formmail and blat on W2K server

First off,

I'm a Unixguy stuck (:-p) with (for historical reasons) a W2K IIS server.
We are going to move to *BSD and Apache, but I need to get this running
as we haven't yet scheduled a move to the platform we know.

I've installed ActivePerl and a formmail script said to work with "NT".
Apparently the formmail script talks to blat (which is in my system32
folder) but although the perl script runs through and presents the "this
is the result ..." page I still get no mail from the server.

I find nothing the event logs, nor a blat log anywhere. Where can I find
info to solve the behaviour and actually get the mail from frommail
using blat.

Or is there a better (free) solution out there?

jeff
Mon Nov 22 13:07:23 CST 2004

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 15:46:22 +0100, Martin S
<martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:

>I'm a Unixguy stuck (:-p) with (for historical reasons) a W2K IIS server.
>We are going to move to *BSD and Apache, but I need to get this running
>as we haven't yet scheduled a move to the platform we know.
>
>I've installed ActivePerl and a formmail script said to work with "NT".
>Apparently the formmail script talks to blat (which is in my system32
>folder) but although the perl script runs through and presents the "this
>is the result ..." page I still get no mail from the server.

Lots of possible issues. Most of which involve the configuration and
use of Blat, but could be a configuration with your mail server.

>I find nothing the event logs, nor a blat log anywhere. Where can I find
>info to solve the behaviour and actually get the mail from frommail
>using blat.

I haven't used Blat since about 1997. Not sure there's any support,
but you'll need to look for Blat support elsewhere.

>Or is there a better (free) solution out there?

CDO is most common, and installs with IIS. See:

http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2026

Also:

http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2119

Jeff

Martin
Tue Nov 23 02:50:09 CST 2004

Jeff Cochran wrote:
> On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 15:46:22 +0100, Martin S
> <martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:
>
>
>>I'm a Unixguy stuck (:-p) with (for historical reasons) a W2K IIS server.
>>We are going to move to *BSD and Apache, but I need to get this running
>>as we haven't yet scheduled a move to the platform we know.
>>
>>I've installed ActivePerl and a formmail script said to work with "NT".
>>Apparently the formmail script talks to blat (which is in my system32
>>folder) but although the perl script runs through and presents the "this
>>is the result ..." page I still get no mail from the server.
>
>
> Lots of possible issues. Most of which involve the configuration and
> use of Blat, but could be a configuration with your mail server.
>
>
>>I find nothing the event logs, nor a blat log anywhere. Where can I find
>>info to solve the behaviour and actually get the mail from frommail
>>using blat.
>
>
> I haven't used Blat since about 1997. Not sure there's any support,
> but you'll need to look for Blat support elsewhere.
>
>
>>Or is there a better (free) solution out there?
>
>
> CDO is most common, and installs with IIS. See:
>
> http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2026
>
> Also:
>
> http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2119

Would this involve using asp?
We have no desire to use that at all (don't use it, prefer php).

Rgds,

martin s

jeff
Tue Nov 23 06:00:01 CST 2004

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 09:50:09 +0100, Martin S
<martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:

>Jeff Cochran wrote:
>> On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 15:46:22 +0100, Martin S
>> <martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I'm a Unixguy stuck (:-p) with (for historical reasons) a W2K IIS server.
>>>We are going to move to *BSD and Apache, but I need to get this running
>>>as we haven't yet scheduled a move to the platform we know.
>>>
>>>I've installed ActivePerl and a formmail script said to work with "NT".
>>>Apparently the formmail script talks to blat (which is in my system32
>>>folder) but although the perl script runs through and presents the "this
>>>is the result ..." page I still get no mail from the server.
>>
>>
>> Lots of possible issues. Most of which involve the configuration and
>> use of Blat, but could be a configuration with your mail server.
>>
>>
>>>I find nothing the event logs, nor a blat log anywhere. Where can I find
>>>info to solve the behaviour and actually get the mail from frommail
>>>using blat.
>>
>>
>> I haven't used Blat since about 1997. Not sure there's any support,
>> but you'll need to look for Blat support elsewhere.
>>
>>
>>>Or is there a better (free) solution out there?
>>
>>
>> CDO is most common, and installs with IIS. See:
>>
>> http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2026
>>
>> Also:
>>
>> http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2119
>
>Would this involve using asp?
>We have no desire to use that at all (don't use it, prefer php).

Then try a PHP group for options.

