Re: How to send dynamic emails?

["Larry Helms" <larr_helms@xxxxxxxxx>]

What I would do is:

1. Create a 'template file'... something like:

      __TODAY__

      Invoice #: __INVOICE_NUMBER__
         Amount: __INV_AMT__ (__CURRENCY__)

      etc... etc... etc...

2. Then in your Invoice Processing routine, read the whole
   template file into a string.

      $template = file_get_contents ($template_file_name);
      // file_get_contents is a standard PHP function.

3. For each invoice:

      $invoices = db_get_invoices ($todays_date);

      // Your db routine should return an array of invoice 
      // numbers.  I'm assuming that invoices are generated
      // daily, hence the use of 'todays_date' a variable 
      // containing todays date... in whatever format you
      // prefer to use.  You might even consider making the
      // routine NOT require the date, and defaulting
      // to todays date, if none is passed.

      foreach ($invoices as &$invoice_number)
      {
         $text = '';
         $isok = format_invoice ($template, $invoice_number, $text);

         if ( $isok )
         {
            $isok = output_invoice ($text);

            if ( ! $isok )
            {
               // handle errors appropiately... 
               // write to log file or something.
            }
         }
         else
         {
            // handle errors appropiately... 
            // write to log file or something.
         }
      }

      // The function format_invoice should be written in
      // such a manner that it looks up all the necessary
      // information from the database and performs multiple
      // str_replaces... until all dynamic fields in the
      // template have been replaced with actual values.
      // The WHOLE thing is then returned to the calling
      // routine where it is handled appropriately.
      
      // The function output_invoice might then append the 
      // contents (e.g. the invoice) to a file, which is
      // then later printed... and then the invoices
      // snail mailed to customers... it all depends on what
      // you intend on doing with

format_invoice might look something like this:

      format_invoice ($template, $invoice_number, &$text)
      {
         $isok = true;

         $isok = db_lookup_invoice ($invoice_number, $invoice_values);

         // db_lookup_invoice returns an array of ALL the values 
         // associated with a particular invoice number

         if ( $isok )
         {
            $rtn_str = $template;

            $rtn_str = str_replace ('__TODAY__', $todays_date, $rtn_str);
            $rtn_str = str_replace ('__INVOICE_NUMBER__', $invoice_number, $rtn_str);
            $rtn_str = str_replace ('__INV_AMT__', $invoice_values['amount'], $rtn_str);
            $rtn_str = str_replate ('__CURRENCY__', $invoice_values['currency'], $rtn_str);
            .
            .
            .
            $text = $rtn_str;          // put the rtn_str into $text where
                                       // the calling routine will have
                                       // access to it.
         }

         return $isok;                 // return a success status to calling routine
                                       // tells the calling routine whether THIS routine
                                       // succeeded or not.
      }