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For Version 3 and later please see the main Mailer page here.

NOTE:  The CapeSoft Mailer source code is built "using" several CapeSoft tools, such as File Explorer, NetTalk, and File Manager 2.  Each time a new version of CapeSoft Mailer is released, the latest versions of these tools are also used, which will also add to the improved stability and performance of CapeSoft Mailer.  To see which versions of these tools are used in each version of CapeSoft Mailer, choose "Program Options", and select "System Info".

Version 2.08 ( Released 27 Oct 2003 )

• Improvements:
• "Address Maintenance Tool" - Major improvements and new functionality added, documentation also updated
• Several minor fixes / improvements

Version 2.07 ( Released 17 Oct 2003 )

• Improvements:
• Now supports "POP required before SMTP" authentication
• Edit Mail window - WYSIWYG control improved (new underlying control, plus alerts removed)
• Removed two obsolete controls from the main window (OLE)
• The "Sending Mail" screen now shows better / more error log info, and the screen-flicker has been corrected
• Using updated internal components (NetTalk 2.93 Gold and File Explorer 3.22)
  

Version 2.05 ( Released 5 Sep 2003 )

• Improvements:
• The Analyze tool when Editing Mailing Groups now completely ignores addresses that are Disabled.
• The Final Options Before Sending Mail window has been improved. You can now (alternatively) use a Group Name in the Send-To string.
• The Edit Mailing Group window now uses a Status Bar. Helps keep track of which record you're working with when scrolling across multiple columns.
• Clicking on hyperlinks in emails which you are previewing now launches your default Web Browser which then navigates to that url.
• Internal improvements to code, including: RegisterSoftware, ViewLogsDirectory.
• The Mail Folders are now sorted alphabetically

Version 2.04 ( Released 19 August 2003 )

• Fixes:
• Issue with exporting Mailing Groups if your Global "Date Picture" (Program Options) was set to certain pictures
• Improvements:
• Edit Mailing Group window
  

Version 2.03 ( Released 1 August 2003 )

• Fixes:
• Issue exporting Mailing Groups under XP Pro fixed (internal improvements for all Operating Systems)
• Exporting Mailing Groups by Last Name was not working correctly, fixed.
• When collecting mail from a server, the "Email From" field was being filled in based on the address of the person who sent the email. This was causing confusion, so we've changed it to now always take the "From Name" and "From Address" info from the Program Options. This may also seem confusing, but at least it's now consistent, and eliminates the possibility of you sending out an email from your client's address, rather than your own...
• Improvements:
• Improved the Installation program
• Changed the way the File Manager tool works
• Rearranged some fields on the main screen
• Documentation / Help system (started adding "What's This?" help, have done the main screen)
• The "Sending Options" window now shows more info
• Notes to Developers:
• Upgraded internal components: File Explorer; NetTalk
• Started implementing ezHelp

Version 2.01 / 2.02 ( Last released 18 July 2003 )

• Fixes:
• Bug fixed in NetTalk component (causing occasional duplicate emails to be sent)
• Improvements:
• "Mail Footer" tool ( wysiwyg editor added; several other improvements )
• Various cosmetic tweaks / improvements
• Notes to Developers:
• Made changes to the "Settings" table
• Cleaned up the generated Debug Messages

Version 2.0.10 Beta ( Released 11 July 2003 )

• Fixes:
• New emails now get created in the folder which you've set up as your Inbox, not the first folder in your Folder Tree
• Improvements:
• Creating a new email from an existing html file process improved
• "Sending Mails" window (process) improved
• You can now set Mailer's "date" format from the Program Options window (dd/mm/yyyy, mm/dd/yyyy etc.)
• Notes to Developers:
• No longer uses the CapeSoft HyperActive template
• Changes made to the "Program Options" data file
  

Version 2.0.11 ( Released 15 July 2003 )

• Fixes
  • Bug fixed in NetTalk component (causing occasional duplicate emails to be sent).
• Notes to Developers
  • Cleaned up the generated Debug Messages.
    

