How to replace the Replyto address in Ask a question

[zmurshid]

Hi,

Currently the replyto address is set to vendor's email address in the 'Ask a question about this product'. Can anyone give me a hint on how to replace the Replyto address with the shopper's email address instead. This will become handy for the vendor to reply to the shopper. 

I have checked and tried with the following files, but, couldn't get it done.
mail_html_question.php
productdetails.php
shopfunctionsf.php

I am using J 2.5.1 and VM 2.0.2

Many thanks in advance

[chaldama]

I need this feature as well. In VM 1.1.9 this worked perfectly, now my customer keeps replying to himself instead of his customer.
Can this be changed anywhere and/or improved in the next VM update?

[Thomas Kuschel]

I've built-in this feature for my site, working with VirtueMart 2.0.6;

But I don't know if this feature is unsolicited from the developers; I added this to the backend, to switch on and off the feature (default off) as seen in the attachment.

You need to change several files in the system or download the added zip and exchange the files.

Be careful to switch on this feature, many Internet providers do not allow to change the "from or reply-to address"!!

I just implemented this - please be patient and wait till my last tests are successful.

Regards,
Thomas Kuschel
http://www.loytec.com


[attachment cleanup by admin]

[Milbo]

Servus Thomas,

exactly the reason we implemented it that way. Otherwise too many people get mad with it. But with a nice option, could be nice to add it to the core, is it vendor depended?

[Thomas Kuschel]

Hi Milbo,

I implemented it on my test server and put it on my online website since 6 p.m.
By default this feature is off. I think, you'll see the implementation tomorrow evening. It is vendor independent, like the switch to set html-mail or raw-mail.
At the moment, I use that feature for invoice mails only. But there is no problem to add this to the ask_question as well within the file productdetails.php (the same extension).

cu Thomas
 

[Milbo]

Imho the address is added in the shopfuntions. So it should be possible to create one nice solution for all.

[Thomas Kuschel]

I want to introduce the new feature which is setting the reply address or sender address when sending invoice mail, or an Ask_Question mail, etc. to the vendor.
You can enable this feature "Receive vendor mail with recipient address" via backend (default is off), so there is no side effect adding this feature. In addition you can choose between building a replyTo or definitely sender address with the next parameter "Recipient address set as Sender, not ReplyTo", but several Internet providers do not permit to set the Sender email address.

What does that mean?

- Usually, if somebody is buying a product, he/she will get an e-mail from the website. In addition, the vendor receives the order via e-mail (invoice).
The vendor gets this mail with sender (from) = Address of Joomla website , and address (To) = Address of Vendor;
With this feature on, you'll receive the vendor's e-mail with replyTo = Address of the recipient (the customer) OR with another flag set the sender (from) = Address of the recipient.

Be careful, switching on this feature! Several Internet provider do not allow setting this to another e-mail address as your own webserver e-mail address.

Now, let's start from 1.)  to  3.)

1.) Language
=============
First of all, add the following lines to your language file (administrator): (I use English language at the backend only :-))
FILE: administrator/language/en-GB/en-GB.com_virtuemart.ini

Code Select Expand



COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_RECIPIENT="Receive vendor mail with recipient address"
COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_RECIPIENT_EXPLAIN="Usually the vendor receives the mail from joomla system email address. If you set this, you'll receive the mail coming as recipient address. Set this option if you're really sure what you do! If in doubt, do not switch on this parameter."
COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_SETSENDER="Recipient address set as Sender, not ReplyTo"
COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_SETSENDER_EXPLAIN="If set, the mail address of the recipient is set as Sender. If not, the recipient is set as reply address. Set this option if you're really sure what you do! If in doubt, do not switch on this parameter."



2.) Add new parameters to the backend's configuration
=======================================================
FILE: administrator/components/com_virtuemart/views/config/tmpl/default_shop.php (line 74)
Before:

Code Select Expand


<?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FORMAT_HTML') ?>
</option>
</select>
</td>
</tr>
<?php /* <tr>
<td class="key">
<span class="hasTip" title="<?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_DATEFORMAT_EXPLAIN'); ?>">


After:

Code Select Expand


<?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FORMAT_HTML') ?>
</option>
</select>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="key">
<span class="hasTip" title="<?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_RECIPIENT_EXPLAIN'); ?>">
<label for="mail_from_recipient"><?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_RECIPIENT') ?></span>
</span>
</td>
<td>
<?php echo VmHTML::checkbox('mail_from_recipient', $this->config->get('mail_from_recipient',0)); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="key">
<span class="hasTip" title="<?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_SETSENDER_EXPLAIN'); ?>">
<label for="mail_from_setsender"><?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_MAIL_FROM_SETSENDER') ?></span>
</span>
</td>
<td>
<?php echo VmHTML::checkbox('mail_from_setsender', $this->config->get('mail_from_setsender',0)); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<?php /* <tr>
<td class="key">
<span class="hasTip" title="<?php echo JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_ADMIN_CFG_DATEFORMAT_EXPLAIN'); ?>">



