Automatic reply in HTML

Peter Lister, Cranfield Computer Centre (ccprl@xdm001.ccc.cranfield.ac.uk)
Tue, 11 May 93 10:33:30 BST


This functionality was suggested by a colleague; it sounds good to me.

We would like to publish our prospectus in HTML. At the back of the
printed copies of the prospectus, ther are details of how to contact
Cranfield by post or email for further information on particular courses.

In the HTML version, it would be nice to have a URL like

<a HREF="mailto:course-info@cranfield.ac.uk/Name: \nAddress: \nCourse:
\nref: \n">Send an enquiry</a>

This would have the effect that when the anchor is activated, clients
display a window (initialised with the optional text following the "/".
When finished, the user confirms the contents, and the client sends a
mail message to the address shown.

This URL equates to a paper reply-paid card; it is an invitation to
reply automatically with no hassle or need to use local resources. A
more general form of this URL might well include telnet or any other
remote service which requires may need initial information. If
variables can be used, then one could include the sender's details in
the initial text.

It occurs to me that code already exists to do this in Xmosaic, as
Whine (or Mail Developers as it is now). If you fancy adding a new URL
type that kicks off the whine code, Marc, that would be a very nice demo.

Peter Lister p.lister@cranfield.ac.uk
Computer Centre,
Cranfield Institute of Technology, Voice: +44 234 754200 ext 2828
Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL England Fax: +44 234 750875