AddressBook using SMTP

[dcpeders]

Hi,

Is it possible to access the users Addressbook while using SMTP? If so, what do I need to do?

Thank you,

Dave Pederson

[Rob de Jager]

Hi Dave

Can you give a short description of what you are trying to do please?

Rob

[Bruce]

Hi Dave,

The short answer is "no" - because there's no concept of an address book with SMTP. SMTP is just the protocol for sending the email.

As an analogy, when you are standing by the red-post box on the street, with a letter in your hand, the "slot" in the box is the equivalent of SMTP. At that point you already have the letter, and it's already addressed, but the post box has no concept of your address book.

To take the analogy a bit further, there is of course no one "standard" address book that everyone has. the same is true of computers, there's no such thing as "the" address book. Lots of programs can have address books, and depending on the programs your client is using you may or may not be able to access that list. However each program is different and a different technique would be required to get at the list.

so as Rob says, a lot more information is necessary - specifically how many installations of your program you intend to deploy, and which "address book" systems you intend to support. (Outlook, Windows Mail, Outlook Express, and so on.)

cheers
Bruce