Sending e-mail prior to Ora 8.0 from PL/SQL

Question

Dear peers,
I would like to e-mail from a Pl/SQL block but can't use utl_smtp because the Oracle version is prior to 8.0. Could you recommend ways of doing so?
My OS is Unix and have Perl,and PHP as well. I have little experience with any of this tools, so please be simple.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, CIP

Answer 1

Hi,
The following article on sending mail is for Oracle 7.x as well and is specific to UNIX. It uses DBMS_PIPE PL/SQL package, a PRO*C program and UNIX sendmail utility for sending e-mail. For this, the database you are using should have DBMS_PIPE package installed.
Hope that helps,
Srinivas
ARTICLE : How to Generate E-mail within PL/SQL Routines?
References
For DBMS_PIPE/architecture, refer to the following:
"Oracle7 Server Application Developer's Guide" (A32536-1)
"Oracle8 Application Developer's Guide Release 8.0" (A58241-01)
"Oracle8i Supplied PL/SQL Packages Reference Release 2 (8.1.6)" (A76936-01)
Preparation
Perform the steps below to setup the necessary files.
Note: When testing on your machine, the code generates simple
e-mail messages for demonstration purposes.
1. Read the main comment block of maildaemon.pc and make appropriate
changes.
2. Read the main comment block of maildaemon.sql and make appropriate
changes.
3. Connect to SQL*Plus. If not already setup, GRANT EXECUTE ON DBMS_PIPE TO
where userid is public or the schema owner of the package.
4. Run maildaemon.sql to setup dependencies.
5. Copy proc.mk (demo_proc.mk on v8 databases) into directory and issue
the following make line to build the executable for maildaemon:
make -f proc.mk build EXE=maildaemon OBJS=maildaemon.o
PROCFLAGS="sqlcheck=semantics parse=full userid=scott/tiger"
Note: Replace userid=scott/tiger with the schema to build under.
6. Run the maildaemon executable.
7. To test, modify the code below and run from SQL*Plus:
declare
dummy number;
begin
maildaemon.setauditon;
dummy:= maildaemon.email_msg1( '[email protected]' );
dummy:= maildaemon.email_msg2( '[email protected]', 'scott',
to_char( sysdate, 'dd-Mon-yyyy hh:mi:ss' ));
maildaemon.setauditoff;
maildaemon.stop;
end;
maildaemon.sql
rem file: maildaemon.sql
rem last modified: 10/15/98
rem
rem This source file generates dependencies for the maildaemon executable
rem such as logging as well as the PL/SQL package interface to communicate
rem with the maildaemon Pro*C application.
rem
rem Please note: this is just a sample. You will need to modify/replace the
rem email_msg1() and email_msg2() functions in the maildaemon package.
rem Both functions have been provided as simple demonstrations on how to
rem write an interface. Consult the Application Developers Guide for more
rem information on using the DBMS_PIPE package.
rem table: emailaudit
rem purpose: contain auditing messages from the maildaemon Pro*C application
create table emailaudit
msgid number constraint msgid_pk primary key,
msgtype varchar2( 20 ),
msgstat varchar2( 100 )
rem sequence: emailmsgseq
rem purpose: to allow maildaemon Pro*C application to generate unique message
rem identifiers for opening temporary files and auditing.
