How to track wheather the email sent is read by user or not

sachindesarda

In PHP can we track wheather the mail sent by us is read by the user to whome we sent that?
Thanking you,
Sachin Desarda.

erikwebb

Not using PHP, because in that case you would be assuming that the user's email server allows PHP scripts to be executed through mail (often stopped by anti-virus, etc.). The easiest way is just to insert a link to a dynamic page if the reason you want to know when they open the mail is that important. Otherwise, I believe there is a way to do it in JavaScript, but I am not sure of the specifics.

BuzzLY

Once the mail is sent, the only way you can tell if it's read is if you request a "read request." Those are usually sent to the email address in the "From" header.

Off the top of my head, the answer would be no, but I have learned over time that sometimes you can do some crazy stuff you never thought possible. So, perhaps someone will tell you how to do it.

Unless, of course, I am misunderstanding your question. In which case, just ignore me. 🙂

HalfaBee

How about a HTML <IMG> tag that refers to a php script that sends a image back and also sends you an email saying it has been viewed.
You cannot be certain they read the email but you know they viewed it.

HalfaBee

BuzzLY

Hmmmm... interesting. Have you ever used this method?

HalfaBee

No. I never thought about using it in an email.
It is standard practice for counters etc.
Just seemed like the easiest way to know if an email was veiwed.

Halfabee

WizyWyg

wouldn't work if the user/end user receiving email is on a text based email reader like pine.

At all costs avoid using html in email.

BuzzLY

"At all costs?" Why? Will it cause nuclear meltdown?

I just have to wonder why some people have this aversion to some ways of doing things. The thing is, HTML in emails is a good thing -- it allows you to format it nicely, so that it looks good. And HTML is a good standard to use, since it is easy to format, and can be interpreted by most good email programs.

Are there problems with it? Sure. But if we as programmers don't use it, then nobody will be motivated to fix those problems, and we will be using plain text emails into the next century, while telephones will be able to send holographic images.

You have to push the envelope if you want change to happen. I say, use HTML in emails. Eventually, those using text email programs will switch to see what the fuss is all about.

Besides, it's not that difficult to send an email as text AND html... so why not do it?

WizyWyg

Originally posted by BuzzLY
"At all costs?" Why? Will it cause nuclear meltdown?

No but you start posing a security risk to those who have email readers taht do render HTML content, and could trigger their :

program to stall
program to crash
launch their anti=virus program (should you include broken scripting)

Numerous things

HTML encoded email bloats the size of a message.
Size of messages uses up inbox space.
That measn you are taking away space from someone who is probably waiting for an important reply or information that is more important that your email.

What's better? 200 emails at 2kb each or 200 emails at 20 kb each?

I just have to wonder why some people have this aversion to some ways of doing things. The thing is, HTML in emails is a good thing -- it allows you to format it nicely, so that it looks good. And HTML is a good standard to use, since it is easy to format, and can be interpreted by most good email programs.

If you know how to type responsibly and use ASCII correctly, nothing prevents you from sending out a TEXT only message to your receivers that you can also provide a link in that same message to an ONLINE version of your message filled with all the fancy-smancy layout design fonts and images you could want.

My webhost does this constantly with their newsletters, and their "letters" when printed up are about 6-8 pages long that is no more than 10kb. Imagine if HTML was included with all the graphics spiffs? That same 10kb message would easily become 100kb. I get 5 of these a week, that means 500kb a week/ 2 megs a month / 24 megs a year. My inbox is only 6 megs big. I'd be taking up 1/3 of my inbox space with just the newsletters from my webhost. I belong to 30+ mailing lists, imagine that 2 megs times 30 and the problem becomes exponential.

And do I want to even go into download time?
Some people in the world are still on dial-up, pay-by-the-moment fees for the internet connection. HTML emails take longer to download, hence taxing the user, and costing them money.

Are there problems with it? Sure. But if we as programmers don't use it, then nobody will be motivated to fix those problems, and we will be using plain text emails into the next century, while telephones will be able to send holographic images.

Tell ya what, you can send me HTML encoded emails if and when you start paying the space I have to pay for in monthly fees to accept them. Why dont you pay those who receive HTML emails a fee so that they can accept them?

Why can't , what you say in a 20kb email message with html not be said in a 4kb message without?

HTML belongs on the WEB. NOT in email
Email has alwasy been and WILL alwasy be a text based communication medium.
You want HTML, create a website for it; keep it out of email.

You have to push the envelope if you want change to happen. I say, use HTML in emails. Eventually, those using text email programs will switch to see what the fuss is all about.

There are limitations with everything and YOU have to be willing to accept it.

As more and more people complain about "invasion" of privacy from HTM laden emails, you're going to end being one of the few out there that persist in this thinking.

Email is and will always be a TEXT BASED form of communication.
You want them to see your newsletter in HTML, put it out on the web tat your site, so it TAKES up your resources. DONT force it upon the end user.

Besides, it's not that difficult to send an email as text AND html... so why not do it?

Then why dont you?

My email lists are all text based. I have no html at all, and my users number in 20,000+. 20,00 x 2 kb messages = not much resources used on my end, and im not taking away reserouces from them.

20,000 x 20kb = My resources are used up and their resources are used up. Why should i be responsible for taking up their needed space.

We have enough HTML crap from spammers, and we dont need anymore.

Oh and I once received and HTML email message that was nearly 1.3 megs large. When I took it into a text editor (Notetab light) and "stripped" all the html, the message came to less than 30 kb.