Is there a straightforward way to use Windows Sockets to send email?

I have struggled to send email from my MFC applications using severl methods:

1) http via my server - works but limited
2) M$ Outlook automation - works but not easily interchangeable between machines
3) Windows Sockets - available information simply too complicated
4) Purchase an ActiveX control - I hate black box solutions and am too cheap

I have looked at P. J. Naughter's class
CPJNSMTPConnection v2.99
An MFC class to encapsulate the SMTP protocol
http://www.naughter.com/smtp.html

This approach requires the implementation of OpenSSL which turns out to be nothing short of a nightmare to install (so I never got it to run).

I am looking for an example of an application that utilizes SMTP via Windows sockets api. I have no idea if such is possible and have some serious doubts because I have not ever found such an example after years of searching.

Would appreciate any help.

Check out the SMTP/POP3/IMAP email component from
http://www.marshallsoft.com/

I have used this for years...easy to use and very reliable.

sending mail to an SMTP server is "essentially easy", in so far as your SMTP server is on your own network and you have free access to it.
A simple socket implementation can be a matter of a hundred lines of code or so.

Things become difficult as soon as you need to worry about such things like authentication, encryption, sending attachments, sending something other than plain text mail (such as sending HTML mail), mail tracking, ...

That's why there are several "black box" solutions for sending email to an SMTP server.
I personally have good experiences with the one offered by Chilkat http://www.chilkatsoft.com/

If you're cheap. Then you could have a look at blat
http://www.blat.net/
and either use the commandline tool as is, or figure out how to integrate the sourcecode into your own project.

After spending 15 minutes or so on the Marshall site, I am still unable to find a price list. I do not trust organizations that do not make their product pricing clear from the outset. Nor am I looking to waste my time trying some expensive piece of software that will cease to function after 30 days.

Any idea what the email i/o costs?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Pliam

After spending 15 minutes or so on the Marshall site, I am still unable to find a price list.

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I wouldn't say they're really hiding their price tag ($115 for a one developer license). It's at the bottom of SMTP/POP3/IMAP Email Component Library, the second link on their home page. It took me at most a few minutes to find it; probably it's rather been some seconds.

Attachment 30925

Good samples will get you up and running in less time than a cup of coffee..

Thanks. So much print on that page I missed it. Seems like it might be worth it. I'm gonna check it out.