Version 2.0.10 Beta ( Released 11 July 2003 )

• Fixes
  • New emails now get created in the folder which you've set up as your Inbox, not the first folder in your Folder Tree
  • Improvements:
  • Creating a new email from an existing html file process improved
  • "Sending Mails" window (process) improved
  • You can now set Mailer's "date" format from the Program Options window (dd/mm/yyyy, mm/dd/yyyy etc.)
  • Notes to Developers:
  • No longer uses the CapeSoft HyperActive template
  • Changes made to the "Program Options" data file

Version 2.0.09 Beta ( Released 4 July 2003 )

• New
  • New internal mechanism for displaying messages (error messages, info messages, warning messages etc).
• Improvements
• Creating emails by importing existing html files has been improved in several ways.
• Several internal changes including Mailing Groups list on main window.
• Documentation updated / improved.
• "Check Web For Updates" functionality improved.
• Handles expired licenses more gracefully.
• Notes to Developers
• New template used in source code: CapeSoft MessageBox.

Version 2.0.6 Beta ( Released 30 May 2003 )

• New
  • Windows XP look-and-feel.
    
• Improvements
• Documentation.
• Email Previewer tool ("send to previewer").
• "Create new message from an html file" tool improved, better support for dealing with spaces in image names.
  
• Notes to Developers
• Included image files that were missing in the last release.
  

Version 2.0.4 Beta ( Released 16 May 2003 )

• Improvements
  • Internal security improvements.
  • Email previewer control (various improvements).

Version 2.0.1 Beta ( Released 11 April 2003 )

• Fixes
  • Customize Database tool more robust.
  • Problem with very long image filenames corrected.
    
• New
  • New feature to check for updates from the web. Accessible from your "Help" menu, and also runs automatically (can be set from the Program Options).
  • Added support for Authorized Login to SMTP servers.
  • More functionality added to the "Edit Mail" window.
    
• Improvements
  • Mailing Groups list on main window (several improvements).
  • Better support for handling non-accessible Mailing Groups.
  • Rename Mailing Group window improved.
  • Address Maintenance Tool improved.
  • Email Previewer control and Email Editing control faster and improved.
  • Email Footer expanded from 200 characters to 2000.
  • Disabling mail header controls on main screen when not available.
  • Edit Mailing Groups.
  • Customize Databases.
  • Main window resizing logic more efficient and robust.
  • Program Settings window.
  • Installation process, Setup and Registration wizards.
  • Sending mail window and logic improved (Email footer now translates to plain text when appropriate).
  • Generating the plain text component of an email improved.
  • "Auto-Update domain info" feature improved and more efficient / robust.
  • Help system cosmetics improved.
• Notes to Developers
• Fixed problem when compiling with C55h, causing the Database Import Wizard window to freeze. Problem reported to Soft Velocity and worked around it in Mailer code. We're compiling using C55g, so the shipped exe does not have this problem.
• Cleaning up dct and app. Numerous changes.
• Updated several CapeSoft accessories, including File Explorer and NetTalk.

Version 1.9k  ( Released 13 Nov 2002 )

• Fixes
  • Resetting addresses marked as potentially incorrect when scanning a database for errors.
  • Fixed a bug causing potential problems when editing the check boxes in the "Update User Group" window.
• New
  • New feature: Can now send emails to a previewer on the screen, rather than to a server.  Useful for checking Mail Personalization etc.
  • New tab in the "Program Options" window to set up multiple SMTP servers.  You can now select your server just before you send emails.
• Improvements
  • Updated several components and procedures ( internal improvements ).
  • Several cosmetic improvements.
• Notes to Developers
  • Made changes to dictionary.
  • Renamed app and dct files to mailer.app and mailer.dct.

Version 1.9j  ( Released 4 Oct 2002 )

• Improvements
  • Updated several components (esp File Explorer)

Version 1.9i  ( Unreleased )

• Improvements
  • You can now open an email to edit it by double clicking on the email from your Mail Folders tree.
  • Cleans up better when you cancel from the "Create new email" screen.

