Administrative and Maintenance Tools - EPC vbMailer [LITE] All in ONE E-mail Solution

EPC vbMailer [LITE] for vBulletin

*** Image removed as it was hotlinking to another site and site does not allow for hotlinking ***

(Not just a hack, just a HUGE expansion in getting your communication professionally delivered effectively and efficiently to your forums members)

Brief Introduction:

What we have here is an expansion of a lot of tools that deal with ?effective? communication with your forums members by and through the vBulletin forums system. As you know there are many modifications on the vBulletin.org website that?ll help you manage all of these means, some are lacking other essential needs or you are simply too tired to figuring out which one doesn?t work with what hack. Overall, we have built EPC vBMailer to be the overall and ONLY solution to your vBulletin e-mailing needs. Because you request it in here, we will build it without any questions!

After endless reading on the forums at vbulletin.org, we have found it to be a wise decision to release a LITE and a FULL version, basically a trial version before you buy? Where the trial will not ever end, it?s just a lighter version to the FULL version which has an extended amount of features in it that handles ALL of your e-mailing needs in one!


Core Feature List:

• Templates
  • Add templates
  • Edit templates
  • Delete templates
• Autoresponders
  • Add autoresponders
  • Edit autoresponders
  • Delete autoresponders
• Compose Email
  • Type an email, or
  • Use a template
  • Schedule when to send
• Bounce Management
  • Logs into your SMTP info
  • Inactivates bounced emails
  • Deletes bounced emails from server
• Settings
  • Easily edit vbMailer Settings inside your config file
  • FULL version has it all built into the /admincp/ with more support

Templates Overview

• Enter a subject, text email and HTML email to easily send them out on-the-fly later
• Templates, like anything else in vbMailer, support variables

Autoresponder Overview

• Setup autoresponder sequences to automatically send out emails
• Very powerful for those of you who want to seamlessly and automatically advertise your forums, or give your users a friendly "nudge" to come back
• Yep, autoresponders support variables too

Compose Email Overview

• Choose a previously created template or enter a subject, text and HTML email
• Choose a time to run the campaign, allowing you to schedule the campaign for whenever you want

(meaning you can setup that advertisement email to run while you are on vacation, phew!)

• And did I mention, composing an email directly also supports variables

Review Campaigns Overview:

• Track how each of your campaigns is doing, by looking at how many emails were SENT, FAILED and READ
• Delete any upcoming campaigns

Bounce Management Overview:

• No more annoying bounce emails filling your Inbox
• Every time the cron runs, it automatically sets the email status to inactive on any bounced emails
• PM sent to user to update his/her e-mail address!

Example of a log when one is bounced:

Email sent [sadfjasdfj2234rr32ff@email.com] using [smtp]

#-Bounces---------------------#
Connected to mail.mydomainhere.com
Logged in as username@mydomainhere.com
Fetched message list

Found bounce [sadfjasdfj2234rr32ff@email.com]
sadfjasdfj2234rr32ff@email.com: Email inactivated
sadfjasdfj2234rr32ff@email.com: Bounce email deleted

Connection closed

Done

EPC vbMailer Variables Overview:

Although you can use anything in the 'user' table as a template variable, the most useful are provided in this list:
[userid]
[username]
[email]
[homepage]
[icq]
[aim]
[yahoo]
[msn]
[skype]
[posts]
[ipaddress]
[pmtotal]
[pmunread]
[warnings]

EPC vbMailer Variables Test Email

So basically you would setup and form e-mail going out to all as an example:

Dear [username],

Today it has come to our attention your posts total today are [posts] posts on the forums.

Total warnings you have on file are [warnings] warnings!

You have a total of [pmtotal] PM?s inside your inbox on the forums, also do note that you have a total of [pmunread] unread PM?s

Your webpage is located at: [homepage]

On file we have the following Instant Messengers:

ICQ: [icq]
AIM: [aim]
YAHOO: [yahoo]
MSN: [msn]
SKYPE: [skype]

Your User ID, which is a number and can be found to be as follows: [userid]

Your sign-up IP address was: [ipaddress]

Best regards,
EPC vbMailer and Team

EPC vbMailer Outcome E-mail

Enough of that one, below you?ll see the outcome of the e-mail:

Dear BillyBoyGates,

Today it has come to our attention your posts total today are 0 posts on the forums.

Total warnings you have on file are 0 warnings!

You have a total of 0 PM?s inside your inbox on the forums, also do note that you have a total of 0 unread PM?s

Your webpage is located at: http://www.billyboygates.com/

On file we have the following Instant Messengers:

ICQ: 999999
AIM: bloggermania
YAHOO: yahoosucks@yahoo.com
MSN: billyboygates@hotmail.com
SKYPE: skyperockstotally

Your User ID, which is a number and can be found to be as follows: 1

Your sign-up IP address was: 131.0.12.125

Best regards,
EPC vbMailer and Team

You can unsubscribe at any time by visiting the forums where this was sent from and requesting not to receive emails from administrators any more.

http://www.yourforums.com/forums2

Conclusion:

You have installed at LEAST 5+ separate hacks to mount up to what we just created but coded you here in the LITE version, do note this, in the FULL version for less than a happy meal you will have even more flexibility. Whether you wanted to run a newsletter, or send out a series of e-mails (autoresponders) or simply schedule the sending times and letting EPC vbMailer will do it for you seamlessly.

