Sending emails in Outlook without an SMTP server

I've created a workflow which creates, executes and then deletes a Visual Basic Script file. The VBS file contains a script which interacts with Outlook, creating a new email and displaying it, this can also be changed to simply send the email, notes inside the workflow. Important: Upon the completion of the workflow (file is written) there is an event which is triggered that executes the file using cscript.exe. The next step is to add an attachment to it. Feel free to contact me in case of questions/improvement suggestions.

SendEmailsWorkaround.yxwz

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MiroslavJ

I am interested in testing it as it seems to be addressing the challenge I am trying to solve. I am just forced to use the Alteryx designer Version: 2022.3.1.573 Patch: 7, so I am unable to open the file you shared. Do you see any chance to provide it in the form/version I would be able to open?

ChrisTX

@MiroslavJ you can open a workflow created in a newer version and it will work in your older version, as long as the workflow doesn't use any tools that require the newer version.

Open one of your workflows in a text editor. The first few lines should look like:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<AlteryxDocument yxmdVer="2022.3">
<Nodes>

In this example, the workflow was created by version 2022.3

Using a text editor, open any workflow or macro or app that was created in a newer Alteryx version. On line 2, change the newer version number to your version. Save the file in the text editor. Then open the file in Alteryx.

Chris

AimB3

@MiroslavJ Let me know if you need further assistance in testing and thank you @ChrisTX maybe it's a good idea to add some details in the post instead of the workflow:
The Code that will be executed in the command tool begins as

Dim objOutlook, objMail

Set objOutlook = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")

Set objMail = objOutlook.CreateItem(0)

objMail.Subject = "<subject>"
objMail.Body = "<body>"
objMail.Recipients.Add "aimb3@example.com"
objMail.Display

Set objMail = Nothing
Set objOutlook = Nothing

Then the parameters between the "<>" are replaced and the result is written to a .vbs file for convenience, but that step can be skipped as the Run Command Tool can write its own .vbs files, following configuration :

Run Command Tool Config

As well as the "Write Source" config:
Write Source Config
Let me know if you need further assistance.

MiroslavJ

Thank you. That sounds like a great trick, indeed. I am quite new to Alteryx. I applied it, and I got the Workflow opened in Alteryx, but it's almost empty ... with an error: The entry point "AlteryxCtrlContainer" could not be found in the plugin "AlteryxBasePluginsEngine.dll"

ChrisTX

You may have run into that one exception where a workflow will truly not open or run in an older version.... when the workflow DOES use tools that require the newer version.

I'm guessing the app posted above uses Control Containers, which is a tool only available in newer Alteryx software versions.

MiroslavJ

yes, I have only a Tool Container, but not a Control Container available.

AimB3

Hi all, I'll reupload the workflow from the newest Alteryx Version and without the control container just to be sure:

OutLookEmailWithoutSMTPServer.yxwz

MiroslavJ

Thank you All for your help. That worked fine and allowed me to build exactly what I was looking for ... I need to generate a report and send it over email when done ... not sure this is the best/only way how to do it, but it works exactly as I need ...

OutLookEmailWithoutSMTPServerAttachment.yxwz

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