Manage Email Signatures Centrally - For All Users

Neil Jordan · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: Remote users

I seem to have problems still with my remote laptops. Some time ago, with the issues to connecting remotely to the Exchange information I set up duplicate signatures for our remote workers, who connect via a VPN to use a connection to an MS database instead.

As it stands, if I try the update via the VPN it seems to pause for ages before supposedly completed, but doesn't update. If Debug is on, I don't seem to get any output.

Where I have just checked the connection, after re-verifying I have got the error: "Cannot save this data source. Most like the field 'custom_str5' in table 'General' needs to be changes to type 'MEMO' or expanded otherwise. Please contact your database administrator.

I thought I would try to get it working as the laptop is here at the moment, and ran the file to update via our wireless, and seem to get strange results. The main sig is often set up but without the fields populated, whereas the reply one is ok. I can't seem to delete all the signatures even when I untick the option in Cockpit!

The remote users have always had problems, but I have never got to the bottom of it. As they are down Tue/Wed next week, I would like to sort it out.

Thanks

Last Log file on Server:
---------------- eMailSignature LOG file -------------------
- Started at 20/03/2008 18:00:38
- sign.exe version 4.9.2 has been run for this user.
------------------------------------------------------------

Connection string to settings database:
Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=\\server1\programs\eMailSignature\settings.mdb
20/03/2008 18:00:38 Begin finding user DN
User path: GC://DC=magiglo,DC=local
20/03/2008 18:00:39 End Finddistinguishedname
User: JohnL (CN=John Lavery,OU=SBSUsers,OU=Users,OU=MyBusiness,DC=magiglo,DC=local)
20/03/2008 18:00:39 License Key valid. Licensed version detected. No modules. License issued to Magiglo (UK) for 40 users.
Domain root set to GC://DC=magiglo,DC=local
Distinguished name set to CN=John Lavery,OU=SBSUsers,OU=Users,OU=MyBusiness,DC=magiglo,DC=local

------------------- Signatures to deploy: -------------------
Default signature: Magiglo Remote Signature
Reply/forward signature: Magiglo Remote Reply Signature
Signatures to deploy: Magiglo Remote Reply Signature,Magiglo Remote Signature
Origin ID (Internal): 3

-------------------------------------------------------------
Office version 2007 detected.
There will be deployed 2 signatures.

-> Signature Magiglo Remote Reply Signature in htm format (20/03/2008 18:00:40)
Number of parameters in signature: 4
Database provider 'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4...' (Not showing full path)
Data will be read from table/view user list
4 parameters found
Signature source:
 
<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>((Full Name)) ((Title)) 
 Mobile: ((Mobile number)) </TD>
<TD background="">
</TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD height=10> </TD>
<TD width=210 height=10>  </TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#cccccc></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Signature result:
 
<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>John Lavery Area Sales Manager 
 Mobile: 07811 952619 </TD>
<TD background="">
</TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD height=10> </TD>
<TD width=210 height=10>  </TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#cccccc></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

-> Signature Magiglo Remote Reply Signature in rtf format (20/03/2008 18:00:41)
Number of parameters in signature: 2
Database provider 'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4...' (Not showing full path)
Data will be read from table/view user list
Data source pool data reused because the same data source is used for this signature.OK
Signature source:
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f1\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}}
{\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;}
{\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.21.2507;}\viewkind4\uc1\par \sa240\f0\fs20\line\line\b ((Full Name))\line\cf1\b0 ((Title))\par
\par \sb100\sa100\cf0\f1\fs24\par
\par \f0\fs20
}

Signature result:
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f1\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}}
{\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;}
{\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.21.2507;}\viewkind4\uc1\par \sa240\f0\fs20\line\line\b \line\cf1\b0 \par
\par \sb100\sa100\cf0\f1\fs24\par
\par \f0\fs20
}

-> Signature Magiglo Remote Reply Signature in txt format (20/03/2008 18:00:42)
Number of parameters in signature: 2
Database provider 'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4...' (Not showing full path)
Data will be read from table/view user list
Data source pool data reused because the same data source is used for this signature.OK
Signature source:

((Full Name))
((Title))

Signature result:

-> Signature Magiglo Remote Signature in htm format (20/03/2008 18:00:42)
Number of parameters in signature: 4
Database provider 'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4...' (Not showing full path)
Data will be read from table/view user list
Data source pool data reused because the same data source is used for this signature.OK
Campaign PLUS Range Release has run out 19 day(s) ago
Signature source:
 
<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>((Full Name)) ((Title)) 
 </TD>
<TD background="">
<IMG height=52 alt="" src="http://www.magiglo.co.uk/images/emailSignature/emailLogo.jpg" width=127 border=0></TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD height=10> </TD>
<TD width=210 height=10>  </TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#cccccc>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid">
Magiglo Ltd, Lysander Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2YJ, UK Tel: 01843 602863 Fax: 01843 860108</TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid">
<IMG height=37 alt="" src="http://www.magiglo.co.uk/images/emailSignature/webadd.jpg" width=179 border=0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Signature result:
 
<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD> 
 </TD>
<TD background="">
<IMG height=52 alt="" src="http://www.magiglo.co.uk/images/emailSignature/emailLogo.jpg" width=127 border=0></TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD height=10> </TD>
<TD width=210 height=10>  </TD></TR>
<TR bgColor=#cccccc>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid">
Magiglo Ltd, Lysander Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2YJ, UK Tel: 01843 602863 Fax: 01843 860108</TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid">
<IMG height=37 alt="" src="http://www.magiglo.co.uk/images/emailSignature/webadd.jpg" width=179 border=0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