In the LITE version, you will need to note, there is a set limit on how many e-mails that can be sent out due to the core of the LITE wasn?t designed to handle UNLIMITED.

Make sure you check it out in the LITE first to see if this is something you would like, with full SUPPORT too you if you clicked install. Bottom line, we are just happy to accommodate anyone and everyone.

How do I get support?

Also comes with a 22 page End-User Documentation, all clean and sectioned out for you in PDF. Make sure you have Adobe READER v6+ not a RIPPER

Support is given to those who click INSTALL...

However if you have questions before installing do let us know, we have tested this on 3.6.8, and if you have a forums that is prior, please let us know if this works and report this here! Others will appreciate it a lot.

All support for the LITE version will be held here only if you click install, and if you purchase the full version all support is handled in the order received by our full-time reps in the CSC, NO support is held here for the FULL version!

So here's the LITE version and it comes with a full set of instructions and if you require any assistance on how to find feeds and what places are best for feeds, do post them in here.

Also if you post anything in here that has NOTHING to do with the hack and support, question related issues, i.e. Starting drama on anything not related to this hack, "it is no good", "I guess this will ruin this", and blah blah, keep your drama out please!

Copyright

/*
Please do not remove this Copyright notice.
As you see this is a free script accordingly under GPL laws and you will see
a license attached accordingly to GNU.
You may NOT rewrite another hack and release it to the vBulletin.org community or ELSEWHERE using this code without our permission due to the fact we have a full version and this full version is a paid version, as this version will differ but some
of the logistics are the same. So do NOT try to release a hack using any part of our code without written permission from us!
Copyright 2007, BlogToRank
*/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +
Change Log


#--------------v1.1-LITE--------------#

• 'Unique reads' statistic addition, no charts
  • vs. FULL 'Unique reads' & 'Link clicks', charts
• Attachment via compose email only
  • vs. FULL Saved attachments via templates, autoresponders or compose email
• Bounced emails set all communication via e-mail options to inactive
  • vs. FULL Bounced emails set all options to inactive & PMs user
• No link tracking
  • vs. FULL Link tracking and 'Link clicks' statistic

#--------------v1.2-FULL--------------#

• Campaign deletion
• Choose user group to send to
• Bounced email admin notification (Sent to admin PM)
• HTML/Text user option (Under User CP and upon user registration and is REQUIRED at registration)

#--------------v1.2-LITE--------------#

• Campaign deletion
• Bounced email user notification (previously only in FULL)

#--------------v1.2.3-LITE--------------#

• Fixed a security vulnerability to our the tracker and the /admincp/vbmailer.php
• Fixed a bug within our product install. (Recommend you do a fresh install of this product file)
• Fixed a few other minor things and we highly recommend a download and update immediately.

#--------------v1.5-LITE--------------#

• Fixed a hanging process within the Send E-Mail by the RUN Now being processed
• Added the Signature Line to be manually modified within the settings of LITE and FULL version
• Update to the nl2br to fix broken issues with Outlook Express of receiving text e-mails, because Microsoft decided to NOT respect the \r\n format, so it's known as the nl2br

  \r\n = "<br>"

• Few other snags cleaned up to put this to v1.5.

[ChurchMedia]

After looking this over, I have a few things for the wish-list:

1. I'd like to be able to choose which usergroups to send to.
2. I LOVE the bounced email feature -- I'd like to be notified of which users bounced and I'd like the option to selectively delete those users.
3. I'd like a separate user setting for if users want an email or not. So they can turn that on and off in their user CP.
4. I also need (actually have to have by law) an unsubcription link.
5. I didn't see a way to delete a future emailing after you've created it. I think that needs to be in there.

Those are things I can think of right now. I REALLY like the auto-features in this script. It's going to make my life a lot easier.

[edenx]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

After looking this over, I have a few things for the wish-list:

1. I'd like to be able to choose which usergroups to send to.
2. I LOVE the bounced email feature -- I'd like to be notified of which users bounced and I'd like the option to selectively delete those users.
3. I'd like a separate user setting for if users want an email or not. So they can turn that on and off in their user CP.
4. I also need (actually have to have by law) an unsubcription link.
5. I didn't see a way to delete a future emailing after you've created it. I think that needs to be in there.

Those are things I can think of right now. I REALLY like the auto-features in this script. It's going to make my life a lot easier.