3.) Add some code to the virtuemart class shopFunctionsF
=========================================================
FILE: components/com_virtuemart/helpers/shopfunctionsf.php (line 222)

Exchange the following function within the class:

Code Select Expand


/**
* With this function you can use a view to sent it by email.
* Just use a task in a controller todo the rendering of the email.
*
* @param string $view for example user, cart
* @param string $recipient shopper@whatever.com
* @param bool $vendor true for notifying vendor of user action (e.g. registration)
* @return true if successful
*/
private function sendVmMail (&$view, $recipient, $vendor=false ) {
$jlang =JFactory::getLanguage();
if(VmConfig::get('enableEnglish', 1)){
$jlang->load('com_virtuemart', JPATH_SITE, 'en-GB', true);
}
$jlang->load('com_virtuemart', JPATH_SITE, $jlang->getDefault(), true);
$jlang->load('com_virtuemart', JPATH_SITE, null, true);

ob_start();
$view->renderMailLayout($vendor, $recipient);
$body = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();

$subject = (isset($view->subject)) ? $view->subject : JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_DEFAULT_MESSAGE_SUBJECT');
$mailer = JFactory::getMailer();
$mailer->addRecipient($recipient);
$mailer->setSubject($subject);
$mailer->isHTML(VmConfig::get('order_mail_html',true));
$mailer->setBody($body);

$mailfrom = array();
if($vendor){   //this is the mail to the vendor!
$mail_from_recipient = VmConfig::get('mail_from_recipient','0');
if ($mail_from_recipient =='1'){
if(isset($view->user)){
$mailfrom[0] = $view->user['email'];
$mailfrom[1] = $view->user['name'];
}else{
$user = JFactory::getUser(); //fallback
if (!empty($user->id)) {
$mailfrom[0] = $user->email;
$mailfrom[1] = $user->name;
}
}
} //else fetch the Joomla setup email address
}else{
$mailfrom[0]=$view->vendorEmail;
$mailfrom[1]= $view->vendor->vendor_name;
}
if(!empty($mailfrom)){
$mail_from_setSender = VmConfig::get('mail_from_setsender','0');
if ($mail_from_setSender=='0') {
$mailer->addReplyTo($mailfrom);
}else {
$mailer->setSender($mailfrom);
}
}

if (isset($view->mediaToSend)) {
foreach ((array)$view->mediaToSend as $media) {
//Todo test and such things.
$mailer->addAttachment($media);
}
}

return $mailer->Send();
}


I have tested this with the invoice mail on my live system for 24 hours;
Is there anybody who can test this new feature with Ask_Question or other mailing functions too?

p.s. FYI (@Milbo): The function sendVmMail is the latest from the cvs which I have merged with my code; but found a doubled line there:
      

Code Select Expand

$jlang =JFactory::getLanguage(); I removed this line.

cu Thomas Kuschel

[Aroab38]

Hi Thomas

Thank you for your detailed solution. I implemented it but it doesn't change the Reply To for the Vendor order email. So if an order comes in and I reply to it I actually reply to myself and first have to copy/paste the customer's email address.


I get the following tabs in the backend and have tried checking the boxes in all variations but no luck.

Receive vendor mail with recipient address    
Recipient address set as Sender, not ReplyTo

I have used Virtuemart 1.1.9 until last week without a problem so it's not a server side problem.

@Milbo may I ask why you guys coded it this way by default?

[Thomas Kuschel]

Hi Aroab38,
which Virtuemart Version?
Did you set the Vendor at the backend of virtuemart correctly? - Is there any php cache in use?

For testing, only activate the
"Receive vendor mail with recipient address "  - so the reply-to address should work. Have you pressed the SAVE button afterwards?

Thomas

[Aroab38]

Hi Thomas

Thank you for your prompt reply!

I have set up the Vendor correctly as per wiki instruction. Is there anything specific I should look out for?

I am not too sure about PHP Cache, where do I purge this? I use Akeeba Admin Tools to purge and did without any change.

Yes I pressed the SAVE button afterwards LOL!

From your posted solution I was unsure of the last bit of code  $jlang =JFactory::getLanguage();    I didn't do anything with that. Was it just a note to Milbo or should I delete that code somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

[Thomas Kuschel]

I have set up the Vendor correctly as per wiki instruction. Is there anything specific I should look out for?

I don't think so.

I am not too sure about PHP Cache, where do I purge this? I use Akeeba Admin Tools to purge and did without any change.

Which Joomla Version? 1.5: Tools->Purge Expired Cache // Clean Cache; 2.5: Site->Maintanance->Purge Expired Cache // Clean Cache.

Yes I pressed the SAVE button afterwards LOL!

If you've set the parameter, the parameter should be shown after logout / login - it should remain to the last choose? Also, you can check the database table #__virtuemart_configs, if there is the parameter mail_from_recipient found in the text field config.

