[ingramac]

Our school just switched from Outlook to FirstClass email... and it is not very RE compatible!

Does anyone else use both RE and FirstClass? In particular I need to know how to send an email through a constituent's record. And have it saved in the action tab. Any other helpful hints on getting these two programs to be a little more in synch would be great!!

Thanks,

Ashley

[RobertWild]

I don't think that you can - as BB are very pro-microsoft they have built the capability to auto email from RE to only work with Outlook (or Outlook Express)

We have a similar situation - we'd love for them to use Mozilla's Thunderbird free client, but no.

[DrewAllen]

I thought that RE simply sent out a command to the default E-mail program. Is FirstClass set up to be your default email? Check in Control Panel > Internet Options > Programs > E-mail.

Drew

[Jonathan Carter]

I have been working with solutions for this for the last few years. FirstClass uses LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) - Raiser's Edge needs a MAPI (Messaging Applications Programming Interface) compliant software. FirstClass is not compliant. MAPI is the Microsoft email management system that allows RE to interface with email servers. Solution Number: BB70761 talks about how you can't to enable LDAP authentication but you can "add yourself" to the list of people who would liike to see this implemented with RE.

However, if you have an amicable IS staff you can set up your FirstClass email server to work with RE if you disable the FirstClass client on your workstation and use the Outlook or Outlook Express client. If you choose this method you still need to buy the MS license for the software. That's usually what sends schools to FirstClass - the licensing costs are much lower. Also, while I have found this to work, my IS staff refuses to enable MAPI - IMAP protocol for FirstClass because of the virus issues that accompany using Outlook. So far they win.

Myself and previous staff along with various users of FirstClass have been pushing for this for a few years now but have been told "it's been filed as a suggestion" and that's where the coversation usually ends.

Good Luck!

Jonathan

[DrewAllen]

So does RE use SimpleMAPI or ExtendedMAPI? If it uses SimpleMAPI, you should at least be able to get this to work with Mozilla Thunderbird.

Drew

[Jonathan Carter]

That's what I would have thought too but the only client they test with RE is Outlook and don't guarantee any other email program. If you ask about Mozilla the specifically say it's not supported.

Jonathan

[DavidZ]

My guess is that they use Outlook's object model to interact with it rather than using a generic MAPI reference in Windows. That is why it will not work with any other program.

I am sure that it is possible to integrate using the API...

David

[Jonathan Carter]

That would be my guess too. Since my first post it has been pointed out to me that Outlook Express will not work with RE either - only full Outlook.

Jonathan

[Doug Creek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Carter

That would be my guess too. Since my first post it has been pointed out to me that Outlook Express will not work with RE either - only full Outlook.

Jonathan

You know, that's funny... I use another program called Track-it for tracking jobs and requests, and it specifically won't work with the full version of outlook unless you are using an exchange server, but it works just fine with outlook express with any type of connection... I had to switch to MAPI because we went to authenticated SMTP servers, which Track-it doesn't support. There's a flag in outlook express that prevents third party applications from accessing it that needs to be turned off (I can't remember where it is, but I can find it if you want). If you uncheck that, does RE work with outlook express??

Just curious,
Doug

[Shannon Moon]

We are facing the exact same issue, except FirstClass is claiming to be MAPI compliant and we went so far as to test it and it worked, however Blackbaud keeps going back to its "We don't support...." stance. It's frustrating as this is a huge functionality we'd like to be using. If anyone figures this out, please let me know, and I will do the same.

[Shannon Moon]

Would you believe they told me to search non-official blackbaud forums in my case on this?

[Melissa Siobhan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon Moon

Would you believe they told me to search non-official blackbaud forums in my case on this?

That is typical when you are talking about third party software. They make no guarantees.

[Jonathan Carter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon Moon

Would you believe they told me to search non-official blackbaud forums in my case on this?

You will find that if they don't support something, there are lots of folks on the various forums that probably are discussing it. This group is by far the best in this area that I have found.

My school is starting to look at working with First Class again since the new version is MAPI compliant. Again, I think the issue is going to be the security of using this protocol for our Network Manager. I'll let you know as we move forward as to what we determine. Please do the same. There are any number of First Class users on this forum who will also be interested.

[RobertWild]

Here's an interesting take on this...

It appears that the whole MAPI integration thing is a bit more detailed.

From the user guide from Blackbaud's Office Integration Guide (page 150 through to about 155 for the relevant detail) it looks like the actual hooks are data objects in Office, specifically in the Office Data Objects Collaboration (CDO) systems. Further reading indicates that the integration is through a "COM Add-it", which may be either a .exe or a .dll.

Now I know that the MAPI stuff is buried within .dll's, so here's the likely spot where this links in.

The main file in question is RE7Outlook.dll

cheers

Rob