E-mail -> PHP -> MySQL

[facciazzi]

Hello all. I need to setup a support system which I would like to keep half Web based and half e-mail client based.

Basically, the user request support from a PHP Web form which sends my e-mail address its content and to a MySQL database all the data to keep a tracking system.

The problem is that once the first e-mail is sent, everything else is done via the e-mail client (my answer, the user's answer, and so on), so I lose track of anything related.

What I need is to know if there is a way using PHP to "intercept" e-mails and process them in some way, so that I can break them down in sender, message, etc. and put all the relevant data in the MySQL database.

Thanks in advance for any information!

[stuartc1]

I suppose it depends on your mail server, email addresses, security issues and peoples trust.

If you are running this internally then you could wite a script to open everyones mail boxes, extract the data and inster it into MySQL. You would have to schedule the script to run automatically.
This has obvious probelms like peoples personal emails being read etc.

But realistically I dont thinks its the best way to implement this. Why not just create a forum type interface so evrything that is exchanged must go through that, making it easier to get the data, more secure, not risking peoples friendship etc.😃

[facciazzi]

Actually, I saw this kind of solution commercially implemented and I don't think it's something more exotic than CGI. Sure, I could use a Web only system, which would solve all problems, but I guess people would be more comfortable using a mail client. I was kind of hoping to find some kind of ready to use package for this (or buy one, for that matter). I guess the real problem is having PHP interact with the e-mail system.

[stuartc1]

aaaah, I think I know what you are looking for now.

I remember building a system in Coldfusion a year or so ago, it was similar to the application 'something Serve' (forget the full name). But anyway all you really need to do is have a main email address for each subject/discusion and have all the email replies go to that, then you use PHP to open the mail box and save the mail to a DB and forward it to all the subscribers. It still requires a schedular to run the script though. With Coldfusion the Server has a Schedular built in, but in php you will have to use a third party tool to run the script (like an at task or similar).

I will try and remeber the product I was talking about.

[stuartc1]

Remebered the name: ListServe

http://www.lsoft.com/products/default.asp?item=listserv-powered

this is a big product though it may help understand the workings of it, and help you code one yourself.😃

[facciazzi]

Thank you! I'll look into that...

[KoshNaranek]

maybe the imap-functions are helpfull...

I've written a Trouble-Ticket-System, too.

My System is able to send mails and it records any outgoing
mail related to the corresponding case in the ticket-system.

You just have to write a form... before sending the mail with "mail()" you should store them in a database...

Save the "caseid" ... Voilá... here we go...

😃