Forum Discussion

KarenHenke's avatar
KarenHenke
Qrew Cadet
12 years ago

How do I create a button to initiate an email from Outlook?

I would like to create a button to add to a form that would initiate a standard email from Outlook to another QB user. The email should send a copy of, or a link to, the record being displayed in the...
Forms
NotificationsEmail
Tables and fields
MarkShnier's avatar
MarkShnier
Qrew Cadet
12 years ago
This is an example of a URL formula field to invoke the user's default mail client.  The are some lines commented out that would turn it into a formula-text field as an href type link.  But in the new UX when you click those on a report the record also opens up, which is most confusing to users.

... Anyways, here is an example.  You should URLEncode anything from a field that might have spaces or special characters.


//"<a href=\

"MailTo:customerservice@gesco.ca"

// the above text invokes the mail client, and creates the TO line

&"?subject=Quick Specials Order"

// the above text does the subject line, below that is the body
// the %0A is a line feed type indicator.

&"&body=Attention SHNIER Customer Service, please order the following for me "
&"%0A%0A"&[Specials List Category - Accessories Group]


&"%0A"& URLEncode([Description])

&"%0A"&"Item Code: " & URLEncode([ITEM#])
&"%0A" & "Price is " & URLEncode([Price & Comment])
& If([Cuts OK?]="OK", " (Price is $1.25 extra for cuts)")
& If([Rolls Only?], " (no cuts allowed on this item)")

&"%0A%0A" & "Qty is " & [Qty Available]  & " U/M is "  & [UM] & "  (Edit Qty as necessary)"

&"%0A%0A" & "My Store name is :"
&"%0A%0A" & "My Tel number is :"
&"%0A%0A" & "My name is :"
&"%0A%0A" & "My Purchase Order is:"
&"%0A%0A" & "My Ship date is:"
&"%0A%0A" & "Special Instructions:"

// OK the URLEncode function is required because putting certain special
// characters into the HTML messed it up.  So, since you can't directly
// put an = or & into the string, you need to use the URLEncode function.

&"%0A%0A" & "(Internal use information follows)"
&"%0A" & "Locn: " & URLEncode([Location])
&"%0A" & "Serial: " & URLEncode([Serial#])
&"%0A" & "Shade: " & URLEncode([Shade])

&"%0A%0A" & "Here is a Query for the Item in Quick Specials"

&"%0A" &"https://gesco.quickbase.com/db/xxxxxxxx?a";
& URLEncode("=")& "q" & URLEncode("&") & "qid"
& URLEncode("=") & "65" & URLEncode("&") & "nv"
& URLEncode("=")  & "1" & URLEncode("&")
& "v0"& URLEncode("=") & "Item" & URLEncode([ITEM#])

 
// This last bit creates the words for the link that you click.

//&"\">"&"<b>Order by Email"&"</a>"
  • SalesInfo's avatar
    SalesInfo
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    7 years ago
    Mark_Shnier,

    I copied and pasted your code into the URL formula field but the mailto keeps popping up as an error (see below). Can you please help me fix this problem? Thanks!


  • MichaelMichael3's avatar
    MichaelMichael3
    Qrew Trainee
    7 years ago
    This works:

    // create 3 text variables then execute them in order

    // first variable holds the email address & content

    var text URLONE = "MailTo:" & URLEncode([EmailAddressFieldName])

    &"?subject=TYPE YOUR SUBJECT HERE"

    &"&body=TYPE THE BODY OF YOUR EMAIL HERE, IF YOU INCLUDE FIELDS, DO IT LIKE THIS:�

    & URLEncode([FieldName])

    & "MORE EMAIL BODY UNTIL YOU�RE DONE, THE NEXT BIT IS HOW TO CREATE CARRIAGE RETURNS IN THE EMAIL BODY:"

    &"%0A"  // this makes a carriage return

    &"%0A";  //make sure to include the semicolon to end the variable declaration statement

     

    // this is a little bonus, it checks a box on the record that indicates you�ve sent the email (so you remember not to send it twice)

    var text URLTWO = URLRoot()

    & "db/"

    & Dbid()

    & "?act=API_EditRecord&"

    & "rid=" & URLEncode([Record ID#])

    & "&_fid_91=1"; // this is the checkbox field ID, and you set it to equal 1, which is TRUE or Checked

     

    // this re-loads the page when you�re done

    var text URLTHREE = URLRoot()

    & "db/"

    & [_DBID_CAMPAIGNS] // replace with your table ID name

    & "?a=dr&rid="

    & [Related Campaign]; // id of the table you�re redirecting to (the button on this case was on a child record, therefor the �related� part...

     

    // this �runs� the script: checks the box, then reloads the page, then sends the email, in that order

    $URLTWO

    & "&rdr=" & URLEncode($URLTHREE)

    & URLEncode("&rdr=" & URLEncode($URLONE))


  • SalesInfo's avatar
    SalesInfo
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    7 years ago
    Michael,

    I copied your code and I got a syntax error below. The code seems right to me but not sure why it is not working. I am using formula URL type. Is it a type that I am supposed to use?



    Please help. Thanks for the code!!
  • QuickBaseCoachD's avatar
    QuickBaseCoachD
    Qrew Captain
    7 years ago
    @sales info, please do not post code by a screen shot.  no one can read it and its not editable.

    If you have a syntax error, post the code by copy and paste of the code, and also post the error message which includes the underlining.
  • SalesInfo's avatar
    SalesInfo
    Qrew Assistant Captain
    7 years ago
    Michael,

    I created 3 variable called email1, email2, email3. I am having a problem with the second variable. Can you please check my variables below. Also, what Do I need to do next after creating three variables?



    The first variable: email1 

    var text URLONE = "MailTo:" & URLEncode([Email])  &"?subject=THIS IS A TEST"  &"&body=TYPE THE BODY OF YOUR EMAIL HERE. THIS IS A TEST"
    &"%0A"    &"%0A";  
    var text URLTWO = URLRoot()  & "db/"  & Dbid()  & "?act=API_EditRecord&"  & "rid=" & URLEncode([Record ID#]) //DO I HAVE TO CHANGE [Record ID#]?  & "&_fid_91=1";
    The second variable: email2 

    var text URLTHREE = URLRoot()

    & "db/"

    & [_DBID_TICKETS]  // THE TABLE IS CALLED "Tickets"

    & "?a=dr&rid="  & [Related Campaign]; // I DON'T GET THIS PART. IS IT THE ID OF THE TICKET table  // How do I know the ID number for the tickets table?    The third variable: email3

    $URLTWO

    & "&rdr=" & URLEncode($URLTHREE)

    & URLEncode("&rdr=" & URLEncode($URLONE))


    After creating three variable above, what am I supposed to do next? How do I create a button on the ticket table?

    Please help. Thanks so much!!