Version 1.9h  ( Released 14 Aug 2002 )

• Fixes
  • Changing the background color when editing email messages.
• Improvements
  • System logging.
  • If you click on any hyperlink in an email which you are previewing, a new Internet Explorer window will open for that link, even if the link is set to open in the Previewer control.

Version 1.9f  ( Released 29 July 2002 )

• Fixes
  • Bug which occurred in version 1.9e has been corrected.  If you went into the Program Options screen and clicked on the "OK" button you would get either a warning or an error message.  ( Version 1.9e2 was released the day after 1.9e, which rectified that bug ).
  • Win 2000 problem when sending emails fixed.
  • Problem sending certain data in email body.
• Improvements
  • The "Mail text generation" tool when creating / editing an email message has been improved:
    • Added an option to the Program Options screen, called Automatically update text component, which does just that if enabled.
    • Added a Help button to the Edit Mail window, and updated the help documentation.
    • The Text Generation feature now supports generating text equivalents for the html characters:    < > and &
  • Text Only emails were not showing in the preview window on the main screen.  Now they do, with the words "(text only)" appearing at the top of the previewer.
  • General clean up of various code, resizing, cosmetics etc.  Standardized the various windows.  Tidied up help and help documentation.  Several new buttons / options in various places - nothing "major", just neater / cleaner.
  • Improved log files.
  • Improved the way emails are previewed. Should be faster / more stable.
• Notes to Developers
  • Released source code to developers.
  • Developers - you can now view the versions of the CapeSoft accessories used in each release of Mailer by going to "Program Options", and selecting "System Info".

Version 1.9e  ( Released 11 July 2002 )

• Improved various code, including the Database Import Wizard.
• New option under Program Options (Mailing Groups tab) - Treat Matching First Name / Last Name as a duplicate.  By default Mailer only considers email addresses when scanning for duplicate addresses; this new option allows you to also take First Name / Surname into effect.
• Improved the help document and the integration between it and the program.

Version 1.9d  ( Released 17 May 2002 )

• Worked on various items including the Setup Wizard, Inserting new Mailing Groups, some security and timing issues.
• Bug fix: Warnings about a "corrupt outbox file" as the program started.

Version 1.9c  ( Released 29 April 2002 )

• Fixed a bug in the Program Options screen, where certain fields in the Mail Personalization tab were not refreshing.
• Fixed a bug when sending mail - if you chose to not embed graphics when sending emails, the html component of the email was not generated at send-time.
• Added some additional information to the logs which Mailer generates.
• You can now launch mailer with either of the following parameters from the command line:  "csmailer.exe /debug" or "csmailer.exe / fulldebug"

Version 1.9  ( Released 26 April 2002 )

• Working on the Address Maintenance Tool, tidied up, fixed one or two small bugs, redid help docs.
• Worked on help docs, tool-tips, main Toolbar, some icons, and the overall "feel" of the app.
• Moved "File Management" from the "File" menu to the "Tools" menu.  Moved "Browse Replies File" from the "Tools" menu to the "Groups" menu.
• Changed the way Mailer deals with expired license codes.
• Enabled the Bulk Send to Log File tool (Messages menu).
• Changed the way Mailer tests the version of the File Explorer dll.
• For Developers
• Tidied up and improved code in main procedure, and several other procedures.
• New button on the "Edit Mailing Groups" window, called "Delete All".  Deletes all addresses in the current Mailing Group.
• Added a new log file called "startup_log.txt", can be found in your CS Mailer directory.
• Fixed a problem in the Email Personalization code, regarding using the 5 custom fields in the client address table.
• Changed the cosmetics for the Program Options window, cleaner now.  Also cleaned up some other windows.
• Added a splash screen.
• Changed some icons and cosmetics etc.
• Started working on an Outbox concept, watch this space.
• Re-enabled the Connections and Scheduling and Browse Replies File options in the menus

Version 1.8  ( Released 6 Feb 2002 )

