Is it possible to split an e-mail addressed array into batches ?

Developers Programming
#1

Hi all,

I got an application which sends e-mail to an array of users --> $email_to = {email_to} .
{email_to} can have also more that 2000 addressee
I would like to insert a sleep(1800) within the routing of 100 email to avoid blocking in e-mail sending but I need to split the array of {email_to} into batches of 100 email at time.
I don’t know how achieve it…

More or less I have this parameters to use.

$email_to = {email_to}; // To email array
$nr_email_to = $count = count($email_to); //Total Nr of email to send
$nr_mail_batch = ceil($nr_email_to/100); // Nr of batches to send

sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl], $email_attach);

Probably it’s completly wrong… as approch becouse I’m not a programmer
Here , I suppose, I need to have another internal loop or similar that send 100 email at time splitting the ‘$email_to’ array correctly otherwise I send all mails everytime … ;-((

$x=1;
while($x<=$nr_mail_batch)
{
???
sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl], $email_attach);
???
sleep(1800)
$x++;
}

if you have a better solution it will be very appreciated
Googling I saw also array_chunk($array, 100); but I don’t know if it could be helpful or not.

#2

Well you could actually do that. Some smtp servers do not allow so any (100) to addresses at once. So you may have to split it in less.
I personally would do that via phpmailer and have a simple php backgound job running that checks for records in a table. Doing a sleep in php would not be my favorite choice in a web application since it sets a process temporarily on halt (might cause web page timeouts and so on).
In fact we send bulk mail via phpmailer via a scheduled job. See http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpmailer/
Then just have a php program that basically works like this (in pseudo code):

check MailScheduler table for records not having an IsSent set (perform the select * from MailScheduler where IsSent!=‘Y’)
counter=0;
for all records do{
if (counter==100){
sendmail to userlist;
if (mail is sent ok){
update MailScheduler set IsSent=‘Y’ where mailid=userlist
userlist:=empty;
}
sleep 600; //that is 600 seconds
}
add user from sqlquery to userlist userlist;
counter++;
}
if (userlist!=empty) {send mail to all userlist);

Because it is a scheduler job you wont have interference in your scriptcase website. And you can even run it in low priority.

#3

Hi,
array_chunk() should do the trick as well, but rr is right, you might run into trouble with the timing.

$chunk_size = 100;
$i = 0;
$email_to = array_chunk($email_all,$chunk_size);
while(isset($email_to[$i]))
{
sc_mail_send(…, $email_to[$i], …);
sleep (600);
$i ++;
}

jsb

#4

Thanks rr and jsb !!
Unfortunately to implement a library it’s not a piece of cake for me… ;-((
When you say ’ it sets a process temporarily on halt ’ means that the user that has run the bulk mailing has to wait until all the mails will be sended or also other user are blocked in their activities ?
If they send for istance 2000 mails with only text and no attachment , how much could be , more or less, the time the user has to wait ?

#5

Hi,

I implemented the code but I got an error on chunk (string-array) so I added explode

$email_to_all = {email_to}; {email_to} is a double select field and it’s the list of ‘all’ the to email

I changed the line to $email_to = array_chunk(explode(’;’,$email_to_all),$chunk_size); (I hope it’s correct…)

I did a test (only 3 email addresses just to see if there are errors) but when I click on OK sending button the application goes in connecting an stay there … forever.
The only way to exit is to close the browser.

//Code used

$chunk_size = 100;
$i = 0;
$email_to = array_chunk(explode(’;’,$email_to_all),$chunk_size);
while(isset($email_to[$i]))
{
sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to[$i] , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl], $email_attach);
sleep (20);
$i ++;
}

#6

if the php goes to sleep then that part doesnt run further for so many seconds. Meaning the user doesnt get feedback from parts of the page. I would avoid that at all costs therefor I opt for phpmailer. Believe me phpmailer is easy enough to implement. Do a simple search on how to use phpmailer and you will find: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1318861/how-do-i-use-phpmailer-cant-find-a-simple-decent-tutorial-online

The user would likely wait for a reply from the server. Yet the reply doesnt come in time since some brwosers expect a reply within x seconds (definitely less then 60) and will thus timeout. THat is not what you would want. In fact the phpmailer option is therefore better.

