Verify an email has been read

Hello,

Towards the bottom of my message, you'll find another option, so read it through.

But, first, I'll address the Return Receipt feature you specifically mention.

Mail does not have a return receipt function. And, for the most part, it wouldn't do you any good if it did have one.

The reason is that it is up to the receiving e-mail program (more specifically the user) to return the receipt. So, unless they specifically have their program set to do it automatically, then they will be asked each time and given the opportunity to decline.

I have received several e-mails over the years that had return receipt attached to them.

Each time, my e-mail program asked me if I wanted to acknowledge that I had received them. In almost every case, I chose "No".

The only time I will click on the "Yes" button, is when I am in the middle of a business transaction with that person, and I feel it is important to let them know that I received the message.

Otherwise, I feel it is a bit of an invasion to expect this return receipt.

I know that if my e-mail program tells you that I have received the e-mail, that you will then expect an immediate reply.

But, I may not be prepared to immediately reply to your question. Perhaps I need some time to think about it.

But, because my e-mail program told you I opened the message, I know that you are now expecting an immediate reply. And, if I wait for several hours or a day to reply, then you will feel like I'm ignoring your message.

If you just don't know whether I've received your message yet, then you won't be sitting there anxiously awaiting my reply and feeling like I'm neglecting you.

So, with that in mind, I will always elect not to acknowledge receiving the message when it comes in (unless I feel it important to do so). And, I'll reply to the message when I feel that I have gotten my thoughts together enough to reply properly.

But, with all that said, there are two methods to verify that a message has been sent. Not received, but sent:

1) Activity Viewer

In Mail, go to the "Windows" menu, and click "Activity Viewer". You will now be able to see every send, receive, and other operation that is going on at the moment.

2) Blind Carbon Copy (BCC)

Start a new message, and then go to the "View" menu.

Now, select "Bcc Address Field"

This will give you the BCC address box in your messages from now on.

Anytime you place an address in the BCC field, the message will also be sent to that address. But, the receiver will not see that address in their copy. This is often used to send messages to multiple people without the headers revealing that other people received it (and keeps the address private).

So, place your own address in this box, and you'll get a copy of it (without the message revealing that you also sent it to yourself).

Now you'll know for sure that it did send because you'll receive a copy.

Now, this doesn't prove that they received it. Some server along the way could still lose it.

But, you will know for absolute certain that you sent it.


Hope this helps.

OK guys, here is something that you may like. Please copy the following text into the Applescript editor, compile it and run it and have fun with all those nice return receipts ...

Ody

(*
This script is based upon the Standard Apple Script "Create New Mail" located in the folder
/library/scripts/Mail Scripts. I have deleted the unneccesary parts (at least for this purpose).

The script assumes that you multiple mail identities (accounts), so as in the original script,
the modified script asks you to select the account from which the email should be sent.
The rest of the script I've either deleted or is pretty much the same as the original.

The only "innovation" you see in line 22. Since we know the sender through the selection procedure,
I afterwards added a new line "\n" and then the required headerline (Disposition-Noticiation-To:)
together with the senders email that we already know. Please take care that theSender that
comes out of your address book doesn't contain single or double quotation marks. In this case
the mail will be sent out but the recipient will see no receipt request. When you compile this routine
- what you definitely have to do - you will see that "\n" vanished and the rest of the former line
(Disposition-Notification-To ...) is now in line 23. Don't worry the \n that forces a new line in the outgoing
mail is still there and active.

Now you have to add a new rule to mark the mails where you have requested a Notification.

Within "Create New Rules" you have to edit the header and add a new Headertype named
"Disposition-Notification-To". The rule is simple: if a mail contains an @-sign in this headerline
colour it as you like. Now you not only will see within your sent items the mails where you have
requested a return receipt from addressee but also in the Inbox the mails where the sender
asks you send him a return receipt

After the script has been compiled and saved you can run it from within the editor. You will se blank
email window poping up. Now just write your email select the addressee and that's it.

The script below is an example for "New Email & Receipt" If you want to be perfect you can do the
same with "Answer & Receipt", "Answer to All & Receipt" and "Forward & Receipt" and by using iKey2
or something similar you can run those scripts from an external menu or Hot-key. If you like you can
try to start the script(s) from within Mail Act-On. But my Apple Mail always crashes when I tried to do this.

This has been tested on Intel Mac under 10.4.7 together with Exchange 2003 and Exim as a Mailserver

Good luck - Ody

*)


tell application "Mail"
set listOfSenders to {}
set everyAccount to every account
repeat with eachAccount in everyAccount
set everyEmailAddress to email addresses of eachAccount
if (everyEmailAddress is not equal to missing value) then
repeat with eachEmailAddress in everyEmailAddress
set listOfSenders to listOfSenders & {(full name of eachAccount & " <"Which account would you like to send this message from?" without multiple selections allowed
if theResult is not equal to false then
set theSender to item 1 of theResult
tell application "Mail"
set newMessage to make new outgoing message with properties {}
tell newMessage
set visible to true
set sender to theSender & "\nDisposition-Notification-To: " & theSender
end tell
activate
end tell
end if<br>
iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod Video 60GB Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Hi a4wien,

Mail.app does not have a "return receipt" option. Here is a thread which may shed some light on the "how do I know" question.

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2488919#2488919

Even on the applications that do provide for return receipt, it seems that it it up to the recipient to respond to the request. So, no fail-safe way to determine except maybe a followup email or phone call.

As a matter of fact, as you probably know, Mail.app provides for a "bounce"

I often open a questionable email, read it, then mark it unread and then bounce it!

Good Luck,
John