4 replies to this topic

[jdas03]

I am new here so apologies if I have posted in the wrong place.

I currently run an application built on visual basic 6 with an SQL backend.
I am looking at updating it in HTML and PHP as the interface is pretty clunky nowadays.

One of the main parts of the current system is its integration with Microsoft Office.
In particular integration with Microsoft Outlook is stumping me.

The current system is similar to many CRM systems and allows you to sync emails with the press of a key.
Emails are then recorded against an email address in the system.
The system also allows you to send emails to a individual in the system through outlook again recording the email against the persons details in the system.
The overall idea is to create a trail in the system of communication between a user of the system and clients emailing in.

The current technology behind it is a Microsoft API - Office Automation.
This uses the default MAPI profile on the user’s computer to identify the mail folders that should be analysed for incoming and sent emails, matched by the email addresses used. The data is then stored in an SQL database.

Is the integration described above possible with a PHP webpage?
Essentially I am wondering what technology I can use to get this action to work, is there a standard way of doing this process?
Any techniques or attempts at this would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[wim DC]

What you describe simply sounds as a webmail... view and send mails online.
What's the difference in what you want vs an ordinary webmail?

[jdas03]

Hi, thanks for your response.

It is not really like webmail, apologies for my poor description.

The system is essentially an interface and a database of client information, the use of the system is similar to a CRM application.
It holds information about clients, allows searching of interactions and client details.
the outlook interaction is for logging records of interaction between the user and a client via email, its only one part of the system.

My question is around a way of getting this logging of emails now the application is going web based (php) from its current vb6 interface.
In my simple way of thinking i'm guessing i need something to call a process perhaps using the current API - office automation?

If there are any thoughts or opinions on which route to take that would be hugely appreciated.

[SoN9ne]

I have done something similar to this using swiftmailer. My email account are setup as imap so when I sent an email from the system it would then appear in the user's system. The same for receiving. It seems like you are over complicating a simple process IMHO but then again, I do not know your full requirements.

[jdas03]

Hi,

Thanks for your responses.

It is'nt really like webmail, i am probably not being clear enough:

The application is basically a CRM application.
The integration with outlook is only one bit.

Essentially the application is used to record interactions with clients, one way it does this is by scanning outlook matching email addresses in the system with email addresses in the application. As i said this is done with a microsoft API and is called by the pressing of the F4 key on the keyboard.
The application also allows emails to be sent through it, by clicking email on a particular client it opens outlook up and creates a blank email and records the email sent against the client.

With the move to PHP from VB6 i just wanted some ideas as to what would be needed to make this functionality work, whether something in PHP to call the API currently used or something completely different.
As stated all data is stored in a SQL database so the information is written here.

Could you provide some more information as to what you have done with swift mailer?

Thanks again for the responses.