Auto Reply to emails with an Attachment

[Heggy]

Morning,

 

Got an ICT Teacher trying to spice up his module, want's to get kids to send an email to a designated email address, which will automatically reply with with an attachment (a picture). The students use the picture in the next stage of the module.

 

The thing is, i can't see a simple way of doing an auto-reply with an attachment. Understandably, the feature isn't an orthodox one in email services/clients. I've tried doing it in Thunderbird Portable, using a template email, but it seems to mix up the mime type when sending, so doesn't go through.

 

Anybody done something simple to auto-reply to messages with an attachment? I can run the client program from my machine for the couple of weeks that he needs it.

 

 

Thanks all.

[Steve21]

Do you use Outlook? Or does it have to be a seperate program?

 

If outlook, you could always create a new email account, make a default reply template, and rule to auto reply to anyone who sends to the email?

 

Steve

[caffrey]

why not just use a hyperlink to remote share, kids click on link - pic opens ?

[somabc]

You can do this with python.

 

Through a combination of the email and poplib/smtplib modules. The email link below gives samples eg. of how to send the entire contents of a directory as an email message.

 

18.1.11. email: Examples — Python v2.7.1 documentation

20.12. smtplib ? SMTP protocol client — Python v2.7.1 documentation

20.9. poplib ? POP3 protocol client — Python v2.7.1 documentation

Edited March 25, 2011 by somabc

[Heggy]

@Steve21: I've had a play with Thunderbird to do template replies, but that's not going through. I'll have a play with Outlook at the weekend.

@Caffrey: I suggested that to him, but he'd like to do the attachment, and he's the only ICT teacher i've met who is enthusiastic about IT, so i try to support him on the little extras where i can.

 

@somabc: If i can't do outlook, it's time to breakout my scripting hat.

 

Thanks all

[somabc]

If you want to progmatically run your own SMTP server I recommend LamsonProject: Lamson The Python Mail Server

[Steve21]

I'll have a play with Outlook at the weekend.

 

Create a new email as if you were going to send one. (Make it pretty with your reply image)

File -> Save As, Change to outlook template.

 

Rules -> New Rule

Apply rule on messages I recieve

Choose rule (aslong as it'll apply to you, aka "sent only to me" or something like that)

Reply using specific template (select the one you made above)

 

Turn it on,

 

Should work

 

Steve

[Heggy]

@steve21: it's friday afternoon, and i'm a muppet at the best of times. Couldn't see how to create the template in Outlook, this link: Create an Email Template in Outlook 2003 - How-To Geek

was the missing link..

 

 

This is working now.

 

Knew it'd be something simples.

 

Thanks for all suggestions.