create sequence emailmsgseq;
rem package: maildaemon
rem purpose: provide a PL/SQL interface to generate e-mail messages
create or replace package maildaemon as
/* setauditon( )
* procedure
* parameters: timeout: timeout factor for informing the maildaemon exe
* exceptions: -20030: error sending message to maildaemon exe
* description: turn on auditing in the maildaemon exe
procedure setauditon( timeout number default 10 );
/* setauditoff( )
* procedure
* parameters: timeout: timeout factor for informing the maildaemon exe
* exceptions: -20030: error sending message to maildaemon exe
* description: turn off auditing in the maildaemon exe
procedure setauditoff( timeout number default 10 );
/* stop( )
* procedure
* parameters: timeout: timeout factor for informing the maildaemon exe
* exceptions: -20030: error sending message to maildaemon exe
* description: shutdown the maildaemon exe
procedure stop( timeout number default 10 );
/* email_msg1( )
* function
* parameters: emailaddr: email address to send email to
* timeout: timeout factor for informing the maildaemon exe
* returns: return code from mail daemon call
* exceptions: -20010: maildaemon had an error during sending email
* -20011: error during sending message to maildaemon exe
* -20012: message returned from maildaemon other than done
* -20013: maildaemon returned an error code other than 0
* description: generic sample to demonstrate a simple interface to the
* maildaemon exe
function email_msg1( emailaddr in varchar2, timeout number default 10 ) return number;
/* email_msg2( )
* function
* parameters: emailaddr: email address to send email to
* userid: userid to place in the mail text
* timestamp: timestamp to place in the mail text
* timeout: timeout factor for informing the maildaemon exe
* returns: return code from mail daemon call
* exceptions: -20010: maildaemon had an error during sending email
* -20011: error during sending message to maildaemon exe
* -20012: message returned from maildaemon other than done
* -20013: maildaemon returned an error code other than 0
* description: generic sample to demonstrate a simple interface to the
* maildaemon exe by passing parameters
function email_msg2( emailaddr in varchar2, userid in varchar2, timestamp in varchar2,
timeout number default 10 ) return number;
end maildaemon;
create or replace package body maildaemon as
procedure setauditon( timeout number default 10 ) is
retval number;
begin
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'AUDIT' );
retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( 'maildaemon', timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20030,
'maildaemon: error sending audit command. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
end setauditon;
procedure setauditoff( timeout number default 10 ) is
retval number;
begin
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'NOAUDIT' );
retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( 'maildaemon', timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20030,
'maildaemon: error sending noaudit command. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
end setauditoff;
procedure stop( timeout number default 10 ) is
retval number;
begin
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'STOP' );
retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( 'maildaemon', timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20030,
'maildaemon: error sending stop command. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
end stop;
function email_msg1( emailaddr in varchar2, timeout number default 10 ) return number is
retval number;
result varchar2(20);
cmdcode number;
pipenm varchar2(30);
begin
pipenm := dbms_pipe.unique_session_name;
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'MSG1' );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( pipenm );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( emailaddr );
retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( 'maildaemon', timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20010,
'maildaemon: error while sending email. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
retval := dbms_pipe.receive_message( pipenm, timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20011,
'maildaemon: error while receiving daemon response. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( result );
if result <> 'done' then
raise_application_error( -20012,
'maildaemon: error code returned from daemon other than done' );
end if;
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( cmdcode );
if cmdcode <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20013,
'maildaemon: error code returned from daemon ' &#0124; &#0124; cmdcode );
end if;
return cmdcode;
end email_msg1;
function email_msg2( emailaddr in varchar2, userid in varchar2, timestamp in varchar2,
timeout number default 10 ) return number is
retval number;
result varchar2(20);
cmdcode number;
pipenm varchar2(30);
begin
pipenm := dbms_pipe.unique_session_name;
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'MSG2' );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( pipenm );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( em ailaddr );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( userid );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( timestamp );
retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( 'maildaemon', timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20010,
'maildaemon: error while sending email. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
retval := dbms_pipe.receive_message( pipenm, timeout );
if retval <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20011,
'maildaemon: error while receiving daemon response. Status = ' &#0124; &#0124; retval );
end if;
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( result );
if result <> 'done' then
raise_application_error( -20012,
'maildaemon: error code returned from daemon other than done' );
end if;
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( cmdcode );
if cmdcode <> 0 then
raise_application_error( -20013,
'maildaemon: error code returned from daemon ' &#0124; &#0124; cmdcode );
end if;
return cmdcode;
end email_msg2;
end maildaemon;
maildaemon.pc
* file: maildaemon.pc
* last modified: 10/15/98
* This source code is written for the UNIX environment to allow PL/SQL
* to generate e-mail. Please note, the following code might not work on
* your system due to configurations of the operating system or your
* environment. Please consult your systems administrator for more
* information on specifics.
* Variables to be set prior to building:
* mailhost: the mail application to generate email queuing. Default is
* "/usr/lib/sendmail".
* mailswitch: the mail application switches to pass to $mailhost. Default
* is "-t".
* userpass: the username/password to connect to the database. Default is
* "scott/tiger"
* logfile: the logfile to write system messages to.
* Functions to be modified:
* main( ): will need to modify the message handling portion to handle the
* messages from the maildaemon package (PL/SQL). The changes that need
* to be made are in the else if( ... ) portion with handling MSG1 and
* MSG2.
* msg1( ): this is just a stub sample. Replace this with appropriate code
* and change the call in main( ).
* msg2( ): this is just a stub sample. Replace this with appropriate code
* and change the call in main( ).
