Outlook, SMS and a database query.

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Kahl

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#27125 15-Oct-2008 12:41

Firstly, I do not have a programming background so answers in very simple language is appreciated.

I'm sure what I want has been done many times before but I don't know where to look. Can anyone help please?

I am trying to automate a part of my business as follows:

I want people to be able to send me an SMS that will contain certain information in a certain format. The information will change but the format of the information will always be the same. For example the rule might be for people to send their "First name", "last name", and "city of birth" so the data string I would receive in Outlook would be JOE SMITH AUCKLAND.

Once that data string is received in Outlook, I want an automated process that takes the data string arrives in Outlook and then does a query against a database. Depending upon the result of the database query, I then want Outlook to send one of two possible replies back to the mobile phone that originally sent the message.

There are a number of providers that can get SMS into Outlook but I haven't found an answer around the database query and the automated reply from Outlook.

I hope that makes sense.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Kahl

freitasm

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#171269 15-Oct-2008 13:20

Some question I have that would help a bit:

- what is this database?
- where does the database reside? Same PC or anothe one?
- is this database being used for another application - a web site for example?

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RedJungle

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#171275 15-Oct-2008 13:38

I've built something very similar to what you describe for our vehicle tracking services (customers send SMS's to us requesting vehicle location, we pick that up and grab the latest data from the database and reply). But bare in mind that I am a developer.

I just have a simple windows service running in the background on my server which recieves the SMS (or checks a POP mailbox if you want to use a SMS to E-mail gateway) and does any database lookups/performs any actions such as reply e-mails/SMS/whatever automatically.

Kahl

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#171276 15-Oct-2008 13:40

At the moment it is in MS Excel but it doesn't have to be. It could be re-built anywhere.

Currently the database resides on the same PC but once again, it doesn't have to be. It is hoped that the database will continue to grow and it will contain ever growing fields of related information.
The database isn't currently being used for another application but I can see that in the future it may well be.
At the moment, everything is at a very simple level and whilst I have one eye on the future, the immediate requirement is to provide a solution at the most basic level.