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Jeff - 24 Jul 2008 14:27 GMT

I haven't used php to send mail yet and have some questions.

I see that you can add headers, and these days it is essential to have a
real "from".

But I see you can also do this:

mail('nobody@example.com', 'the subject', 'the message', null,
'-fwebmaster@example.com');

Does that only work with sendmail and how can you tell what the MTA
(is that right) is?

Also, how would you include a BCC or Reply To with that?

On a related note, what's with CR LF I see in the examples. I see there
are some issues with the CR, can I simple do this?:

$header=<<<'thisdata'
From: some_from
BCC: some blind copy
thisdata;

and expect that to work?

Jeff

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GYates - 24 Jul 2008 15:57 GMT

> I haven't used php to send mail yet and have some questions.
>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Jeff

Hey here's some help.

With the PHP mail() function the From MUST be included either in the
php.ini file or in the headers section otherwise it returns a warning.

Separate headers are separated by CRLF in the form of "\r\n" for
example:

$headers = "From: example@example.com" . "\r\n" . "Cc:
example2@example.com" . "\r\n" . "Bcc: example3@example.com" . "\r
\n" . "Reply-To:example4@example.com";

Note: If messages are not received, try using a LF (\n) only. Some
poor quality Unix mail transfer agents replace LF by CRLF
automatically (which leads to doubling CR if CRLF is used). This
should be a last resort, as it does not comply with » RFC 2822.

the mail() would then be something like:
mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers)

I hope that helped if more assistance is needed check out PHPs website
they have very useful documentation:
http://us.php.net/manual/en/function.mail.php

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Álvaro G. Vicario - 24 Jul 2008 18:03 GMT

*** Jeff escribió/wrote (Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:27:37 -0400):

> I see that you can add headers, and these days it is essential to have a
> real "from".
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Does that only work with sendmail and how can you tell what the MTA
> (is that right) is?

If I'm not wrong, it works with Sendmail *and* Sendmail-compatible MTAs
such as Postfix or Qmail. But you must be aware that -f sets the
Return-Path address, not the From header: they're different things.

> Also, how would you include a BCC or Reply To with that?

These are regular headers: just append them to the fourth parameter of
mail():

mail('nobody@example.com', 'the subject', 'the message',
"From: webmaster@example.com\nBcc: foo@example.com\nReply-To:
bar@example.com',
'-fwebmaster@example.com');

> On a related note, what's with CR LF I see in the examples. I see there
> are some issues with the CR, can I simple do this?:
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> and expect that to work?

Short answer: yes. Specs say that e-mail should use \r\n but \n tends to
work in practice and I've even seen \r\n failing some times...

Just be careful with $header; if extra line feeds get added, headers will
jump to the message body.

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-- http://alvaro.es - Álvaro G. Vicario - Burgos, Spain
-- Mi sitio sobre programación web: http://bits.demogracia.com
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--

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Peter H. Coffin - 27 Jul 2008 17:19 GMT

> *** Jeff escribió/wrote (Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:27:37 -0400):
>> I see that you can add headers, and these days it is essential to have a
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> such as Postfix or Qmail. But you must be aware that -f sets the
> Return-Path address, not the From header: they're different things.

And you need both, not necessarily set to the same thing. The From: can
go to the email address for someone to answer questions, the From_ needs
to go to someone (or some process) that handles undeliverable mail.
Neither should be set to a "noreply" or invalid or nonfunctional
address. Some anti-spam measures will check either or both for
functionality.

Signature

36. I will not imprison members of the same party in the same cell block, let
alone the same cell. If they are important prisoners, I will keep the only
key to the cell door on my person instead of handing out copies to every
bottom-rung guard in the prison. --Peter Anspach's Evil Overlord List

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Jeff - 30 Jul 2008 22:57 GMT

>> *** Jeff escribió/wrote (Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:27:37 -0400):
>>> I see that you can add headers, and these days it is essential to have a
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> address. Some anti-spam measures will check either or both for
> functionality.

Can you talk a bit more about the Return Path? How would you set that as
a header?

And, I understand that some mail clients look at something like a
return path and this should be set somewhere on the site for the server
to check. I'm quite hazy on all this and any clarification would be a
huge help.

Jeff

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Webmaster Forum / PHP / General PHP Topics / July 2008

mail questions