* System include files
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
EXEC SQL INCLUDE sqlca;
* Global variable declaration
EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char *mailhost = "/usr/lib/sendmail";
/* the mail host application to gen email requests */
char *mailswitch = "-t";
/* switches to pass to $mailhost */
char *userpass = "scott/tiger";
/* userid/password to connect to the database as */
char *logfile = "maildaemon.log";
/* log file to write messages to */
FILE *loghnd = NULL;
/* file pointer to log file */
int retval;
/* return value for DBMS_PIPE send */
int calval;
/* return value set from DBMS_PIPE receive */
varchar pipeid[ 30 ];
/* return pipe identifier */
char filename[ 128 ];
/* filename to use for email */
varchar command[ 20 ];
/* system command received from DBMS_PIPE receive */
char syscommand[ 2000 ];
/* hold system command for generating email request */
varchar emailaddr[ 256 ];
/* hold the email address for sending message to */
int auditing= 0;
/* set whether auditing is to be done */
varchar string1[ 256 ];
/* hold string 1 passed from server */
varchar string2[ 256 ];
/* hold string 2 passed from server */
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
* Function definition
* conerr( )
* handle connection error
void conerr( )
char msgbuf[ 512 ]; /* message buffer */
int msglen; /* message buffer space used */
int maxmsglen; /* maximum message length */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR CONTINUE;
sqlglm( msgbuf, &maxmsglen, &msglen );
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: error during connect to database\n" );
fprintf( loghnd, "error reported: %.*s\n", msglen, msgbuf );
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: aborting...\n" );
exit( 1 );
} /* end conerr( ) */
* sqlerr( )
* handle general SQL error
* does not cause maildaemon to abort
void sqlerr( )
char msgbuf[ 512 ]; /* message buffer */
int msglen; /* message buffer space used */
int maxmsglen; /* maximum message length */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR CONTINUE;
sqlglm( msgbuf, &maxmsglen, &msglen );
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: error during processing\n" );
fprintf( loghnd, "error reported: %.*s\n", msglen, msgbuf );
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: continuing...\n" );
} /* end sqlerr( ) */
* msg1( )
* stub function example 1 for sending an email.
int msg1( )
EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int retcode = 0; /* return code */
long msgid; /* unique message id */
FILE msghnd = NULL; / file handle to write email file */
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
if( emailaddr.len == 0 )
{ /* null address passed */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: null address specified to msg1( )\n" );
retcode= 999;
return( retcode );
} /* end if */
/* get the next sequence number for uniqueness */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR GOTO sqlerror1;
EXEC SQL SELECT emailmsgseq.nextval INTO :msgid FROM dual;
/* generate the filename so it is unique and open the file */
sprintf( filename, "emailmsg.txt.%ld", msgid );
msghnd= fopen( filename, "w" );
if( msghnd == NULL )
{ /* there was an error opening the output file */
retcode= 1;
if( auditing )
{ /* set audit trail */
EXEC SQL INSERT INTO emailaudit VALUES( :msgid, 'msg1', 'maildaemon: status code of: ' &#0124; &#0124; :retcode );
EXEC SQL COMMIT;
} /* end if */
return( retcode );
} /* end if */
/* generate email */
fprintf( msghnd, "To: %s\n", emailaddr.arr );
fprintf( msghnd, "Subject: msg1 message type\n\n" );
fprintf( msghnd, "\tmsg1 message type was called for emailing\n" );
fprintf( msghnd, "\ngenerated by maildaemon\n" );
/* close the file */
fclose( msghnd );
/* create the command line and send the message */
sprintf( syscommand, "%s %s < %s", mailhost, mailswitch, filename );
retcode= system( syscommand );
/* remove the temporary file */
unlink( filename );
if( auditing )
{ /* set audit trail */
EXEC SQL INSERT INTO emailaudit VALUES( :msgid, 'msg1', 'maildaemon: status code of: ' &#0124; &#0124; :retcode );
EXEC SQL COMMIT;
} /* end if */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR CONTINUE;
return( retcode );
sqlerror1:
retcode= 1;
sqlerr( );
return( retcode );
} /* end msg1( ) */
* msg2( )
* stub function example 2 for sending an email.
