Clickable Links for Customer contacts

Submitted by Matt C on Sun, 23/08/2009 - 21:15

General User's Discussion

This idea was mooted in our User forums;

"...Clients have as contacts both email addresses and Mobile Phone numbers - surely these could be made as links so that if clicked on they could open up a new email message or for mobiles open up Outlook so that one of the many communication programs that link to Outlook can send an sms..."

Its a really nice simple idea. How do the developers see this working? Would other users like to see this type of functionality become a reality?

From my own perspective I was wondering if the OpenVPMS application could have its own email send/client functionality so we can send emails within the application rather then relying on launching a default MAPI application. Is the same possible of SMS capacity?

Matt C

Re: Clickable Links for Customer contacts

Submitted by tanderson on Mon, 24/08/2009 - 15:27.

It should be fairly simple to pop up a new email message when clicking on a email contact.

One thing to be aware of with this approach is that the "From" address in any email will be that of the PC user, rather than the practice email address.

Providing email support within OpenVPMS gets around this - it could be configured to use either the practice address or the signed in user as the "From" address.

There is currently no standard[1] way of launching an application to send an SMS from a web page.

That said, it can be done with a bit of configuration magic. It would require that each user's PC has the SMS application installed.

Typically however, this would be done via an SMS gateway service.

Using this approach, the SMS functionality would be built into OpenVPMS, and therefore not require each user to have SMS applications installed.

-Tim

[1] There is a draft standard at http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-wilde-sms-uri-18

Clickable Links

Submitted by bellvet on Thu, 10/09/2009 - 15:54.

Sandra @ Bellarine

Hi,

I would like to be able to email clients copies of vaccination certificates etc. from their files, rather than having to put their email address in outlook, saving the form into word and then attaching it to the email. Maybe I'm doing it in a round-a-bout way, but it seems that what Matt is suggesting may help in this area?

Sandra.

Email support within OpenVPMS

Submitted by Matt C on Thu, 10/09/2009 - 23:23.

It certainly would be a stepping stone Sandra and it would make the implementors life a million % easier (no exaggeration) if the email service was contained within openVPMS.

Anyone else interested in this sort of functionality?

Matt C

Re: Email support within OpenVPMS

Submitted by chris (not verified) on Fri, 11/09/2009 - 00:00.

Could not agree more. Would be great to have, beats faxing etcChris On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 10:23 PM, <mpcosta@boroniavet.com.au> wrote:

It certainly would be a stepping stone Sandra and it would make the implementors life a million % easier (no exaggeration) if the email service was contained within openVPMS.

Anyone else interested in this sort of functionality? Matt C _______________________________________________ OpenVPMS User Mailing List users@lists.openvpms.org To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: //lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users" target="_blank">http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the OpenVPMS User's forum- //tinyurl.com/openvfu" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/openvfu

Re: New or updated comment for General User's Discussion Forum t

Submitted by Matt Young on Fri, 11/09/2009 - 00:35.

So if email is going to be sent directly through OpenVPMS what will/won't be possible? For example would you be able to add attachments, and would the emails only be plain text or html as well?

I'm definitely interested, but if attachments and html email aren't possible through OpenVPMS or would be too expensive to develop now I would like to have the option of either sending a plain text email through openVPMS or following a link which launches an external mail client to send the email.

Matt Y.

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Re: Email enhancements

Submitted by Tony De Keizer (not verified) on Fri, 11/09/2009 - 10:00.

Hi Guys,

As you are aware OpenVPMS already provides email support for Reminders and Statements so the email client software is already imbedded in the application. This is implemented using the java mail api which is very powerful and can perform in code everything that your typical email client can. The huge benefit of this is sites do not need to have a email client like outlook express, outlook, thunderbird etc installed and configured for them to have emailing functionality from any workstation/location.

I believe this can be readily extended to provide "adhoc" email support. I.e. A user initiated facility that provides a compose email dialogue.

I think there are two places where this should be available.

1. Every print dialogue associated with customer, supplier or patient templates. I envisage the print dialogue which currently has Print, Preview, Cancel would be extended to have an Email button should the customer have a valid email address. This would pop up a standard compose email dialogue with the document which was going to be printed already attached as a pdf.

A simple extension to this would be to also allow emailing to referred to/Referred from clinicians associated with the patient. If the patient had a valid referral the user would get the option to email to either the customer or the referral.

2. Adhoc from any customer, supplier, patient workspace. The same dialogue but without attachment but ability to attach documents.

