Common SMTP server details configuration
Common disconnection errors troubleshooting
In order to send an email message you first need to specify the recipients and the sender.
The list of distribution lists (defined in Manage lists) is shown in the Select distribution list field. Select one and the addresses in the list will be used as recipients. Each contact will receive a personal email message.
The email message sender will be specified in the Sender e-mail address and Sender name fields. You can freely type in these fields or select an address and a name from the comboboxes, which display the last 10 names and addresses previously used in sending operations (the lists will be empty if no email has ever been sent). If a subscription/unsubscription address was provided to the selected distribution list, it will be automatically shown as the email sender address. However this is just default behavior, the address and/or the name can be manually changed.
You can also optionally specify a custom Reply-To email address: this is the address replies will be sent to. If it is left blank, replies will be sent to the sender address (this is the default behavior for personal e-mail messages).
To start sending email messages just click on the Send button. Obviously if it’s the first sending operation, or if the connection settings have changed, it will be necessary to first set up the Send settings, otherwise the message won’t be sent.
Two Email Send modes are available: Direct send and Use SMTP server.
- By selecting Direct send the software will look for each recipient’s e-mail server and will automatically connect to it, therefore “skipping” the SMTP server that won’t then be needed in the send settings. To perform such search SendBlaster will use the currently selected default connection DNS, but it is also possible (and sometimes needed) to manually set a different DNS, by enabling the option Manually set DNS server and by typing the correct IP address. Keep in mind that certain e-mail domains (for instance, hotmail) don’t allow direct sends: the message gets rejected if it originates from a desktop system as opposed to a public SMTP server.
- By enabling the Retry with SMTP in case of error, in case the message isn’t accepted by the recipient’s e-mail server, the software will try to deliver the message to the SMTP server, by using the Use SMTP server settings.
- By selecting Use SMTP server, e-mail sending will take place just like in a standard e-mail client, that is, by delivering the message to one’s own ISP SMTP server.
- It is necessary to specify the name of the SMTP server (which, may include port number in the “server:port” format) and, in case a user authentication is required, to select Authentication required and specify Username and Password. This parameters are the ones used in your e-mail client software, therefore all you’ll need to do is “copy” them from a working e-mail account (to make sure the SMTP server is reachable just click on the Connection test button). The SSL checkbox enables SSL communication, which may be needed by some SMTP servers (a typical example is Gmail’s SMTP server).
- By enabling the Retry with direct send in case of error, in case the message isn’t accepted by the SMTP server, the software will try to deliver the message directly to the recipient’s e-mail server, by using the Direct send settings.