Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 19.07.2007 13:04:22 von collins.paulj

Hi All,

I have set up a process to send text and/or html email bodies with or
without text or binary attachments using Oracle's utl_smtp package.

The process works well when sending to a recipient using Outlook.
However, Yahoo mail shows there are attachments, but the actual
attachments are invisible. If I forward this to my account using
Outlook, then they can be found.

If I send anything to a Hotmail of Gmail account, then the attachments
are lost.

I think this is a smtp/mime problem, but I have been unable to find
anything to solve.

Can anyone give me any pointers?

Thanks,

Paul

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 20.07.2007 00:35:33 von Sam

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 22.07.2007 17:18:22 von Gretch

In news:1184843062.906137.41480@n60g2000hse.googlegroups.com,
collins.paulj@googlemail.com wrote:

> The process works well when sending to a recipient using Outlook.
> However, Yahoo mail shows there are attachments, but the actual
> attachments are invisible. If I forward this to my account using
> Outlook, then they can be found.
>
> If I send anything to a Hotmail of Gmail account, then the attachments
> are lost.
>
> I think this is a smtp/mime problem, but I have been unable to find
> anything to solve.
>
> Can anyone give me any pointers?

Please post the _complete_ headers of one such email, received where it
works and received where it doesn't work. Feel free to alter adresses,
servers and other personal info, but the rest will illustrate the problem.

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 01.08.2007 15:22:19 von collins.paulj

Sorry for the delay in posting the various email headers:-

This is the header from Outlook, where the attachments can be seen and
opened.

Microsoft Mail Internet Headers Version 2.0
Received: from smtp01.virtual-email.net ([111.222.333.444]) by
mailx02.virtual-email.net with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830);
Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:42:20 +0100
Received: from bh-1.nasstar.net ([89.28.233.120]) by smtp01.virtual-
email.net with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830);
Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:42:19 +0100
Received: from cluster-d.mailcontrol.com (cluster-d.mailcontrol.com
[217.69.20.190])
by bh-1.nasstar.net (MOS 3.8.2-GA)
with ESMTP id DKH30353;
Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:39:57 +0100 (BST)
Received: from outbound.mailhop.org (outbound.mailhop.org
[63.208.196.171])
by rly41d.srv.mailcontrol.com (MailControl) with ESMTP id
l719eUBM027709
(version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO)
for ; Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:40:32 +0100
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:40:32 +0100
Message-Id: <200708010940.l719eUBM027709@rly41d.srv.mailcontrol.com>
Received: from [111.222.333.444] (helo=outbound.mailhop.org)
by outbound.mailhop.org with esmtpa (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from )
id 1IGAgk-000Nzv-LF; Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:40:30 -0400
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1/6zVO+pcMxkQx+9OgcWTUNl2xmQdhh/6U=
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1+/suWykAWFvfIMDbVmKkchAjJtFe5mGEI=
X-Mail-Handler: MailHop Outbound by DynDNS
X-Originating-IP: 193.123.248.42
X-Report-Abuse-To: abuse@dyndns.com (see http://www.mailhop.org/outbound/abuse.html
for abuse reporting information)
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX18tkIGJEQIDQueJravkGkJ+fZA8wKy9d+Q=
From: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
To: collins_paulj@xxxxxx.com
Cc: paul@xxxxxx.com
Reply-To: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
Subject: Full Test
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
boundary="-----7D81B75CCC90D2974F7A1CBD"
X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP
X-Mailcontrol-Inbound:
0mKVqPrZj8y2Aur0bsHbvqHjKxEY5HW1vUlsa3ZJgMhvxzkWHI8mnA==
X-Scanned-By: MailControl A-07-08-00 (www.mailcontrol.com) on
10.68.0.151
Return-Path: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 Aug 2007 09:42:19.0760 (UTC)
FILETIME=[40FB4700:01C7D420]

This is the header from hotmail, where no attachments can be seen.

