Why doesn't this mail() code work?

TroyNB

I have been trying to get a simple form that sends emails to work using the mail() function. I can't seem to get it to work. Is there something wrong with my code?

echo "Attempting to send mail to: " . $ToName . " at " . $ToEmail ."<P>";
echo "From: " . $FromName . " at " . $FromEmail ."<P>";

echo "Subject: " . $Subject . "<P>";

echo "Message: " . "<BR>";

echo $Message;

mail($ToEmail, $Subject, $Message, "From: $FromEmail");

This is my output when I test it, but I never get an email sent out:

Attempting to send mail to: Troy Broas at TroyNB@aol.com
From: Test Name at TroyBroas74@hotmail.com

Subject: Test Mail

Message:
This is a test email of the mail() function.

This is html form:

<font size=2 face=arial>
Recipient's Name : <BR><input type="text" name="ToName" size=40><P>
Recipient's Email Address : <BR><input type="text" name="ToEmail" size=40><P>
Sender's Name : <BR><input type="text" name="FromName" size=40><P>
Sender's Email Address : <BR><input type="text" name="FromEmail" size=40><P>

Subject : <BR><input type="text" name="Subject" size=40><P>

Message:<BR><TEXTAREA name=Message ROWS=10 COLS=40></TEXTAREA><P>

</HTML>

Is there something I'm doing wrong?

grizclient

Your php.ini file needs to have the SMTP section set up correctly. You'll need the address of a SMTP server which you can access to send outgoing mail.

You can change your php.ini values directly from your script for the duration of the script with ini_set()

ini_set("SMTP","mail.someserver.com");

TroyNB

I have added the ini_set(); line into my php code and I'm still not having any luck with getting the mail() function to work. Any other suggestions as to what I might be doing incorrectly?

BigMike

Troy,

this is what I use ... I'm not sure you are using the 4 parameters correctly ... also mail return a value that can be checked to see if it was successful or not.

// -----------------------------------------------------------------------

// Send email with link for confirmation
$mail_headers = "From: list@myxxx.com\n" .
"Reply-To: list@myxxx.com\n" .
"Return-Path: <list@myxxx.com>\n" ;

$mail_message =
"Here is the body of the message. \n\n" .
"And here is some more of the body: \n\n" ;

$send_mail = mail($email, "Subject ... ", $mail_message, $mail_headers) ;

if($send_mail)
{
echo "Success" ;
}else{
echo "Failure" ;
}

Notes: $email is a field from a form.

Your form looks ok, but you can check the values are coming in properly by echoing them before the send mail.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards,

Mike

BigMike

Originally posted by BigMike

Your form looks ok, but you can check the values are coming in properly by echoing them before the send mail.

Oops you have - sorry.

Regards,

Mike

TroyNB

Thanks Mike, I'll give your sugestion a shot and let you know how it goes.

TroyNB

Thanks Mike! I tried what you suggested and it worked! I guess I was handling the headers incorrectly. Thanks again! You are the man!

karlitosphere

the mail() function on most (if not all) of the free PHP hosting sites dont work (or returns errors).. i've also tried an SMTP script i got but it still wont budge.. i've no CODE specific questions at the moment but i just want to know if there's a free hosting site that is mail() enabled or if there's a 30 liner or less way of sending emails through PHP?

thanks a bunch..

planetsim

Well you can ask hosts that support PHP...

Most sites say what they have in there PHP set up.. Mail is funny one cause most free sites dont let people use it..

karlitosphere

do you happen to know of any?

planetsim

Sorry I dont know of any..

I reckon once you get to PHP standards.. You should get a paid Hosting.. free hosts offer only so much.. but paid hosting you get the lot or close anyway

BigMike

Originally posted by TroyNB
Thanks Mike! I tried what you suggested and it worked! I guess I was handling the headers incorrectly. Thanks again! You are the man!

My pleasure - I'm pleased it worked for you.

Regards,

Mike