Tim can confirm but I am pretty sure the Java mail api can handle rich text formatting Matt.

Cheers Tony

On 10/09/09 11:35 PM, "matt@companionanimalvet.com.au" :

> So if email is going to be sent directly through OpenVPMS what will/won't be > possible? For example would you be able to add attachments, and would the > emails only be plain text or html as well?I'm definitely interested, but if > attachments and html email aren't possible through OpenVPMS or would be too > expensive to develop now I would like to have the option of either sending a > plain text email through openVPMS or following a link which launches an > external mail client to send the email. Matt

> Y.

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Emailing from client files

Submitted by bellvet on Tue, 15/09/2009 - 11:16.

Sandra @ Bellarine

Hi Tony,

Sounds great to me! Would this be a BIG development?

Sandra.

Re: Emailing from client files

Submitted by Tony De Keizer (not verified) on Tue, 15/09/2009 - 12:00.

Hi Sandra,

I think we need to create a JIRA with exactly what we want and then get Tim to estimate development time but I would say it is not a complicated development task ... :-)

Cheers Tony

On 15/09/09 10:16 AM, "Sandra" :

> Sandra @ Bellarine

Hi Tony,

Sounds great to me! Would this be a BIG

> development?

Sandra. _______________________________________________

OpenVPMS

> User Mailing List

users@lists.openvpms.org

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> subscription visit:

http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users

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> mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the OpenVPMS User's forum- > http://tinyurl.com/openvfu

Afew questions before I send the JIRA for this topic

Submitted by Matt C on Wed, 07/10/2009 - 00:12.

This is from Tony's post;

What would we want to happen if there were multiple current Customer-Patient relationships? Do we want to add an email address for every valid email address for all current Customer-Patient relationships?

If there are multiple email contacts and they are all Active, do we also want these to be collected into the To: field?

My last question to the gallery is;

Do we want the ability to choose from a list of documents for a particular Patient? In other words a mutliple select box that allows us to attach multiple documents to a single email?

Emailing from client files

Submitted by bellvet on Wed, 07/10/2009 - 10:03.

Hi Matt,

I'm not sure what you mean by "Do we want to add an email address for every valid email address for all current Customer-Patient relationships"?

Re: 'multiple email contacts all active' - with the email address for reminders we tag the email address PURPOSE - REMINDERS. Could we have a PRIMARY EMAIL address on the file eg: tick preference box so that address would receive all email correspondence?

I think being able to send mulitple attachments would be beneficial, but sending multiple documents for more than one patient belonging to the owner would be even better, eg: sending Buffy's & Fido's vaccination certificate.

Also, what is the difference between a plain text and a html email, it's menitoned in Matt Y's post above, excuse my ignorance?

Sandra.

Re: Emailing from client files

Submitted by Matt C on Wed, 07/10/2009 - 13:00.

Hey Sandra,

> I'm not sure what you mean by "Do we want to add an email address for > every valid email address for all current Customer-Patient relationships"?

> Re: 'multiple email contacts all active' - with the email address for > reminders we tag the email address PURPOSE - REMINDERS. Could we have a > PRIMARY EMAIL address on the file eg: tick preference box so that address > would receive all email correspondence?

Say for instance one customer had 2 email addresses or a patient had multiple owners each with their own email address (eg. large animal)? Do we want the new compose email dialog to have the email addresses for all these customers appear in the email dialog? Or just one, using a preferred methodology as you described. I worry about the preferred/PURPOSE option in this context. It requires staff to consistently click something. But I guess I need to define my PURPOSES better, include them as a tick box on our new client paperwork ("For each email address please indicate what you would like to receive emails regarding eg. Reminders, General Communication") or train my staff to use them appropriately!

If we do this approach we just need to make sure we assign the Email buttons in their various contexts to use the specific Purposes we want them to. (eg. Use "Primary Email" for the Document Print dialog).

> I think being able to send mulitple attachments would be beneficial, but > sending multiple documents for more than one patient belonging to the > owner would be even better, eg: sending Buffy's & Fido's vaccination > certificate.

OK so what about a Patient level selector (choose from all documents/attachments linked to a patient) and a Customer level selector (Choose from all documents/attachments linked to all patients linked to this Customer)?

> Also, what is the difference between a plain text and a html email, it's > menitoned in Matt Y's post above, excuse my ignorance?