X-Originating-IP: 111.222.333.444
Received: from outbound.mailhop.org ([63.208.196.171]) by bay0-mc6-
f13.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2668); Wed, 1 Aug
2007 02:40:30 -0700
Received: from [111.222.333.444] (helo=outbound.mailhop.org)by
outbound.mailhop.org with esmtpa (Exim 4.63)(envelope-from
)id 1IGAgk-000Nzv-LF; Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:40:30
-0400
X-Message-Info: oG9qAjD2BNHIU0Kap5hUtDaXZQUJEL9g7igX1DlbF
+iz8LI1dnxPTuxNe9WNok9O
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1/6zVO+pcMxkQx+9OgcWTUNl2xmQdhh/6U=
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1+/suWykAWFvfIMDbVmKkchAjJtFe5mGEI=
X-Mail-Handler: MailHop Outbound by DynDNS
X-Report-Abuse-To: abuse@dyndns.com (see http://www.mailhop.org/outbound/abuse.html
for abuse reporting information)
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX18tkIGJEQIDQueJravkGkJ+fZA8wKy9d+Q=
X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP
Return-Path: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 Aug 2007 09:40:30.0845 (UTC)
FILETIME=[00102AD0:01C7D420]

------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------

View E-mail Message Source
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
boundary="-----7D81B75CCC90D2974F7A1CBD"

Content-Type: text/plain
--msg-----7D81B75CCC90D2974F7A1CBD

Test plain text
--msg-----7D81B75CCC90D2974F7A1CBD

This is the header from Yahoo, where an attachment icon is displayed,
but the individual attachments cannot be seen or downloaded.

X-Apparently-To: collins_paulj@xxxxxx.co.uk via 217.146.189.97; Wed,
01 Aug 2007 09:40:33 +0000
X-Originating-IP: [63.208.196.171]
Return-Path:
Authentication-Results: mta137.mail.ukl.yahoo.com from=hireserve.com;
domainkeys=neutral (no sig)
Received: from 63.208.196.171 (EHLO outbound.mailhop.org)
(63.208.196.171) by mta137.mail.ukl.yahoo.com with SMTP; Wed, 01 Aug
2007 09:40:32 +0000
Received: from [111.222.333.444] (helo=outbound.mailhop.org) by
outbound.mailhop.org with esmtpa (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from
) id 1IGAgk-000Nzv-LF; Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:40:30
-0400
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1/6zVO+pcMxkQx+9OgcWTUNl2xmQdhh/6U=
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1+/suWykAWFvfIMDbVmKkchAjJtFe5mGEI=
X-Mail-Handler: MailHop Outbound by DynDNS
X-Originating-IP: 111.222.333.444
X-Report-Abuse-To: abuse@dyndns.com (see http://www.mailhop.org/outbound/abuse.html
for abuse reporting information)
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX18tkIGJEQIDQueJravkGkJ+fZA8wKy9d+Q=
From: jeremy@xxxxxx.com View Contact Details
To: collins_paulj@xxxxxx.com
CC: paul@xxxxxx.com
Reply-to: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
Subject: Full Test
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
boundary="-----7D81B75CCC90D2974F7A1CBD"
X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP
Content-Length: 229229

If any more info is needed, please let me know.

Thanks,

Paul

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 01.08.2007 16:56:40 von Frank Slootweg

collins.paulj@googlemail.com wrote:
> Sorry for the delay in posting the various email headers:-

I'm sure that more expert opinions will follow, but I see that in all
cases the headers are missing the mandatory

> Mime-Version: 1.0

header. So they're not valid MIME messages, so all bets are off. That
Outlook displays them 'correctly' is no surprise. Microsoft is known not
to follow standards, so displaying something it shouldn't is just yet
another case of breaking standards.

So, as Sam already hinted at, I think it's safe to blame this mailer
for your problems:

> X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP

[rest deleted]

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 01.08.2007 20:10:06 von Mark Crispin

On Wed, 1 Aug 2007, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> I'm sure that more expert opinions will follow, but I see that in all
> cases the headers are missing the mandatory
>> Mime-Version: 1.0
> header. So they're not valid MIME messages, so all bets are off. That
> Outlook displays them 'correctly' is no surprise. Microsoft is known not
> to follow standards, so displaying something it shouldn't is just yet
> another case of breaking standards.

