Blat provides the ability to send the contents of a file in an e-mail message using the SMTP or NNTP protocol. Blat is useful for creating scripts where mail has to be sent automatically (CGI, backups, etc.), or just as a quick way to send a file or message quickly from the command line. It will store relevant configuration details in the registry for ease of use. Optionally, blat can also attach multiple binary files to your message.

Getmail for Windows is a command line tool used to automatically download mail, including the ability to automatically extract binary attachments. Getmail can be used to automatically extract MIME encoded or UU encoded binary files as it downloads your mail. It's the perfect companion to blat!

For detailed instructions on installing and configuring SMTP on the Microsoft Windows platform, see the following:

Usage

To start, we can simply execute blat with no arguments:

C:\> blat
Blat v2.4 w/GSS encryption (build : Jan 15 2005 08:32:11)


Win32 console utility to send mail via SMTP or post to usenet via NNTP
by P.Mendes,M.Neal,G.Vollant,T.Charron,T.Musson,H.Pesonen,A.Donchey,C.Hyde
  http://www.blat.net
syntax:
  Blat <filename> -to <recipient> [optional switches (see below)]
  Blat -install <server addr> <sender's addr> [<try>[<port>[<profile>]]] [-q]
  Blat -profile [-delete | "<default>"] [profile1] [profileN] [-q]
  Blat -h

Simple Example

Let's start with a simple example. Here, I want to simply email a text file giving all required parameters on the command-line:

C:\> blat readme.txt -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -server localhost -f dba@bar.com
Blat v2.4 w/GSS encryption (build : Jan 15 2005 08:32:11)

Sending readme.txt to jhunter@idevelopment.info
Login name is dba@bar.com

Storing Default values in the Windows Registry

From the example above, I needed to provide the SMTP server (using the -server option) as well as the sender's email address (the -f option). I can instead store these values in the Windows registry and have them provided by default. To do this, I first need to update the values in Windows registry using the -install option as follows:

C:\> blat -installSMTP localhost dba@bar.com
Blat v2.4 w/GSS encryption (build : Jan 15 2005 08:32:11)

SMTP server set to localhost on port 25 with user dba@bar.com, retry 1 time(s)

I can now reduce the number of arguments to just the file I want to send and who I want to send it to:

C:\> blat readme.txt -to jhunter@idevelopment.info
Blat v2.4 w/GSS encryption (build : Jan 15 2005 08:32:11)

Sending readme.txt to jhunter@idevelopment.info
Login name is dba@bar.com

Binary Files

OK, so you want to send a binary file as an attachment. Not a problem. The first example uses MIME Base 64 format while the second example uses old UUEncode format:

C:\> blat check_green.gif -subject "Binary GIF File" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -base64
C:\> blat check_green.gif -subject "Binary GIF File" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -uuencode

Adding Subject Line

Need to add a subject line:

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "A simple text file example" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info

Getting Rid of the Console Output

Need to get rid of that console output when sending a message?

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "A simple text file example" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -q

Override the Default Sender

Although I saved the default sender (and default SMTP server) in the registry, I can easily override them:

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "A simple text file example" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -f TheNewMe@bar.com

Override the Default Sender But Leave Reply-To: and Sender: Lines

Use the -i parameter to replace the From: line, but leave the Reply-To: and Sender: lines

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "A simple text file example" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -i TheNewMe@bar.com

Carbon Copies

Send carbon copies:

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "Text File" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -cc "admin@idevelopment.info,dba@idevelopment.info"

Sending Multiple File Attachments

Attach all files with extension "TXT" in folder "Reports" on drive "C:".

NOTE: You must specify a filename/pattern, "-attach .\*.*" will send all files in current folder. "-attach ." will not send anything AND WILL NOT GIVE YOU ANY WARNING.

