I was looking for a free tool to send single HTML e-mails to multiple recipients, something like MailReactor but with HTML support.
I decided to use Blat, which perfectly fits my needs but unfortunately is a commandline tool. After some time I grew tired of editing batch files, so I decided to make a GUI for Blat.
2. Download
As Blat is free
this package also includes the original Blat, so you only have to download once.to modify, redistribute, hoard, or even sell Blat in its executable or source form
Unicode (NT/2000/XP/Vista)
ANSI (95/98/ME)
Source
3. Installation (tested v. 0.0.0.2 beta)
You guessed it: extract to a folder of your choice.
If you really want to "install" it you can right-click on a *.sbc file generated by any "Save" or "Save to" operation, choose "Open with" and define SimpleBlatGUI as standard.
4. Usage
I still have to find a decent chm compiler before I can add a help file, but for now the GUI should be self-explanatory enough. If you know what "from", "to" and "server" means you're pretty much ready to use it.
Basically it's a three-step-process:
1) Fill in the necessary form fields
2) Press "Create" to create the command line (you can still edit)
3) Press "Send" to send the command to Blat
The GUI provides easy access to the most important features of Blat, but deliberately not all. If you are a sophisticated user you might want to check out the Blat Syntax. Any function supported by Blat can be used by adding the right argument (tab "Options" -> "arguments").
5. Stealth
Blat itself is able to store profiles (e-mail address, server, port) in the registry for frequent use, but that's not mandatory.
The GUI does not use the registry or user folder. I recently discovered that an included UDF makes use of the user's temporary directory. Maybe I will adapt that Function later, for now you could avoid writing to %temp% by not using the IP look-up function (tab "Options" -> "host" -> button "Info").
6. Portability
I wouldn't dare posting here if not
7. Internet Activity
Provided you filled out all the necessary form fields correctly, Blat.exe will connect to the internet as soon as you hit "Send".
SimpleBlatGUI.exe usually does not connect to the Internet. If you use the server info or host info function though, it will do so to get that data.
8. Security
To find out more about Blat's GSS encryption try their Yahoo Discussion List.
You are able to save your different configurations to multiple *.sbc files. SimpleBlatGUI uses RC4 encryption for passwords.
9. License
For Blat's license read here.
SimpleBlatGUI is completely free to use, you can modify and redistribute it, print the source and wrap your cat in it, but by doing so you accept that I cannot be hold responsible for any harm done.
The only limitation in each license is that both Blat and SimpleBlatGUI cannot be used to send spam.
Keep that in mind before you start crapping into other peoples mailboxesUse of this software to send unsolicited commercial eMail constitutes an agreement to pay each of the authors $10,000.
10. Bugs
SimpleBlatGUI was thoroughly tested... by myself. And only on XP. I don't expect any major bugs, but I depend on you folks to find that out, especially regarding non-XP-systems.
11. To Do
+ Add form field for delay
+ Batch file export
+ Language support
12. How you could help
1) Try SimpleBlatGUI and tell me if anything doesn't work as expected.
2) Make a wish. If there is a feature you are missing, tell me. If it's useful, possible and not too hard I will implement it. I will not change the original Blat.exe, though.
3) It's too early for language support, but once it's implemented, I will definitely need your help with translations.
Thank you in advance for your feedback!