Plain email just allows basic text. No formatting. I am keen to get basic rich text introduced into our histories and other document generation. This would basic formatting such as bold, italics, underlining. HTML emails allow this ort of formatting to be transmitted. It is purely aesthetics...

> Sandra. > _______________________________________________ > OpenVPMS User Mailing List > users@lists.openvpms.org > To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: > http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users > Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the > OpenVPMS User's forum- http://tinyurl.com/openvfu >

Emailing from client files

Submitted by bellvet on Wed, 07/10/2009 - 13:21.

Sandra @ Bellarine

Hi Matt,

As far as preferred/purposes goes, it would be a good idea to make it fool proof. Let's say we already have an email address on file and any single email address that is added to a file is automatically marked as the default email address for all communications unless staff choose to undo the default. Would it be to major a development if we had some kind of filter so if a second email address was added to a file some sort of dialog would pop us saying that a default email contact of eg: blahblah@bellvet is already recorded for this client and which address do you want to be the default email. This way no-one has to remember to tick boxes and a decision has to made upon entry of the 2nd email address, normally when you have the client there to communicate with. If the client wanted to use both email addresses the ability to do so would be good.

I think being able to choose documents from one single patient or for all patients attached to a client is the go.

Thanks for the info on the email format.

Sandra.

Re: Emailing from client files

Submitted by Matt C on Wed, 07/10/2009 - 16:00.

Hey Sandra,

What about this scenario:

Scenario 1. If there is one matching email address go straight to compose email dialog. Scenario 2. If there is > 1 matching email, it shows a list of them, from which you can choose 1 or more to populate the To: field of the email.

Whaddya reckon?

Matt C PS. By the way I am going to call you back at some stage!

On Wed, 7 Oct 2009 02:21:26 +0000 (UTC), sandra@bellvet.com.au wrote:

> Sandra @ Bellarine > Hi Matt, > As far as preferred/purposes goes, it would be a good idea to make it fool

> proof. Let's say we already have an email address on file and any single > email address that is added to a file is automatically marked as the > default email address for all communications unless staff choose to undo > the default. Would it be to major a development if we had some kind of > filter so if a second email address was added to a file some sort of > dialog would pop us saying that a default email contact of eg: > blahblah@bellvet is already recorded for this client and which address do > you want to be the default email. This way no-one has to remember to tick > boxes and a decision has to made upon entry of the 2nd email address, > normally when you have the client there to communicate with. If the client

> wanted to use both email addresses the ability to do so would be good. > I think being able to choose documents from one single patient or for all > patients attached to a client is the go. > Thanks for the info on the email format. > Sandra. > > _______________________________________________ > OpenVPMS User Mailing List > users@lists.openvpms.org > To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: > http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users > Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the > OpenVPMS User's forum- http://tinyurl.com/openvfu >

Clickable Links for Customer

Submitted by tanderson on Thu, 08/10/2009 - 17:15.

One thing to mention is that there probably needs to be some sort of automatic opt-out facility.

This could simply be an unsubscribe link at the bottom of any mail generated via OpenVPMS that would trigger deletion of a user's email contacts when clicked.

-Tim

Automatic opt out

Submitted by Matt C on Fri, 09/10/2009 - 10:29.

Yes thats right Tim. It should only affect the purpose that generated that email though.

Fopr example a user may want to opt out of General Correspondence but retain email Reminders.

Or should it just add a footer saying contact the clinic. Staff could remove that purpose from the email address manually.

Matt C

Clickable Links for Customer

Submitted by bellvet on Fri, 09/10/2009 - 14:39.

Sandra @ Bellarine

Hi Matt,

I think that would work! I should know this, but if an email address is recorded on a file without a purpose of any kind will it be used as the default email contact for everything or will it be overlooked altogether?

Sandra.

Clickable links

Submitted by Matt C on Mon, 12/10/2009 - 18:40.

Hi Sandra,

I think it should be overlooked. We might need to ask the developers to come up with some new correspondance categories that will best encompass the potential use for this feature.

Matt C

This feature is scheduled to be summarised and sent to the developers soon. Make sure you have your say now!

Clickable Email links

Submitted by Matt C on Thu, 15/10/2009 - 12:04.

Hi guys,

I have created a JIRA for this

jira.openvpms.org/jira/browse/OVPMS-905

I am expecting afew questions from the developers before they can cost the feature. Stay alert if users need to contribute back.

Matt C

Clickable Email Links Funding Update (10%)

Submitted by Matt C on Fri, 23/10/2009 - 15:24.

