An email is sent to notify users when a task (such as approving a content block or submitting a form) was performed or needs to be performed. This section explains how to enable Microsoft’s SMTP service to allow this email notification in Ektron.
NOTE: To learn about email notification for Web Alerts, see Administering Web Alerts.
To process email, Ektron uses CDOSYS. Using Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) and the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) standards, CDOSYS enables Windows applications to route e-mail and USENET-style news posts across multiple platforms. CDOSYS lets authors create and view sophisticated emails using HTML and data sources.
NOTE: If the SMTP server that processes email does not find CDOSYS installed, it tries to use CDONTS as a mail server protocol.
For CDOSYS to work, set up the SMTP server on your Ektron server or a remote system that sends and receives email. Generally, it is good practice to run SMTP on a server separate from your Web server. However, your Web server must relay the email messages to your SMTP server.
NOTE: To access an SMTP server on a local or remote system, consult your organization's email administrator.
“ek_SMTPServer" value=“localhost” “ek_SMTPServer" value=“127.0.0.1” “ek_SMTPServer" value=“myname”
“ek_SMTPServer" value=“smtp.example.com” “ek_SMTPServer" value=“example.com”
After setting up the SMTP server, configure it as described in Verifying for Relay through the SMTP Server.
NOTE: The WWW and SMTP components of IIS must be installed on the Web server that hosts Ektron.
To verify that your Ektron Web server’s IP address supports relay through your SMTP server:
The SMTP properties window opens.
NOTE: For more information, see “Configuring SMTP Virtual Server Relay Restrictions” from this Web page: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/
WindowsServer2003/Library/IIS/
58f05ef9-55a3-42b3-9f57-27fdc8723b8a.mspx?mfr=true
Next, configure Ektron to use SMTP.
siteroot/web.config
file.<!-- SMTP Server configuration --> <add key="ek_SMTPServer" value="localhost" /> <add key="ek_SMTPPort" value="25" /> <add key="ek_SMTPUser" value="" /> <add key="ek_SMTPPass" value="" />
ek_SMTPServer
value. ek_SMTPPort
to the port your system will access to retrieve email. In most cases, the port is set to 25. If that is not the case, see your System Administrator.ek_SMTPUser
to the username that is set up for the SMTP Server to send and receive email. Typically, the username takes the form of an email address, such as "ek_SMTPUser" value="[email protected]"
."ek_SMTPPass"
value to the password that is set up for the SMTP server to send and receive email. This password is based on the basic authentication. By default, Ektron only accepts passwords in the encrypted form.C:\Program Files\Ektron\CMS400\Utilities
EncryptEmailPassword.exe
. The Encrypt Utility dialog appears.web.config
file after "ek_SMTPPass" value=
.When submitting a form or a content block in an approval process, if you get an error message listed below, it is generated by the SMTP server on which you set up the mail system, not by Ektron.
Ektron's automated email system sends email to proper users when an action has been, or needs to be, performed. The email is stored in and retrieved from the database. Each email consists of one string for the subject and one for the body.Ektron does not support HTML email, but the messages are fully customizable.See Also: Customizing Ektron email.
Email is generated when any of the following actions takes place.
To be notified of these actions, the following criteria must be met:
These values are set in the Edit User screen. See Also: Managing Users
The Tasks feature also has automatic email notification. See Task Email Notification.
Ektron can send email notification to users, informing them that actions have either taken place or are requested of them. For example, a content contributor receives an email that his content has been published. These emails are stored in resource files, where each email consists of one string for the subject and one for the body. Each message is called in the presentation layer by its message title.Ektron does not support HTML email, however the message text is fully customizable.
The body of an email can include variables, located between @ symbols. Ektron replaces these variables with the information for that instance of the email. For example, @appContentTitle@ in the following sentence is replaced with the email’s title.
You can customize these emails, move the variables, add text, rewrite and reorganize.
Carriage Return/Line Feeds are represented by @appCRLF@. These cause the email to move down one line. For example:
Thank you!
The list shows variables you can use to customize email messages. When the email is sent, the corresponding description replaces the variable.
NOTE: You must be logged in to see the changes.
Message Title: email subject: content changes approved.
Message Text: Content changes have been approved.
Message Title: email subject: content has been changed.
Message Text: Content changes have been made.
Message Title: email subject: approval request declined.
Message Text: Content approval request declined.
Message Title: email subject: content deletion approved.
Message Text: Deletion of content has been approved.
Message Title: email subject: content has been deleted.
Message Text: Content has been deleted.
Message Title: email subject: request for approval.
Message Text: Request for content approval.
In addition to automatic email, Ektron lets you email a user or user group from many screens. Your ability to do this is indicated by an email icon () next to a user or group name or on the toolbar. Screens in the following Ektron features support instant email.
When you click one or more user/group names then the toolbar's email icon, the email screen appears.
NOTE: The email software must be configured for your server. See Configuring email for Tasks and Content
When the email screen appears, the following information is copied from Ektron into the email.