[dba-SQLServer]SQL Mail

For a number of years, I've been running jobs that use xp_sendmail to send email hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly.  I've been very happy with it.  There are a couple of things to keep in mind, though.  

No matter how big a warning you put in the email about not replying to the server, you are going to have users do it any way.  I set a rule on the sql server's email account to forward to me all mail received by the account.  Otherwise, the replies just sit there.  

Also, if the email server goes down, sql mail will not re-establish a connection to the server.  You will need to restart sql mail in order for it start up again.  I've seen this with Novell and MS Exchange.  Easy to do but still a PITA.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Stoker, Kenneth E [mailto:Kenneth.Stoker at pnl.gov]
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 2:19 PM
To: dba-SQLServer (E-mail)
Subject: [dba-SQLServer]SQL Mail


Everyone,

How powerful is SQL Mail?  I have recently been approached with a task to develop an automated e-mail capability for a SQL Server database.  I need to query a table of action items that are approaching their deadline period and for each action, send an e-mail to the individual who will be responsible for the decision to proceed or abandon the action.  The e-mail will therefore have to include the record information related to the pending action.  This process would execute everyday.

Everything I have read doesn't suggest that SQL Mail can do this, although I haven't seen anything that really comes out an says it can't.  I can do it in other ways, most favorable would be through Access, but I would like to try to keep it within SQL Server if possible.