• Bug fix: the Maintain Mail Folders button on the main screen wasn't working in the last version!
• Bug fix: when changing an email address in the Update Mailing Groups window, sometimes the app would occasionally hang. Fixed this.
• Tweaked the Database Import Wizard 1: Now any ' " ' (quotation) characters are removed from any imported fields.
• Tweaked the Database Import Wizard 2: Supports more file formats when importing.
• Mailer now checks the file version number of the File Explorer dll file which it uses, and warns you if you're using an old version of this file.
• Dropped a "Help" button onto the File Management window.
• New option on the Server tab in the Program Options window, called Bring Windows To Front  - under development.
• Split the status bar on the main screen into two parts, under development.
• Several options in the Tools (Connections and Scheduling, Server Control Panel, Remote Client Control Panel) and Groups (Replicate Mailing Group, Customize Mailing Group) menus were disabled, as they were being developed, they have now been removed from those menus until they are complete.
• Updated the help document.
• Changed the Sending Mail window.  Now has a second tab called "Errors".  If errors occur when you send mail you can view this tab to see a list of the errors, so you don't need to hunt through the log files.
• Fixed a problem in the install file, where shortcuts weren't being added to the Start Menu on Windows 2000 Server.

Version 1.7  ( Released 31 Jan 2002 )

• Improved the Email Previewer control (load time, stability).
• Made the registration process more user friendly and redid the internal security.
• Changed the way you interact with the address flags in the Edit Mailing Group procedure, smoother.
• Fixed the "Print" option on the main window (print current email).
• Fixed a problem with attachments to emails not always going through.
• DataBase Import Wizard now supports another format to import addresses from a text file.  This new format takes up to nine fields, comma separated.

Version 1.6b  ( Released 19 Dec 2001 )

• Internal changes to the Html Previewer control on the main screen.
• Tidied up several windows.
• Introduced an "Email Footer", see the "Defaults" tab in program settings.
• The "Export Mailing Group to an external file" procedure can now be launched by right-clicking on a Mailing Group on the main window.  It now has a new switch called "Don't open the file after exporting" - if you do not tick that option, Mailer will now attempt to open the exported file (using Excel or Notepad) after it has been generated.
• The Address Maintenance Tool is now resizable, and can be launched by right-clicking on an email address from within the "Edit Mailing Group" window.
• New option in the program settings, "program" tab, called "Always send all mail in Plain Text".

Version 1.5  ( Released 6 Nov 2001 )

• Enhanced the "Copy addresses between Mailing Groups" tool, and made it accessible from the "Mailing Groups" popup menu (right-click, main screen).
• Enhanced the "Database Import Wizard", and made it accessible from the "Mailing Groups" popup menu (right-click, main screen).
• Fixed the "Last Edited" information on the "Mail Analysis" window to the date / time each mail was last edited.
• Removed the "Save" option from the File Menu (main screen), as this was redundant, and changed the "Print" option to call the printer dialog window before printing.
• Added the "Version History" option and removed the "Overview" option from the "Help" menu (main screen).
• Fixed another problem when running on Win 2000 Prof.  Was an "OLE Automation" error when loading mails to the previewer control.
• Fixed a bug in the "Export Mailing Group to text file" function.
• Restructured the app so that the "email preview" window on the main screen is now a more stable control, and there's a new button on the main window called "Preview Email" which allows you to view a "full" preview of the main in a (new) window.  The "new" previewer control on the main window is closer in functionality to the "preview" tab in Microsoft FrontPage, and less like Internet Explorer.  Note that some advanced features in your emails may not preview correctly (accurately) in this new window, which is why we've provided the "full preview" button - FrontPage does the same thing.
• Fixed a bug when sending test mails - they weren't always being logged correctly.
• Changed the way the app sends emails, the main window now minimizes and a second (new) window "handles" the sending.
• Cleaned up the user interface for the "Browse Replies File" tool, and added a help button.  Also added help buttons to several other windows, and updated the help documentation.
• Fixed a bug in the "Delete Files" button on the "View Logs Directory" window.