Yes, and there is now a lot of pressure being placed on MIME software
developers to disregard the MIME-Version header requirement.

Consequently, newer versions of the UW IMAP software treat any
Content-Type header which has a "/" in its contents as flagging MIME, even
if MIME-Version is absent. I didn't like doing it, but there were just
too many ongoing complaints about "not recognizing HTML emails".

Damn. I knew that this was going to bite us. It was a terrible mistake
to reuse the Content-Type header for MIME.

Don't just blame Microsoft. The Hall of Shame must also include Apple,
SUN, and Netscape. They all do the same thing.

If anything, I have found Microsoft's minions to be somewhat *more*
willing to fix bugs than those at the little evil empires, once you
identify the correct minion.

-- Mark --

http://panda.com/mrc
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to eat for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 01.08.2007 20:53:23 von Frank Slootweg

Mark Crispin wrote:
> On Wed, 1 Aug 2007, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> > I'm sure that more expert opinions will follow, but I see that in all
> > cases the headers are missing the mandatory
> >> Mime-Version: 1.0
> > header. So they're not valid MIME messages, so all bets are off. That
> > Outlook displays them 'correctly' is no surprise. Microsoft is known not
> > to follow standards, so displaying something it shouldn't is just yet
> > another case of breaking standards.
>
> Yes, and there is now a lot of pressure being placed on MIME software
> developers to disregard the MIME-Version header requirement.
>
> Consequently, newer versions of the UW IMAP software treat any
> Content-Type header which has a "/" in its contents as flagging MIME, even
> if MIME-Version is absent. I didn't like doing it, but there were just
> too many ongoing complaints about "not recognizing HTML emails".

But that still means that the OP's *sending* (MUA/MSA/MTA/)
software is broken, right?

I.e. be strict in what you send (i.e. in this case "Oracle's utl_smtp
package") and liberal in what you accept (i.e. UW IMAP in your example).

> Damn. I knew that this was going to bite us. It was a terrible mistake
> to reuse the Content-Type header for MIME.

You mean going from RFC 1049 ("A CONTENT-TYPE HEADER FIELD FOR
INTERNET MESSAGES") to RFC 1341 (MIME), right?

[deleted]

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 01.08.2007 23:10:36 von Mark Crispin

On Wed, 1 Aug 2007, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> But that still means that the OP's *sending* (MUA/MSA/MTA/)
> software is broken, right?

Correct.

> I.e. be strict in what you send (i.e. in this case "Oracle's utl_smtp
> package") and liberal in what you accept (i.e. UW IMAP in your example).

No, because in this case what is being accepted is NON-COMPLIANT.

The "be liberal" part of Postel's robustness principle is commonly
misinterpreted as meaning "accept garbage because some crapware accepts
it." I knew Jon Postel; he NEVER advocated that software accept
non-compliant input.

Postel's "be liberal" part meant "accept everything that is valid in the
specification, even if it is some obscure aspect that nobody is likely to
use"; the corresponding "be conservative" part was "don't use obscure
aspects of a specification that nobody else uses."

The problem with being compliant is that not accepting the non-compliant
garbage leads to FUD. Even though you are compliant and the crapware is
not, the users are made to believe that the crapware is correct and the
compliant software is not.

Sadly, fewer and fewer people these days uphold specification compliance.
It's much easier to go with the flow and accept garbage. Linux software
is as guilty as proprietary software in this regard.

>> Damn. I knew that this was going to bite us. It was a terrible mistake
>> to reuse the Content-Type header for MIME.
> You mean going from RFC 1049 ("A CONTENT-TYPE HEADER FIELD FOR
> INTERNET MESSAGES") to RFC 1341 (MIME), right?

Correct.

-- Mark --

http://panda.com/mrc
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to eat for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.

Re: Attachments Not Always Appearing

am 02.08.2007 00:33:31 von Sam

This is a MIME GnuPG-signed message. If you see this text, it means that
your E-mail or Usenet software does not support MIME signed messages.
The Internet standard for MIME PGP messages, RFC 2015, was published in 1996.
To open this message correctly you will need to install E-mail or Usenet
software that supports modern Internet standards.