int msg2( )
EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int retcode = 0; /* return code */
long msgid; /* unique message id */
FILE msghnd = NULL; / file handle to write email file */
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
if( emailaddr.len == 0 )
{ /* null address passed */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: null address specified to msg2( )\n" );
retcode= 999;
return( retcode );
} /* end if */
/* get the next sequence number for uniqueness */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR GOTO sqlerror2;
EXEC SQL SELECT emailmsgseq.nextval INTO :msgid FROM dual;
/* generate the filename so it is unique and open the file */
sprintf( filename, "emailmsg.txt.%ld", msgid );
msghnd= fopen( filename, "w" );
if( msghnd == NULL )
{ /* there was an error opening the output file */
retcode= 1;
if( auditing )
{ /* set audit trail */
EXEC SQL INSERT INTO emailaudit VALUES( :msgid, 'msg2', 'maild aemon: status code of: ' &#0124; &#0124; :retcode );
EXEC SQL COMMIT;
} /* end if */
return( retcode );
} /* end if */
/* generate email */
fprintf( msghnd, "To: %s\n", emailaddr.arr );
fprintf( msghnd, "Subject: msg2 message type\n\n" );
fprintf( msghnd, "\tmsg2 message type was called for emailing\n" );
fprintf( msghnd, "Userid of user: %s\n", string1.arr );
fprintf( msghnd, "Timestamp of transaction: %s\n", string2.arr );
fprintf( msghnd, "\ngenerated by maildaemon\n" );
/* close the file */
fclose( msghnd );
/* create the command line and send the message */
sprintf( syscommand, "%s %s < %s", mailhost, mailswitch, filename );
retcode= system( syscommand );
/* remove the temporary file */
unlink( filename );
if( auditing )
{ /* set audit trail */
EXEC SQL INSERT INTO emailaudit VALUES( :msgid, 'msg2', 'maildaemon: status code of: ' &#0124; &#0124; :retcode );
EXEC SQL COMMIT;
} /* end if */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR CONTINUE;
return( retcode );
sqlerror2:
retcode= 1;
sqlerr( );
return( retcode );
} /* end msg2( ) */
void main( )
/* open file and verify logging */
loghnd = fopen( logfile, "a" );
if( loghnd == NULL )
{ /* the logfile was unable to be opened */
printf( "maildaemon: error opening logfile (%s)\n", logfile );
exit( 1 );
} /* end if */
/* connect to the database */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR DO conerr( );
EXEC SQL CONNECT :userpass;
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: connected.\n" );
/* loop until stop command given */
EXEC SQL WHENEVER SQLERROR DO sqlerr();
while( 1 == 1 )
{ /* inifinite loop */
/* reset values */
emailaddr.len = 0;
string1.len= 0;
string2.len = 0;
/* get type of message from 'server' */
EXEC SQL EXECUTE
begin
:calval := dbms_pipe.receive_message( 'maildaemon' );
if :calval = 0 then
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :command );
end if;
end;
END-EXEC;
if( calval == 0 )
{ /* message received. determine the command */
command.arr[ command.len ]= '\0';
if( !strcmp(( char * ) command.arr, "STOP" ))
{ /* 'server' specified to stop */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: shutdown in progress...\n" );
break;
} /* end if */
else if( !strcmp(( char * ) command.arr, "AUDIT" ))
{ /* set auditing on */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: enable auditing...\n" );
auditing= 1;
} /* end else if */
else if( !strcmp(( char * ) command.arr, "NOAUDIT" ))
{ /* set auditing off */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: disable auditing...\n" );
auditing= 0;
} /* end else if */
else if( !strcmp(( char * ) command.arr, "MSG1" ))
{ /* call for message 1 */
/* retrieve the message */
EXEC SQL EXECUTE
begin
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :pipeid );
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :emailaddr );
end;
END-EXEC;
/* copy into host variable */
emailaddr.arr[ emailaddr.len ]= '\0';
/* generate the email */
retval= msg1( );
/* reply with response */
EXEC SQL EXECUTE
begin
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'done' );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( :retval );
:retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( :pipeid );
end;
END-EXEC;
} /* end else if */
else if( !strcmp(( char * ) command.arr, "MSG2" ))
{ /* call for message 2 */
/* retrieve the message */
EXEC SQL EXECUTE
begin
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :pipeid );
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :emailaddr );
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :string1 );
dbms_pipe.unpack_message( :string2 );
end;
END-EXEC;
/* copy into host variable */
emailaddr.arr[ emailaddr.len ]= '\0';
string1.arr[ string1.len ]= '\0';
string2.arr[ string2.len ]= '\0';
/* generate the email */
retval= msg2( );
/* reply with response */
EXEC SQL EXECUTE
begin
dbms_pipe.pack_message( 'done' );
dbms_pipe.pack_message( :retval );
:retval := dbms_pipe.send_message( :pipeid );
end;
END-EXEC;
} /* end else if */
else
{ /* invalid command received */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: illegal command... ignoring request.\n" );
} /* end else */
} /* end if */
else
{ /* time out error occured */
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: timeout or other error while waiting for signal request.\n" );
} /* end else */
} /* end while */
/* clean up and exit */
EXEC SQL COMMIT WORK RELEASE;
fprintf( loghnd, "maildaemon: shutdown.\n" );
fclose( loghnd );
} /* end main( ) */
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