Version 1.4 ( Released 23 October 2001 )

• For Developers
• New field in the "Mails" file, and "Settings" file.
• More stability with the Email Previewer ocx.
• New feature (see main window and "Tools" - "Settings" window) where you can now enter a "Name" and an "Address" for the sender information when sending an email.  Explained in the help document and using tips in the app.
• New button on the "Edit Email" screen where you can change an emails background color.
• Worked on the "Tools - Create New Email from an Html File" procedure.  Now handles static ("external") graphic files.
• Reorganized the "Tools", "Messages" and "Groups" menus.  Renamed "Absorb existing mailing group" to "Link existing Mailing Group" (Groups menu).
• Fixed bug in the "Groups - Copy Addresses between Mailing Groups" tool.  The "extra field" values were not being copied across.
• Fixed a problem where Windows 2000 Professional was causing the email previewer control to generate errors.
• Fixed a bug where minimizing the main screen could result in a different mail being selected when you restore the window.

Version 1.3 ( Released 8 October 2001 )

• Fixed a bug in the "Copy Addresses between Mailing Groups" tool ( "Tools" menu ).  Also improved the efficiency of this procedure.
• Extended the functionality of embedding graphics in mails, now supports more formats.
• Internal work on the Email Previewer control, in terms of stability and speed.
• Number of small tweaks in various places since last release.

Version 1.2 ( Released 15 August 2001 )

• Fixed and tweaked the Database Import Wizard.
• Fixed a bug in the Setup Wizard.
• Improved overall stability by improving stability of the Email Previewer control.
• Bug Fixed: When sending an email where you had just deleted a graphic, that graphic was still being sent as an attachment in the mail body.  Fixed.
• Added a check box to the Intelli-Tag window, called Ignore Disabled Addresses.  If you tick this option then any addresses which have been disabled will not be processed or modified by Intelli-Tag in any way.
• Added the "uninstall" option to the start menu.
• Expanded the Intelli-Tag feature to also let you process filters based on the "excluded", "disabled", and "tagged" fields.  e.g. Now you can flag all addresses where the name "CapeSoft" appears in the email address, and where that record has been flagged as "disabled".  A nifty trick you can now do in three steps is to swap the "disabled" and "excluded" flags around for all the records, using the "Tagged" field as a temporary field.
• Fixed a bug in the "Collect Mail from Server" code.

Version 1.1 ( Released 30 July 2001 )

• Fixed bug with the "Mail Analysis" window, where it was recording an incorrect number of mails sent.  The logs were accurate, but this window was occasionally showing an incorrect figure.
• (Developers: Upgraded CapeSoft Templates to NetTalk 1.0 Beta 13, FM2 - 2.91a, WinEvent 2.71, File Explorer 1.8b)
• (Developers: New file called 'DialUps', and 'PopAccs', used for Dial Up Networking)
• New folder called 'CS Mailer\Other' is now maintained.  More on this in later releases.
• New tool called 'Connections and Scheduling' from the 'Tools' menu.  Still developing this so it's not documented in the help files yet.  Aim is for Mailer to be able to update the 'Replies' file automatically, checking multiple Mail Accounts automatically on a scheduled basis.  Aim to build in ability to establish dial-up connections for you, and disconnect when done.  Also a feature to automatically notify you via email as to what happens each time scheduling occurs.  Will build on all this in the future.
• Worked on the ocx communications, making the app more stable.
• Fixed a bug in the Database Import Wizard ("Import External Database" - "Tools Menu").
• Improved the way Mailer sends embedded graphics in emails.

Version 1.0 ( Released June 2001 )

• "File", "Print" now works!  Was doing nothing at all.
• Added a "Print Setup..." option from the 'File' menu.
• Added a "Synchronize" button to the "Browse Replies File" tool.  You are no longer prompted to update your data each time you open this tool.  See the help files for more info.
• Added "Email CapeSoft" to the "help" menu.
• Disable the "Mail Folders" tree control whenever a mail is busy loading into the previewer.  This gets around users clicking on a new mail while an old one is still loading, and potentially crashing the app.

