Sending emails in asp.net using SMTP server settings from web.config - Part 78

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Part 77 - Sending emails using asp.net

In the previous session, we discussed about sending emails using asp.net. All the SMTP server settings were configured in code. In this session, we will discuss about specifying these settings in web.config file.



Web.config settings for SMTP server. All the attributes here are self explanatory.
<system.net>
  <mailSettings>
    <smtp deliveryMethod="Network" >
      <network host="smtp.gmail.com" enableSsl="true" port="587"
        userName="your_email@gmail.com" password="your_password"/>
    </smtp>
  </mailSettings>
</system.net>



Since the SMTP server settings are now configured in web.config. In code all you have to do is
1. Create an instance of the MailMessage class. Specify the FROM & TO email address, subject and Body
2. Create an instance of SmtpClient class, and send the email using Send() method. The SMTP settings will be automatically picked up from web.config file, when sending email.

SendEmail() method code
public static void SendEmail(string emailbody)
{
    // Specify the from and to email address
    MailMessage mailMessage = new MailMessage
        ("from_email@gmail.com", "to_email@gmail.com");
    // Specify the email body
    mailMessage.Body = emailbody;
    // Specify the email Subject
    mailMessage.Subject = "Exception";

    // No need to specify the SMTP settings as these 
    // are already specified in web.config
    SmtpClient smtpClient = new SmtpClient();
    // Finall send the email message using Send() method
    smtpClient.Send(mailMessage);
}