Wondering if anyone has come across anything like this.
For example if I send it a email with a query/name in the subject (i.e. Send Me:XXXX), I would like it to look up the name in a database and repond with information about XXXX. All of the information wiill be populated in the database prior.
Primarily this will be used when access to a computer is difficult.
We can't make this a web site due to security policies/restrictions.
Thanks for the response Peter.
To further clarify my needs;
If possible this would be a "service" based, such that a user does not have to be logged in with a program running. Also ideally it would be a dynamic system that could query a database, so it would alleviate the need to setup static responses.
Youd have to be very careful about programming this so it doesnt open up sql injection attacks and the like, which is more than likely what the security policies are trying to protect you from.
in unix/linux this would be very easy with a procmail recipe to fire off to another program to do the work.
We use a system of scheduled tasks and VB scripts integrated with a SQL server back end to do something along those lines.
The scripts process incoming emails based on subject line - in some cases calling stored procedures within our SQL database (via ADODB) to import the relevant bits of information into our CRM database.
We don't actually automatically reply to the emails currently, but this could easily be incorporated into the stored procedures if required.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I had a feeling that it probaly would have to be a custom made process. I prefer to stay away from those types of solutions since they usually are harder to upkeep when people leave.
As for the SQL injection, we will more than likely end up parsing the subject line to make sure it does not have SQL or unautorized commands in it. I guess that would be one advantage of making your own system.