MS Access Database as Default Email Application?

Question

Hello,

On an Azure RDS server, I have an application that generates PDF files (reports) to be distributed via email. I've built an Access database which applies business rules and delivers the files, but the workflow would work better if the Access database could be made to respond to an OLEDB request from the application, and pop up in response to it, instead of Outlook.

So to put it another way, I've used Access to create a custom email application on a server, and I would like it to somehow be the default email application and replace Outlook.

Is this doable?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Err, I meant OLE, not OLEDB. When Outlook is set to be the default email program, an OLE command can be used to send an email, but if Thunderbird was the default, the same commands would work against it. Any number of other email programs would be the same deal.

It seems to me that msaccess.exe could be shimmed in there with parameters for the database name, and then code within the database to decode the incoming parameters from the calling application which gives to, from, attachments, subject, message, etc.

Or, finally, if not that, maybe I could write a c# stub that would act as the OLE target, and then pass off the incoming data to the database, if not handle it right within c#, but then, the question becomes, how do I create my own app, and set it as the default email application?

Answer 2

> the workflow would work better if the Access database could be made to respond to an OLEDB request from the application, and pop up in response to it, instead of Outlook.

I don't understand this part. What does OLEDB have to do with emails?

Making Access "respond" to incoming emails is not possible, unless you go to extremes. Access also is not a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software. We have separate applications for a reason.

Access can be used to control Outlook via Automation, and can thus respond to Outlook events such as incoming emails.