Version 1.0 beta 4e (7 June 2001)

• Added a new feature, called "Subject Analysis Tool".  The 'Browse Replies File' tool now has two buttons on it; one to manage mail by subject line, and one to manage addresses which have bounced 'x' times.  Both options allow you to either update your data, or generate reports showing what data would be updated.
• (For Developers - New file called "SubjectRules" added to dictionary)
• (For Developers - New key added to the ClientMaster file)
• (For Developers - New field in the "Replies" file called "From Address")

Version 1.0 beta 4d (6 June 2001)

• Added a button to the main window, called 'Lookup Test Address', next to the 'Test Address' field.  This shows the currently selected Mailing Group, and allows you to select an address from that group.
• Tested Mailer on IE6, updated the ocx detection module accordingly.
• Added some new warning messages for resetting flags in Mailing Groups.
• Streamlined the 'Analyze' function for Editing Mailing Groups.  It is now typically 3.5 times faster than it was.
• Adjusted the 'Set Target' window, which appears when you are about to send bulk mail, allowing you to select the segment of the selected Mailing Group which you want to send to.  It now has an additional check box, allowing you to set whether or not "Excluded" address should receive mail.
• New feature: Right click on an address in the 'Edit Mail Groups' window, and you are now presented with the option to 'Mail this person'.  Easy way to send an email to an address, using your default mail program.  Also available from the 'Lookup Test Address' window mentioned earlier in these release notes.
• Created a better looking window to display the 'Analysis Results' from the 'Edit Mailing Group' window.
• Added a new field to the program settings window, on the 'Other' tab, called 'Show Number of Tagged Records in the Title Bar'.  Note that this will slow down the speed at which the 'Edit Mailing Group' window operates, and is turned off by default.  ( Developers - Take note that the 'Settings' file now has a new field called 'DisplayTaggedRecsInTheTitleBar'.)
• (For Developers - New file added to dictionary called "Replies")
• Changed the 'Bounced Mail Tool' (accessible from the 'Tools' menu.  Have now replaced this with the 'Browse Replies File' feature.  See the help docs for info.  Allows you to analyze mails in the server's mailbox, print a report showing all mails which have bounced more than x times, and automatically flag those addresses as 'Disabled'.

Version 1.0 beta 4c (1 June 2001)

• Now recognizes IE versions greater that 5.x, in order to support IE 6.
• Fixed the tabbing sequence on the Registration window
• Updated the FAQ section in the help file
• Added a new field to the 'Settings' file in the dictionary, and also to the 'Clients' file
• Have added a new setting to the "Other" tab in the program options window, called "Show VCR Controls".  This enables VCR Navigation buttons on the Edit Mailing Group window, for users who are familiar with this method of navigating through records.  More information provided in the help file.
• Added a new field in the 'Edit Mailing Groups' window, called 'Text' (short for 'Text Only').  This stipulates that when messages are sent to an address flagged as 'Text', the html component of the message should not be included.  This allows users who are using mail client programs that do not support html to receive 'plain text' versions of messages that you send.
• When importing from an external database (Database Import Wizard), the "Import From" drop list now defaults to the directory that you last imported from.
• Removed the code that refers to the "CapeSoft Hyperlink" template from the source code, as developers purchasing the source won't have Hyperlink as we have not yet released it!
• Fixed a "bug" for the developer's who have purchased the code for Mailer - had used CapeSoft Object Writer, which was not included in the specs for purchasing the code, redid that procedure in "ABC".
• Added a new feature, called 'Address Maintenance Tool', accessed from the 'Groups' menu.  This new feature allows you to:

• Search all Mailing Groups to locate those that contain a given email address, then view a list showing the information pertaining to that address in the various Mailing Groups.
• Synchronize / Update the details for an address, throughout all the Mailing Groups that contain that address (including the 'First Name', 'Surname' and 'flag' (disable, exclude etc) fields).
• Insert a new address into multiple Mailing Groups with a single insert.
• Delete an address from any of the Mailing Groups which it resides in.

Version 1.0 beta 4b (28 May 2001)

• Same as the first release (below), except here we've included the applications dictionary, which you will find in the "\Mailer\Dict\ folder.

Version 1.0 beta 4a (24 May 2001)    ( First Public Release)

• First release