Automatic Email Processor - Online Help
Comprehensive documentation of all functions and settings

16 Confirm

16.1 Overview

The Confirm task automatically clicks a link from the body of an incoming email - typically a “Click here to confirm” link contained in a confirmation email. It is used to handle recurring confirmation emails without manual intervention - e.g. registration confirmations, newsletter double opt-ins, confirmation steps in delivery and tracking workflows.

16.2 How the task works

  1. The program reads the message body of the email (HTML body first, otherwise plain-text body)
  2. From this text all hyperlinks are extracted (<a href> attributes or http:// / https:// URLs in plain text)
  3. From the found links, the one that starts with the configured URL must begin with value is selected. With multiple matches, the longest one wins
  4. This link is invoked via an HTTP request
  5. Optionally, the returned result page is checked for a required text

If the program does not find any link in the mail body that starts with the prefix, the task is considered failed.

16.3 Configuration fields

16.3.1 URL must begin with

The beginning of the URL that should be searched for in the mail body.

Examples:

https://newsletter.provider.com/confirm/
https://portal.customer.com/confirm

Incoming mail contains the link https://newsletter.provider.com/confirm/abc123def?token=xyz - the program finds it using the prefix and invokes it.

Note: The prefix does not need to cover the full link contained in the mail body. The program uses it solely as a search filter to single out the correct link from multiple possible links in the mail.

16.3.2 Result page must contain

Optional validation: the program checks whether the text of the result page contains a specific string. Only then is the task considered successful. If the field stays empty, any HTTP response counts as success.

Examples:

Confirmation successful
Thank you
"status":"success"

If the result page does not contain this string, the task is considered failed - and follow-up tasks (e.g. Auto Reply) are not executed.

16.4 Use case

Newsletter double opt-in

URL must begin with: https://newsletter.provider.com/confirm/. The profile filter matches confirmation emails of this newsletter provider. The task clicks the included confirmation link, so that the newsletter subscription is activated without anyone having to open the mail manually.

16.5 Tip

  • Choose the URL prefix as specifically as possible (at least domain plus path beginning) - otherwise the program may find the wrong link when several links exist in a single email
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