40,000 since 16 December 2010

40,000... that's the number of e-mails since 16 December 2010 that one client has sent from a database I built for them last year.

The database automates the generation of personalised messages and optionally attaches a pdf containing information that is tailored to the recipient's enquiry. The pdf generation and e-mail sending is all performed by FMP. This automation has replaced a largely manual process that took days to complete.

Because the e-mail sending and pdf generation can take several seconds to complete, the database generates the message text and pdf then "queues" the message, rather than sending it immediately, thereby saving about 7 seconds each message. A server-side script on FM Server runs every 30 minutes and performs the task of actually sending the messages via SMTP to the mail server. This frees-up the user's computer much faster and thereby improves productivity. A pleasant side effect is that it's possible to review the queued messages and delete them before they get sent. It's also possible to select a queued message and send it immediately, and to re-send a sent message with a single click.

The limitation? FileMaker's Send Mail script step only supports plain text messages and a single attachment. This is fine for the business since all their fancy HTML mail campaigns are done through a third party.