--=_mimegpg-commodore.email-scan.com-21583-1186007610-0011
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

collins.paulj@googlemail.com writes:

> This is the header from hotmail, where no attachments can be seen.
>
> X-Originating-IP: 111.222.333.444
> Received: from outbound.mailhop.org ([63.208.196.171]) by bay0-mc6-
> f13.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2668); Wed, 1 Aug
> 2007 02:40:30 -0700
> Received: from [111.222.333.444] (helo=outbound.mailhop.org)by
> outbound.mailhop.org with esmtpa (Exim 4.63)(envelope-from
> )id 1IGAgk-000Nzv-LF; Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:40:30
> -0400
> X-Message-Info: oG9qAjD2BNHIU0Kap5hUtDaXZQUJEL9g7igX1DlbF
> +iz8LI1dnxPTuxNe9WNok9O
> X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1/6zVO+pcMxkQx+9OgcWTUNl2xmQdhh/6U=
> X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1+/suWykAWFvfIMDbVmKkchAjJtFe5mGEI=
> X-Mail-Handler: MailHop Outbound by DynDNS
> X-Report-Abuse-To: abuse@dyndns.com (see http://www.mailhop.org/outbound/abuse.html
> for abuse reporting information)
> X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX18tkIGJEQIDQueJravkGkJ+fZA8wKy9d+Q=
> X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP
> Return-Path: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 Aug 2007 09:40:30.0845 (UTC)
> FILETIME=[00102AD0:01C7D420]

These sets of header do not specify any kind of any attachment, whatsoever,
anywhere. Period.

> X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP

Call Oracle, and tell them to get the hell of the Internet, and don't come
back until they have a clue.

> This is the header from Yahoo, where an attachment icon is displayed,
> but the individual attachments cannot be seen or downloaded.
>
> X-Apparently-To: collins_paulj@xxxxxx.co.uk via 217.146.189.97; Wed,
> 01 Aug 2007 09:40:33 +0000
> X-Originating-IP: [63.208.196.171]
> Return-Path:
> Authentication-Results: mta137.mail.ukl.yahoo.com from=hireserve.com;
> domainkeys=neutral (no sig)
> Received: from 63.208.196.171 (EHLO outbound.mailhop.org)
> (63.208.196.171) by mta137.mail.ukl.yahoo.com with SMTP; Wed, 01 Aug
> 2007 09:40:32 +0000
> Received: from [111.222.333.444] (helo=outbound.mailhop.org) by
> outbound.mailhop.org with esmtpa (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from
> ) id 1IGAgk-000Nzv-LF; Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:40:30
> -0400
> X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1/6zVO+pcMxkQx+9OgcWTUNl2xmQdhh/6U=
> X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1+/suWykAWFvfIMDbVmKkchAjJtFe5mGEI=
> X-Mail-Handler: MailHop Outbound by DynDNS
> X-Originating-IP: 111.222.333.444
> X-Report-Abuse-To: abuse@dyndns.com (see http://www.mailhop.org/outbound/abuse.html
> for abuse reporting information)
> X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX18tkIGJEQIDQueJravkGkJ+fZA8wKy9d+Q=
> From: jeremy@xxxxxx.com View Contact Details
> To: collins_paulj@xxxxxx.com
> CC: paul@xxxxxx.com
> Reply-to: jeremy@xxxxxx.com
> Subject: Full Test
> Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
> boundary="-----7D81B75CCC90D2974F7A1CBD"
> X-Mailer: Mailer by Oracle UTL_SMTP
> Content-Length: 229229
>
> If any more info is needed, please let me know.

Missing Mime-Version: header.

--=_mimegpg-commodore.email-scan.com-21583-1186007610-0011
Content-Type: application/pgp-signature
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQBGsQo6x9p3GYHlUOIRApHDAJwJNENpVZyeXf4RRQ8dA3B/qkeqdgCg gQit
aFyu2iL5KgpN7k95gPekws0=
=UiAl
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

--=_mimegpg-commodore.email-scan.com-21583-1186007610-0011--