Also see: http://phpmailer.worxware.com/?pg=tutorial

#7

Just to understand…

Do I need to add the class under C:\Program Files (x86)\Scriptcase\v71\wwwroot\scriptcase\app\my_application\php_mailer ?

I used include in past but never require : do I use require in the same way of include ----> require("…/php_mailer /class.phpmailer.php");

#8

that depends where you want to run it. In a seperate job you can simply put the classes in your doc_root dir. Basically for running it from scriptcase you can do the same. The easy way is to put the classes in your php dir…

#9

Hi rr,
I did some try and the best that I’ve reached so far is this error…

“Invalid address: ‘giovanni.aaaaaa@libero.it;paolo.abcdef@gmail.it;carlo.jdjdjdj@yahoo.com’ You must provide at least one recipient email address. Message Not Sent
Mailer Error: You must provide at least one recipient email address.”

I take the addresses from double select field that output the list in this way: email@xxx.com ;email@yyy.com;… and so on .
‘giovanni.aaaaaa@libero.it;paolo.abcdef@gmail.it;carlo.jdjdjdj@yahoo.com’
I really don’t know how fix the error

#10

Hi,
there’s a blank in the email address.

c arlo.jdjdjdj@yahoo.com

#11

It 's an editor problem only

Unfortunately is a problem of editor here that make strange format when you copy e-mail addresses
In realty there are no blank

I think that phpmailer wants another kind of string structure itself

[QUOTE=jsbinca;21729]Hi,
there’s a blank in the email address.

c arlo.jdjdjdj@yahoo.com[/QUOTE]

#12

Sorry rr but it’s to complex to understand to me… ;-((
How phpmailer expect to be the to addresses ?

#13

Hi Jsb,

I tested the code and now it work . I know it’s not the best of solutions and has risk. Phpmailer could be better but I’m stucked on the error I posted
About the sleep(??) . To balance it for 100 mails how much have I to use (more or less…).
If I send less than 100 mails the sleep has no effect or I’m wrong… ??
Thanks

#14

Hi,
you have the sleep at least one time no matter how many emails you have. To skip it on less then 100 you have to count your emails/chunks.

$c_count = count($email_to); // number of chuncks

In the loop:

if($c_count > 1 && $i < $c_count) //skip the sleep if only one batch or the last one
{
sleep();
}

jsb

#15

This is last version:

Is it correct as your suggestion ?

$chunk_size = 100;
$i = 0;
$email_to = array_chunk(explode(’;’,$email_to_all),$chunk_size);
while(isset($email_to[$i]))
{
if(empty({email_attachment})){
sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to[$i] , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl]);
}
else{
sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to[$i] , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl], $email_attach);
}
if($c_count > 1 && $i < $c_count) //skip the sleep if only one batch or the last one
{
sleep();
}
else {
sleep (600);
{
$i ++;
}

#16

Almost.

if($c_count > 1 && $i < $c_count) //skip the sleep if only one batch or the last one
{
sleep(600);
}

No else. Sorry my bad.

jsb

#17

Hi Jsb,

I did the modification but now it says… variable $c_count not defined.

==========
$chunk_size = 100;
$i = 0;
$email_to = array_chunk(explode(’;’,$email_to_all),$chunk_size );
while(isset($email_to[$i]))
{
if(empty({email_attachment})){
sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to[$i] , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl]);
}
else{
sc_mail_send([glo_mail_smtp_server], [glo_mail_smtp_user], [glo_mail_smtp_pass], $mail_from , $mail_from , {subject}, $message, “H”, $email_to[$i] , $type_copy , [glo_mail_smtp_port],[glo_mail_smtp_ssl], $email_attach);
}
if($c_count > 1 && $i < $c_count) //skip the sleep if only one batch or the last one
{
sleep(600);
}
$i ++;
}

#18

Hi,
you need to set the variable.

$chunk_size = 100;
$i = 0;
$email_to = array_chunk(explode(’;’,$email_to_all),$chunk_size );

$c_count = count($email_to); // number of chuncks

while(isset($email_to[$i]))
{
…

jsb

#19

OK , many thanks.
Now I’ll wait that a massive test woud be done !!
Bye