Hi everyone,

This very popular feature which will allow emails to be sent to customers, suppliers etc at the click of a button with attached documents from the associated customer or patient etc has been estimated at $2400.

A user has donated 10% already to this feature.

Development will not commence until this project is fully funded.

Re: Clickable Email Links Funding Update (10%)

Submitted by chris (not verified) on Fri, 23/10/2009 - 16:00.

Put me down for 10% Cheers Chris

On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 3:24 PM, wrote:

> Hi everyone, > This very popular feature which will allow emails to be sent to customers, > suppliers etc at the click of a button with attached documents from the > associated customer or patient etc has been estimated at $2400. > A user has donated 10% already to this feature. > > Development will not commence until this project is fully funded. > _______________________________________________ > OpenVPMS User Mailing List > users@lists.openvpms.org > To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: > http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users > Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the > OpenVPMS User's forum- http://tinyurl.com/openvfu

Clickable Email Links Funding Update (30%)

Submitted by Matt C on Mon, 26/10/2009 - 22:43.

A user has contributed funds to this project!

Thanks for the support!

Development will not commence until the project is 100% funded.

Update: Clickable Email Links is in danger of Stalling!

Submitted by Matt C on Sun, 21/02/2010 - 22:20.

This development project is in danger of being re classified as Stalled if more funding is not pledged.

This was an active topic and it would be a shame to see it put on the back burner.

As one open vpms user once said, "If each project had 10 contributors the cost to each of us would be trivial..."
Wise words.

Matt C

Update: Clickable Email Links

Submitted by paradisevet (not verified) on Mon, 22/02/2010 - 13:31.

I thought this and SMS functionality had just been postponed while 1.4 was being developed due to insufficient time and then re-activated for 1.5 - definitely should be well up the list.

Nick

Re: Update: Clickable Email Links

Submitted by Matt C on Mon, 22/02/2010 - 20:00.

Hi Nick, Indeed these features are slated for 1.5 but they won't be there if we dont get full pledged funding...

Matt C

On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:31:22 +0000 (UTC), paradisevets@internode.on.net

wrote:

> I thought this and SMS functionality had just been postponed while 1.4 was

> being developed due to insufficient time and then re-activated for 1.5 - > definitely should be well up the list. > > Nick > _______________________________________________ > OpenVPMS User Mailing List > users@lists.openvpms.org > To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: > http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users > Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in the > OpenVPMS User's forum- http://tinyurl.com/openvfu >

Funding Update: Email enhancements stalled

Submitted by Matt C on Sat, 06/03/2010 - 00:08.

This project has been reclassified as “Stalled”. Further pledges are required to change the status back to “Sending Funding”. Pledges can be made to this forum or by emailing

op_funding@boroniavet.com.au

as % figures or exact dollar amounts. Invoices are not generated until the project is fully funded.

Emailing from client files

Submitted by bellvet on Mon, 16/08/2010 - 14:29.

Hi Matt,

I've just been searching on the forums to see what's happening with the emailing of patient docs. I'm trying to organise to email client pre-op information and it's very messy without this function in OpenVPMS. Can we pledge 10% to this project please.

Sandra.

Re: Emailing from client files

Submitted by Matt C on Mon, 16/08/2010 - 15:00.

Hi Sandra, The project is here http://www.openvpms.org/project/email-enhancements and was Stalled.

I have restored to Seeking Funding with new pledge included. Cheers. Matt C

On Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:29:10 +0000 (UTC), sandra@bellvet.com.au wrote:

> Hi Matt, > I've just been searching on the forums to see what's happening with > the emailing of patient docs. I'm trying to organise to email client > pre-op information and it's very messy without this function in > OpenVPMS. Can we pledge 10% to this project please. > Sandra. > _______________________________________________ > OpenVPMS User Mailing List > users@lists.openvpms.org > To unsubscribe or change your subscription visit: > http://lists.openvpms.org/listinfo/users > Posts from this mailing list can be viewed online and replied to in > the OpenVPMS User's forum- http://tinyurl.com/openvfu

Re: Emailing from client files

Submitted by Tony De Keizer (not verified) on Mon, 16/08/2010 - 16:00.

Hi Sandra,I think this would be a great enhancement and I was surprised when the project stalled.In the mean time you can preview documents in adobe reader and you should have a email button to press which will allow you to send the document directly via your local email client. The great benefit of having this directly in openVPMS will be you won't need an email client and the email address will be automatically filled in :-) CheersTony

Email enhancements (Funding Update 38%)

Submitted by Matt C on Sun, 13/11/2011 - 15:41.

