Automating Bounces



AutoShare, a freeware list server and auto-responder for the Macintosh.
This document is copyright © 1999 Mikael Hansen.


Q: Can I use AutoShare's built-in bounce module for my list server?

A: The freeware AutoShare server software offers sophisticated automated bounce processing of both hard and soft bounces. Incoming bounce messages and outgoing test messages are handled in a regular fashion using folders for message files. The required access to subscriber lookup and removal is likely to be accomplished by a Database process extender, if your list server software is scriptable.

The process extender is a small AppleScript saved as an application. The idea here is that AutoShare contacts it at the time of a subscriber lookup or removal, which in return is accomplished by the process extender subsequently contacting the list server. While a sample process extender is available (in my Scripts folder inside the Samples folder, untested drafts only), it is up to you to write the two subscriber lookup and removal AppleScript handlers (another more complete sample has also been written for LetterRip).


Q: How do I begin with AutoShare?

A: AutoShare may be initially configured by starting up the server application, entering two e-mail addresses (Cmd-M, then enter valid listmaster and bounce addresses) and creating four folders (Cmd-F, then select the Filed Mail, Incoming Mail, Document and List Server folders; note that the Incoming Mail folder has already created by EIMS, so it needs to be merely selected). The domain in the bounce address of the account described below should reflect that of the server's IP address.


Q: How do I adapt AutoShare's bounce service to my list server?

A: With the AutoShare server application running, start up the AutoShare Admin application. From the Extras menu, choose Files And Folders, create a folder entitled Bounces and click the Update button. Choose Cmd-K, select the newly created folder as the Bounce folder and click the Update button. Configure the bounce account in EIMS of type Save as using the path of the new folder.

Choose Cmd-L in the Admin application, click on the List names button, enter the list name in the top field and click the Update button. Then click on the list in the left list box in the Lists window, click on the More list button, choose Script as the database format and click the Update button. Choose Cmd-Q to shut down the Admin application.

In the folder where the AutoShare application is, create a folder entitled Process Extenders and drop the Database process extender into this folder.


Last updated on March 14 1999 by Mikael Hansen