Agree with all this

I want also to choose wich users to send the letter, depending on custom fields value

[blogtorank]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

After looking this over, I have a few things for the wish-list:

1. I'd like to be able to choose which usergroups to send to.
2. I LOVE the bounced email feature -- I'd like to be notified of which users bounced and I'd like the option to selectively delete those users.
3. I'd like a separate user setting for if users want an email or not. So they can turn that on and off in their user CP.
4. I also need (actually have to have by law) an unsubcription link.
5. I didn't see a way to delete a future emailing after you've created it. I think that needs to be in there.

Those are things I can think of right now. I REALLY like the auto-features in this script. It's going to make my life a lot easier.

1. Love this request, will surely look at how this can be done seamlessly!

2. Love the bounces too , keeps the inbox empty of the ones that have a issue with their mail servers and etc.. We are working for the PM to the member here for v1.1 (set to release this evening)

3. User setting? You mean a NEW option inside the user-side under their User CP?

4. This is done by the footer of each one! Technically this will cover you would it not???

5. Elaborate on number 5 more for me please...

Life is much easier now when sending e-mails.

[ChurchMedia]

Originally Posted by blogtorank

1. Love this request, will surely look at how this can be done seamlessly!

2. Love the bounces too , keeps the inbox empty of the ones that have a issue with their mail servers and etc.. We are working for the PM to the member here for v1.1 (set to release this evening)

3. User setting? You mean a NEW option inside the user-side under their User CP?

4. This is done by the footer of each one! Technically this will cover you would it not???

5. Elaborate on number 5 more for me please...

Life is much easier now when sending e-mails.

#3 -- Yes, a separate setting (Maybe two -- One to subscribe/unsubscribe and one for HTML or plain text preference).

#4 -- Cool! I didn't know that. So there is a link that will turn off emails for each user -- that should do it!

#5 -- Maybe I missed it somewhere, but I set up a test email to go out on 8/22/07 -- then I wanted to delete it. I couldn't find a way to do that.

Thanks for your help!

[blogtorank]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

#3 -- Yes, a separate setting (Maybe two -- One to subscribe/unsubscribe and one for HTML or plain text preference).

Why would you want a HTML or Text our system does this automatically, it'll serve them their required type... Meaning it's a smart system In another words that's one less thing they need to worry about, I had a lady ask me what's HTML e-mail vs TXT. So you see what I mean? It will serve them their needs per their e-mail client's settings, basically if they can only get TXT then the text portion is served... See what I mean? If it's HTML they can get then they get the pretty HTML version...

Like Snoop would say, "Loosen up my buttons baby."

[blogtorank]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

#4 -- Cool! I didn't know that. So there is a link that will turn off emails for each user -- that should do it!

#5 -- Maybe I missed it somewhere, but I set up a test email to go out on 8/22/07 -- then I wanted to delete it. I couldn't find a way to do that.

Thanks for your help!

#4 Answer: The link is inside their User CP (Options)... Accept e-mails from admins...

#5 Answer: Oh yeah good point, don't send none out that you don't want to be sent, until we get a cancellation trigger done! (v1.2 for that for sure)

Am I missing anything?

[ChurchMedia]

I understand that and I think it's a cool feature, but I have members that specifically want text emails even though they can receive HTML. My last system (ListMail Pro) would give them the option and a lot of my members just prefer text to HTML. I don't know why...

It would just be a nice option to have.

[blogtorank]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

I understand that and I think it's a cool feature, but I have members that specifically want text emails even though they can receive HTML. My last system (ListMail Pro) would give them the option and a lot of my members just prefer text to HTML. I don't know why...

It would just be a nice option to have.

Just fill in the text one only That's all you have to do, you don't HAVE to fill in the HTML...

Edited:

Unless some do some don't you are saying? If that's the case I'll look into this...

[ChurchMedia]

Originally Posted by blogtorank

Just fill in the text one only That's all you have to do, you don't HAVE to fill in the HTML...

Edited:

Unless some do some don't you are saying? If that's the case I'll look into this...

But then there's no way for me to know who wants text and who wants HTML. I think HTML emails get a better response, so I'm not going to send out a text-only email. I prefer HTML. It would just be great to know that the 10% (or whatever) of my users that want text are getting it. Is it a hard option to include? My last emailer system had that feature. It would seem to be just an extra if conditional in the script...????

[blogtorank]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

But then there's no way for me to know who wants text and who wants HTML. I think HTML emails get a better response, so I'm not going to send out a text-only email. I prefer HTML. It would just be great to know that the 10% (or whatever) of my users that want text are getting it. Is it a hard option to include? My last emailer system had that feature. It would seem to be just an extra if conditional in the script...????

Extra in the script, extra in the registration, extra in the profile "user cp options." A few extras in the MySQL, need more extras? LOL

Anyhow let us figure that one out and we'll surely get it pegged for you, because this is a registration thing you see? When they register for your forums they need to check the box on the optional area at the end if you use it, "Receive e-mails from admins." this extra opt for html or text, will be needed in there as a "Required" as per your needs you see?