A user has pledged funding for this project!
(38% funded. $1746 remaining)

Public pledges can be made to this forum topic or email me directly by clicking here (link only works in the forum).
Development will not commence until fully funded.

Matt C

Email enhancements (Funding Update 69%)

Submitted by Matt C on Mon, 14/11/2011 - 14:45.

A couple of users has pledged funding for this project!
(69% funded. $886 remaining)

Public pledges can be made to this forum topic or email me directly by clicking here (link only works in the forum).
Development will not commence until fully funded.

Matt C

Email enhancements (Funding Update 86%)

Submitted by Matt C on Mon, 14/11/2011 - 20:41.

A couple of users has pledged funding for this project!
(86.4% funded. $386 remaining!)

Cmon guys. We are close to this super awesome feature being in 1.6. Just afew more pledges.

Public pledges can be made to this forum topic or email me directly by clicking here (link only works in the forum).
Development will not commence until fully funded.

Matt C

Re: Email enhancements (Funding Update 86%)

Submitted by YarraRanges on Tue, 15/11/2011 - 09:48.

Matt,

I pledge 10% to this email enhancement

PAUL

Email enhancements (Funding Update 97%)

Submitted by Matt C on Tue, 15/11/2011 - 10:54.

Two more users have pledged funding for this project!
(97% funded. $84 remaining)

Public pledges can be made to this forum topic or email me directly by clicking here (link only works in the forum).
Development will not commence until fully funded.

Matt C

Re: Email enhancements (Funding Update 97%)

Submitted by activet on Wed, 16/11/2011 - 11:23.

We currently save a set of clients' email addresses and mobile numbers in Outlook's address book to facility sending SMS (via moible phone software) and emailing clients (via Outlook). I think this email enhancement within OpenVPMS would be great and definitely saves time when sending email to clients.

I'll contribute to the remaining 3% to get it through the line!

Regards,

Anthony (ActiVet)

Kind regards,

Anthony (ActiVet)

Re: Email enhancements (Funding Update 100%)

Submitted by Matt C on Wed, 16/11/2011 - 14:41.

It is done!

Email enhancements are in going to be in the application.

Can't wait.

Thanks everyone for the support.

Matt C

Email enhancements: Add On (Funding Update 100%)

Submitted by Matt C on Sun, 04/12/2011 - 08:44.

Hi everyone,

I note to let people know that there was an add on feature created for the Email Enhancements project.

http://www.openvpms.org/project/add-ability-documents-know-they-are-being-emailed

Currently documents such as medical records or certificates will be emailed exactly as they print out. For those of us that use stationery with letterhead, this means our email attachments will look a bit bare and have limited information to indicate where the generated documents came from.

There has been discussion about how we might include the ability for our templates to know they are being emailed. This will allow us to include elements in our documents that only appear if the document is being emailed. eg. Colour logos, text etc It should make our emailed histories look a lot more professional.

The development was costed at $520. A key group of pledgers have pitched in the funds to get it developed, but if you think this will be very useful in your clinic then you can still contribute!

Public pledges can be made to this forum topic or email me directly by clicking here (link only works in the forum).

Matt C

Emailing from client files

Submitted by bellvet on Tue, 17/08/2010 - 10:30.

Hi Tony,

I went to the patient file, clicked on the PDF icon to bring up the document and there is no email button, I have attached a picture of the window it came up in. Is the problem that it's not coming up in Adobe?

Sandra.

Attachment	Size
adobe.doc	156.5 KB

Emailing from client files

Submitted by tony on Tue, 17/08/2010 - 11:01.

Hi Sandra,

It is actually displaying in adobe but in the adobe plugin for Firefox which does not display menus and also your version of Adobe is different to mine. I have an email icon in the toolbar of the adobe plugin. You do not. To access the email function you need to get access to the File menu which is not visible in the plugin.

To resolve you need to Select Tools -> Options from the Firefox menu and then click on Applications and where it says Content Type = Adobe Acrobat change the action to "use Adobe Acrobat" rather than "Use Adobe Acrobat (In Firefox)" and then click OK.

From that point on when you click on a pdf file or preview any document the full acrobat window will appear and then you can access email from File -> Attach to Email...

You will need to have a email client setup on the login/PC you are working from for this to work of course.

Cheers

Tony