Jeff

Martin
Tue Nov 23 08:39:29 CST 2004

Jeff Cochran wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 09:50:09 +0100, Martin S
> <martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:
>
>
>>Jeff Cochran wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 15:46:22 +0100, Martin S
>>><martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I'm a Unixguy stuck (:-p) with (for historical reasons) a W2K IIS server.
>>>>We are going to move to *BSD and Apache, but I need to get this running
>>>>as we haven't yet scheduled a move to the platform we know.
>>>>
>>>>I've installed ActivePerl and a formmail script said to work with "NT".
>>>>Apparently the formmail script talks to blat (which is in my system32
>>>>folder) but although the perl script runs through and presents the "this
>>>>is the result ..." page I still get no mail from the server.
>>>
>>>
>>>Lots of possible issues. Most of which involve the configuration and
>>>use of Blat, but could be a configuration with your mail server.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I find nothing the event logs, nor a blat log anywhere. Where can I find
>>>>info to solve the behaviour and actually get the mail from frommail
>>>>using blat.
>>>
>>>
>>>I haven't used Blat since about 1997. Not sure there's any support,
>>>but you'll need to look for Blat support elsewhere.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Or is there a better (free) solution out there?
>>>
>>>
>>>CDO is most common, and installs with IIS. See:
>>>
>>>http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2026
>>>
>>>Also:
>>>
>>>http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2119
>>
>>Would this involve using asp?
>>We have no desire to use that at all (don't use it, prefer php).
>
>
> Then try a PHP group for options.

Server side scripting is only done by asp nowaday on Windows is that it?

/martin s

jeff
Tue Nov 23 16:16:33 CST 2004

>>>Would this involve using asp?
>>>We have no desire to use that at all (don't use it, prefer php).
>>
>>
>> Then try a PHP group for options.
>
>Server side scripting is only done by asp nowaday on Windows is that it?

No, PHP works fine. As does PERL, Python and a host of other
scripting options. But I don't know enough PHP to tell you how to
send an email in PHP. However, my experience is that the PHP support
groups and mailing lists will have someone who does know how, and can
tell you the possible options.

I also did some homework for you and found you a list of command line
mailers that are designed for Windows. You can find the list here:

http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+command+line+mailer

You can also find Blat support information at:

http://www.blat.net/

Jeff

Martin
Wed Nov 24 02:19:47 CST 2004

Jeff Cochran wrote:
>>>>Would this involve using asp?
>>>>We have no desire to use that at all (don't use it, prefer php).
>>>
>>>
>>>Then try a PHP group for options.
>>
>>Server side scripting is only done by asp nowaday on Windows is that it?
>
>
> No, PHP works fine. As does PERL, Python and a host of other
> scripting options. But I don't know enough PHP to tell you how to
> send an email in PHP. However, my experience is that the PHP support
> groups and mailing lists will have someone who does know how, and can
> tell you the possible options.

Well I do PHP regularly. just didn't wont to do something in PHP when
there was a working perl solution (or so I thought).

> I also did some homework for you and found you a list of command line
> mailers that are designed for Windows. You can find the list here:
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+command+line+mailer

I had only looked at Blat, thought someone could recommend something.

> You can also find Blat support information at:
>
> http://www.blat.net/

Been there, didn't help much. (Or at all).
> Jeff

Nevermind. Thanks for replies.

Rgds,

Martin S

jeff
Wed Nov 24 10:49:56 CST 2004

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 09:19:47 +0100, Martin S
<martin.skjoldebrand@forumsyd.se> wrote:

>Jeff Cochran wrote:
>>>>>Would this involve using asp?
>>>>>We have no desire to use that at all (don't use it, prefer php).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Then try a PHP group for options.
>>>
>>>Server side scripting is only done by asp nowaday on Windows is that it?
>>
>>
>> No, PHP works fine. As does PERL, Python and a host of other
>> scripting options. But I don't know enough PHP to tell you how to
>> send an email in PHP. However, my experience is that the PHP support
>> groups and mailing lists will have someone who does know how, and can
>> tell you the possible options.
>
>Well I do PHP regularly. just didn't wont to do something in PHP when
>there was a working perl solution (or so I thought).
>
>> I also did some homework for you and found you a list of command line
>> mailers that are designed for Windows. You can find the list here:
>>
>> http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+command+line+mailer
>
>I had only looked at Blat, thought someone could recommend something.
>
>> You can also find Blat support information at:
>>
>> http://www.blat.net/
>
>Been there, didn't help much. (Or at all).
>> Jeff
>
>Nevermind. Thanks for replies.

FWIW, I just put a copy of Blat on my server, running ActiveState's
PERL, and a test PERL script on a demo web page sent a test email
fine. It's not what I normally would do, but it works.

It may not be Blat that's your issue, and you may find an alternative
doesn't solve the problem.

Jeff