From your posted solution I was unsure of the last bit of code  $jlang =JFactory::getLanguage();    I didn't do anything with that. Was it just a note to Milbo or should I delete that code somewhere?

That was a Milbo specific note...

Once again:
Virtuemart Version ?
Joomla Version ?

Note: You could place some debug messages inside the exchanged methode private function sendVmMail (&$view, $recipient, $vendor=false )
to see what happens, or add lines like $mailer->addRecipient('anothermailaddress@example.com'); ...

[Aroab38]

I'm using Joomla 2.5.4 and VM 2.0.6

Also, you can check the database table #__virtuemart_configs, if there is the parameter mail_from_recipient found in the text field config.

I have attached a copy of the virtuemart_configs table. I'm not too clued up with SQL but it doesn't look like that parameter is in there. Could you please advise?

Note: You could place some debug messages inside the exchanged methode private function sendVmMail (&$view, $recipient, $vendor=false )
to see what happens, or add lines like $mailer->addRecipient('anothermailaddress@example.com');

I have no idea how to do this

Thanks again for your time helping me!


[attachment cleanup by admin]

[stAn99]

Hello Folks, i modified the function a little bit so it sets the sender by default and also uses the order details when the user is not logged in. I tested on VM 2.0.6 and it should be compatible with all Joomla.

Code Select Expand

/**
* With this function you can use a view to sent it by email.
* Just use a task in a controller todo the rendering of the email.
*
* @param string $view for example user, cart
* @param string $recipient shopper@whatever.com
* @param bool $vendor true for notifying vendor of user action (e.g. registration)
*/
private function sendVmMail (&$view, $recipient, $vendor=false) {
$jlang =JFactory::getLanguage();
if(VmConfig::get('enableEnglish', 1)){
     $jlang->load('com_virtuemart', JPATH_SITE, 'en-GB', true);
}
$jlang->load('com_virtuemart', JPATH_SITE, $jlang->getDefault(), true);
$jlang->load('com_virtuemart', JPATH_SITE, null, true);

ob_start();
$view->renderMailLayout($vendor, $recipient);
$body = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();

$subject = (isset($view->subject)) ? $view->subject : JText::_('COM_VIRTUEMART_DEFAULT_MESSAGE_SUBJECT');
$mailer = JFactory::getMailer();
$mailer->addRecipient($recipient);
$mailer->setSubject($subject);
$mailer->isHTML(VmConfig::get('order_mail_html',true));
$mailer->setBody($body);

if($vendor){   //this is the mail to the vendor!
$mail_from_recipient = VmConfig::get('mail_from_recipient','1');
if ($mail_from_recipient =='1'){
if(isset($view->user)){
$replyto[0] = $view->user['email'];
$replyto[1] = $view->user['name'];
$mailer->addReplyTo($replyto);
}else{
$user = JFactory::getUser(); //fallback
if (!empty($user->id)) {
$mailfrom[0] = $user->email;
$mailfrom[1] = $user->name;

}
else
{
  // what if the user is not logged in or the view does not have the user assigned
  if (!empty($view->orderDetails))
{
   $email = $view->orderDetails['details']['BT']->email;
   $name = $view->orderDetails['details']['BT']->first_name.' '.$view->orderDetails['details']['BT']->last_name;
   $mailfrom[0] = $email;
   $mailfrom[1] = $name;
   
}

}
}
} //else fetch the Joomla setup email address
}else{
$replyto[0]=$view->vendorEmail;
$replyto[1]= $view->vendor->vendor_name;
$mailer->addReplyTo($replyto);
}


if(!empty($mailfrom)){
$mail_from_setSender = VmConfig::get('mail_from_setsender','1');
if ($mail_from_setSender=='0') {
$mailer->addReplyTo($mailfrom);
}else {
$mailer->setSender($mailfrom);
}
}

if (isset($view->mediaToSend)) {
foreach ((array)$view->mediaToSend as $media) {
//Todo test and such things.
$mailer->addAttachment($media);
}
}

return $mailer->Send();
}


[Thomas Kuschel]

Hi stAn99,
Note:
I deliberately set the sender _not_ to default because afterwards, the behavior of the function would be changed when implemented in 2.0.6. -
tnx for implementing branch for non-logged-in users (at my site, non-logged-in users would never visit that branch, so I spent no thoughts about it).

In addition, please add the full description in front of the function (adding the "return value"):

Code Select Expand

/**
* With this function you can use a view to sent it by email.
* Just use a task in a controller todo the rendering of the email.
*
* @param string $view for example user, cart
* @param string $recipient shopper@whatever.com
* @param bool $vendor true for notifying vendor of user action (e.g. registration)
* @return true if successful
*/
because it's very useful for debugging with an IDE, e.g. eclipse.
Thomas

[alatak]

Hi

I will have a look at your code.

I have fixed already several reply issues. One of them, in some cases,  is that when a user was logged, the vendor email adress was the one from the user.
It will available in the next test version (2.0.7.I).  I will upload this version tonight.