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "Report Files" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -attach c:\Reports\*.txt

Identifing SMTP Server as Another Name

Tells the SMTP that this computer is called "proddb1":

C:\> blat readme.txt -subject "Production Files" -to jhunter@idevelopment.info -hostname proddb1

For all of the examples in this section, I created a folder named "C:\>Inbox" that will be used for all downloaded (and extracted) email:

C:\> mkdir C:\Inbox
C:\> cd Inbox

Usage

To start, we can simply execute Getmail with no arguments:

C:\Inbox> getmail
GetMail v1.33: WinNT console utility to download a mailbox's mail.
syntax:
  Getmail -u <user> -pw <password> -s <server> [optional switches (see below)]
  Getmail -install [ see install details below ]
  Getmail -profile [-delete | "<default>"] [profile1] [profileN] [-q]
  Getmail -h [-q]
  Getmail -forceextract filename

-install <server> <userid> <password> [<delete> [<xtract> [<try> [<port> [<profile>]]]]]
     : set's POP3 server, login, password, whether to delete or not (Yes/No),
       whether to automatically extract base64/7bit/UU encoded files or not (Yes/No),
       number of tries and port for profile
       (<delete> <xtract> <try> and <port> may be replaced by '-').

-u <userid>   : Specify userid on remote pop3 host
-pw <password>: Specify password for userid on remote mail host
-s <server>   : Specify mail server (pop3) to contact
-nodelete     : Do not delete messages after downloading (default)
-delete       : Delete messages after downloading
-noxtract     : Do not extract base64/7bit/UU files after downloading (default)
-xtract [defname]: Extract base64/7bit/UU encoded files after downloading messages
                   defname is an optional default filename for the extracted file
-domainstamp  : Prepend sender's domain name to extracted attachments
-headersonly  : Download only the headers of the message
-port <port>  : port to be used on the server, defaults to POP3 (110)
-p <profile>  : send with SMTP server, user and port defined in <profile>.
-q            : supresses *all* output.
-n <n>        : Only get 'n' messages
-m <n>        : Only get message # n
-b <n>        : Retrieve messages beginning from # n
-plain        : Extract text/plain segments too (usually ignored)
-h            : displays this help.
-try <n times>: how many attempts to access mail.  from '1' to 'INFINITE'
-ti <n>       : Set timeout to 'n' seconds.
-forceextract fn: Attempt to extract any encoded messages in 'fn'

Simple Example

Let's start with a simple example. Here, I want to simply retrieve my email (from a POP3) server giving all required parameters on the command-line.

C:\Inbox> getmail -s mail2.idevelopment.info -u jhunter -pw ForMeToKnow
Failed to open registry key for GetMail profile , using default.
Failed to open registry key for GetMail
Getting jhunter's mailbox contents from server mail2.idevelopment.info:110
There are 41 messages on the server.
Retrieving Message #1 (0 bytes)  into 'MSG1.TXT'...ok
Retrieving Message #2 (0 bytes)  into 'MSG2.TXT'...ok
... < SNIP > ...
Retrieving Message #40 (0 bytes)  into 'MSG40.TXT'...ok
Retrieving Message #41 (0 bytes)  into 'MSG41.TXT'...ok

Storing Default values in the Windows Registry

From the example above, I needed to provide my POP3 server (using the -s option) as well as the user account (the -u option) and my password (the -pw option). I can instead store these values in the Windows registry and have them provided by default. To do this, I first need to update the values in Windows registry using the -install option as follows:

C:\Inbox> getmail -install mail2.idevelopment.info jhunter ForMeToKnow
Failed to open registry key for GetMail profile , using default.
Failed to open registry key for GetMail

POP3 server set to mail2.idevelopment.info on port 110.
 User/password jhunter/ForMeToKnow, Deletion: No, Xtraction: No, retry 1 time(s)

It's recommended to put a fake password in here, and then provide the real password each time you run Getmail, for obvious security reasons. After putting in a fake password to install, you would then use your real password as one of the parameters: C:\Inbox> getmail -install mail2.idevelopment.info jhunter MyFakePassword C:\Inbox> getmail -pw MyRealPassword

I now simply include the profile (-p) parameter:

C:\Inbox> getmail -p default

Extracting Binary Attachments

The following example overrides by fake password (see above) and automatically extracts any binary attachments:

C:\Inbox> getmail -pw MyRealPassword -xtract