-> Signature Magiglo Remote Signature in rtf format (20/03/2008 18:00:43)
Number of parameters in signature: 3
Database provider 'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4...' (Not showing full path)
Data will be read from table/view user list
Data source pool data reused because the same data source is used for this signature.OK
Signature source:
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f1\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f2\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}}
{\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;\red178\green178\blue178;}
{\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\par \f0\fs24\par
\par
\par \sa240\cf1\b\f1\fs20 ((Full Name))\cf2\line\cf1\b0 ((Title))\par
\par \sb100\sa100\cf2 Mobile: ((Mobile Number))\par
\fs18 Magiglo Ltd, Lysander Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2YJ, UK\line Tel:\~01843 602863\~Fax: 01843 860108\cf0\f2\fs24\par
\par
\par \f1
}

Signature result:
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f1\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f2\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}}
{\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;\red178\green178\blue178;}
{\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\par \f0\fs24\par
\par
\par \sa240\cf1\b\f1\fs20 \cf2\line\cf1\b0 \par
\par \sb100\sa100\cf2 Mobile: \par
\fs18 Magiglo Ltd, Lysander Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2YJ, UK\line Tel:\~01843 602863\~Fax: 01843 860108\cf0\f2\fs24\par
\par
\par \f1
}

-> Signature Magiglo Remote Signature in txt format (20/03/2008 18:00:43)
Number of parameters in signature: 3
Database provider 'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4...' (Not showing full path)
Data will be read from table/view user list
Data source pool data reused because the same data source is used for this signature.OK
Signature source:

((Full Name))
((Title))

Mobile: ((Mobile Number))

Magiglo Ltd, Lysander Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2YJ, UK
Tel: 01843 602863 Fax: 01843 860108

Signature result:

Mobile:

Magiglo Ltd, Lysander Close, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2YJ, UK
Tel: 01843 602863 Fax: 01843 860108
------------------------------------------------------------
Word as Editor is accepted. Default mail editor is left unchanged.
Stationery deleted.
Outlook 2007: Stationary Removed.
Office version 2003: Send font set to Tahoma.
Outlook 2007: Send font set to Tahoma.
Default Profile: Default
Profile 1, Outlook 2007: New Signature set to Magiglo Remote Signature
Profile 2, Outlook 2007: New Signature set to Magiglo Remote Signature
Outlook settings changed successfully.
No pictures found in the database to embed in Outlook.
-------------- eMailSignature END LOG file -----------------
- Finalised at 20/03/2008 18:00:44
------------------------------------------------------------
Status: OK

Jesper Frier · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:09 am Post subject:

There is no general problem with remote users using VPN, as long as they have access to your data source (AD) and your settings DB (settings.mdb) during logon.

You have removed the file path in your post.
Please use UNC path and make sure you execute Sign.exe as the last line in your logon script.

Please post the line where you execute Sign.exe here.
Try manually execute only this line to troubleshoot any logon script issues.

Neil Jordan · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:28 am Post subject:

I haven't removed any file paths from my posting.

Since they are VPN users they do not have a login script, instead, they are directed to a batch file that they have to run manually:

@echo off
echo Setting time
net time \\server1 /set

echo setting drive mappings
net use f: \\server1\programs
net use g: \\server2\programs
net use h: \\server1\data
net use i: \\server1\installs
net use m: \\server3\dynshare

echo set EMailSignature settings
start \\server1\NETLOGON\sign.exe Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=\\server1\programs\eMailSignature\settings.mdb

Jesper Frier · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

So you are using an Access DB data source for your VPN users.

Can you preview your signatures using this data source?

Then execute only this line and post log ...

Neil Jordan · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

Yes, I am having to use an Access DB for my remote users, as we discussed ages ago, otherwise they can't remotely query the AD.

In running the command via a batch file, it seems to pause for ages trying to run the command, with the settings.mdb file open.

When I run it from a command line, the focus returns back to the command line fairly quickly, but it opens the sign.exe and the source database, which seems to take the time, considering this is a large mdb file. After ages, with fairly minimal vpn traffic, and if I am lucky, I get a small dialog box up entitled "eMailSignature" with a cross icon and simply an OK button - but without an error and seldom any log produced.

I guess the only real option would be to try/use an SQL back end?

Observations on Version 5 client:
To be honest, I think the UI of this is a step back too far. The Home link is too hidden, as now are some of the options like viewing the Status Monitor and Licences etc. Various other issues of slow responses etc. If I change to the Large Icons view, when I reload, they are reset back to small ones. I really feel that the interface on this is letting the product down - there are too many hidden options and it just isn't consistent or stable enough, nor does it often refresh when it should (assigning signatures to specific users for example doesn't refresh the list above when you save it). I also think that the "bitty" nature of when secondary windows open up for options just feels wrong.

Neil Jordan · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject:

It finally worked ok, but took 45 minutes from the start to the end of the log. I think in fact it took time to even get to that stage.

End result worked, but slightly too long Confused

Jesper Frier · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

Hi Neil,

Appreciate your input regarding version 5 ... just sorry you are not happy with the UI ... Confused

I am sure we will use your input in the next release.

The coming months will show if new customers find the UI more intuitive and easier to get started ... Cool