's another story
too.
The ideal would be to find something I could call
up from within the dBase app, automatically insert the email addresses (which
will be separately extracted and sent to a temp file, since many emailings won't
go to the whole list), and then let him type his message. But an app he
could bring up separately and import the addresses with a minimum of fuss (once
they've been extracted) would work.
(I'm hoping to earn enough from this to put a dent
into a used IC-706 for future mobile use, and with any luck even a good
screwdriver antenna too, incidently... but don't tell my wife!)
Any suggestions or help appreciated!
73, ron wn3vaw
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