Web Based E-mail Merge for Linux
E-Merge is an e-mail merge utility that runs on Linux-based servers, transmitting e-mail messages to a list specified in a tab-delimited database. The message can be customized per-recipient based on entries in the database.
E-Merge runs on the Linux server and is "driven" by a database file and a template file. The database file is a standard "tab-delimited" file that can be produced by virtually any PC-based database program or word processor. This consists of a set of field names (separated by tabs), followed by a set of records containing database fields. Each record consists of a set of fields that are separated by tabs. In the simplest case, this program operates on a database file consisting of a list of records containing e-mail addresses and salutations. The E-Merge program automatically generates an e-mail to each recipient, substituting the salutation at the beginning of each message so that it appears "personalized".
The primary application of this package is to directly contact a large list of of pre-defined e-mail recipients, while not appearing to be "spam". For example, you may want to contact entries in a marketing database of interested customers who have previously asked for information about a product. This is differentiated from a mass e-mail in that the message includes the "To" address, as well as any customized information that can be included from the database. The originator can specify the "Reply-to:", "Subject:", "From:", and "To" fields for the outgoing mail. The program operates in the same fashion as the "mail-merge" feature of a word processor, substituting fields as necessary.
The advantages of a server-based E-mail merge program are as follows:
- Doesn't require sending workstation (PC or Mac) to be connected for the entire transmission.
- Generates a transmission logfile of messages sent to each destination.
- Can be scheduled for off-hours transmission of bulk mail.
- Allows dynamic substitution of fields based on database file items. For example, "flag" fields can be set in the database to enable paragraphs on specific topics (per-contact).
How does it work?
E-merge processes two files: a tab-delimited database file, and a template
file. Each record in the tab-delimited database file is used to define a
set of fields which are dynamically substituted in the template file; the
template file is then transmitted to a destination for each record in the
database file. The transmission of the messages can be immediate, or can
be scheduled to "go off" at a specified time.
Database and template files are uploaded to the Linux server using the FTP
protocol, as supported by the "FTP" and "Fetch" utilities
found on the PC and Macintosh. E-merge can be initiated by a command-line
prompt (via telnet) or via a scheduled transmission (via a web page prompt).
When sent on a scheduled basis, a web page provides for scheduling of transmissions,
specifying the names of the files and the scheduled transmittal time.
[*] System Platform: Linux. Porting to other Unix or NT platforms on request.
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