Introduction
Well, only the first version, I'm sure I still have many things to do, but it is already working and I thought someone might be interested in such a tool. I made it for myself, to automate and manage newsletters subscription and sending. This tool allows you to make one or more templates and use them to send newsletters to your users via e-mail. All is done without any database, using only XML to store all data. Why I chose to use XML? Well, I don't have any clear answer, I was just curious if I can do this and how. I guess this was the only reason.
Features
- Templates - You do not need to write the same HTML code again and again. Just define one or more templates and change the text inside them.
- Subscribers list - Allows to view/delete subscribers.
- Newsletters archive - View all newsletters that already have been sent
- Uses either CDONTS or CDO for Windows 2000.
Requirements
- Web server with IIS 4.x+ installed
- Microsoft XML Parser (comes with Internet Explorer 5.x or higher)
- CDONTS or CDO for Windows 2000 (for e-mailing)
- Write access for directory where all data will be held
Installation instructions
Download and unzip the file to some folder on your hard drive. Open inc_config.asp file in any text editor (such as Notepad). There are only 2 variables that you should change:
cfgNLDataPath
- Path (relative) to the directory where all XML files with data will be stored. The directory should exist on the server prior to any use of Stp Newsletters Manager. To protect your data from viewing by other people, you should create the folder out of your web space.
cfgNLAdminPassword
- Your password as administrator. Make sure to change it before you gonna use the software.
Save edited file and upload all unzipped files onto your server and create a directory for storing all data (make sure it has write access). Below is an example of configuration file:
'***** inc_config.asp *****'
'Path where all files, data should be stored.
'This is a relative path and should exist.
'To protect your data, create a directory out of
'your web space. Remember that this directory
'should have write permissions
cfgNLDataPath = "../nldata/"
'Administrator password. Make sure to change to your own
cfgNLAdminPassword = "mypassword"
Any other properties can be set under the Settings section. There are actually 3 more: the administrator e-mail, value of the "From" field (which can be a simple e-mail ID or in form like "My Newsletter<webmaster@domain.com>") and the component to use to send e-mails (CDONTS or CDO for Windows 2000).