用email联系以及从移动设备访问

OpenERP provides all the information you need to pursue your company’s business opportunities effectively. But to stay productive with all the information you have to handle, it is essential that you can keep using your normal communication tools by interfacing them with OpenERP, and that you are not limited just to OpenERP’s interface.

Often your sales persons are already used to working with standard email clients to manage their business. OpenERP allows you to perfectly integrate their knowledge with the use of OpenERP.

OpenERP offers this flexibility to those who need to continue using their traditional email programs to maintain their efficiency: OpenERP can be connected to Outlook and Thunderbird. Your users can participate in many OpenERP-maintained processes without ever leaving their familiar environment, and can avoid double data entry, yet easily link information to OpenERP’s database automatically.

With the Outlook and Thunderbird plug-ins, you can create and/or open contacts directly from your email client in OpenERP without effort. You can also link emails (with attachments) to OpenERP, to avoid information getting lost. Both plug-ins enable you for instance to create leads based on exchanges you have with the customer.

The email gateway functionality enables you to use OpenERP’s CRM without necessarily using the OpenERP interface. Up-to-date leads can automatically be stored in OpenERP just by sending and receiving emails through a specific email address. You can even answer such mails from your own mailbox.

And of course, you can link the OpenERP meeting calendar to your mobile device.

Communication Tools

The Fetchmail / Mailgateway functionality lets you interface the CRM with incoming and outgoing emails. So you can receive mails in OpenERP and answer them directly from OpenERP. You can install it when you configure the CRM, through the Reconfigure wizard, Fetch Emails, or by installing the fetchmail module from the list of modules. Thanks to this feature, each email you receive on the specified email address may automatically create a lead, a contact or an other object in OpenERP, while keeping track of email attachments. This is an easy way to ensure that no crucial sales information gets lost.

You set the generic email address you want to use, such as sales@mycompany.com, and then you tell OpenERP that every incoming email for this address should automatically be created as a lead.

小技巧

对象

You can use this feature for any object in OpenERP, so for instance also to keep track of your helpdesk or job applications.

To use the email gateway, you should install the Fetchmail module. You might need a system administrator to carry out this work.

If you followed the steps in the previous chapters, you should have the Fetchmail module installed. If not, you can install the Fetchmail module from the Configuration Wizard (CRM Configuration Wizard, Synchronization, Fetch Emails), or from the modules list.

注解

Scheduled Action

Click the Fetch email button to get the emails directly. OpenERP also automatically creates a Scheduled Action to fetch the mails every 5 minutes.

Step 1

You can configure your incoming mail account(s) from the Sales ‣ Configuration ‣ Emails ‣ Email Servers.

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How to Configure your Email Server for Incoming Mails?

Go to Tools ‣ Configuration ‣ Email Template ‣ Email Accounts to define the email smtp settings.

In the Description field, type the visible name you would like to use for the account.

In Server, type the mail server, i.e. smtp.googlemail.com.

Type the SMTP port (e.g. 587), configure the other settings according to the specifications of your server.

Add the User Information, such as email address for which the mails will enter OpenERP, i.e. support@mycompany.com, the user name and the password. Configure the other settings to your needs.

Save and click the Test Outgoing Connection button to check whether the settings are correct.

When everything is correctly configured, Approve the account. OpenERP will automatically create a Scheduler for the mails. You can also send/receive mails manually by clicking the Send/Receive button.

Step 2

You can configure your outgoing mail account(s) from the Tools ‣ Configuration ‣ Email Template ‣ Email Accounts.

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How to Configure your Email Server for Outgoing Mails?

Go to Sales > Configuration > Emails > Email Servers to define the email server settings.

Assign a Name and select the Server Type, i.e. IMAP Server.

Click Add Attachments if you want to include attachments for the mails received / sent.

Enter the Server Information, check SSL if necessary, i.e. imap.googlemail.com and the Login Information.

You can also choose to send an automatic reply on receipt of the mail. You can configure the mail here from the Email Server Action field.

Assign the Model to use when a new email arrives, i.e. choose Lead (crm.leads) if you want every new email that arrives to be created as a lead.

Click Confirm to confirm the account settings.

注解

Server Configuration

You will also need your administrator to configure your server settings to allow for an email gateway. This will not be explained in this book.

Microsoft Outlook 关联你的CRM

The Microsoft Outlook plug-in enables you to carry out a series of OpenERP operations quickly and directly from the Outlook email client:

  • create a contact or partner from an email,

  • open a partner from an email,

  • save an email and its attachments in OpenERP from your mailbox,

  • send any attachment to an OpenERP document (such as opportunities, customers).

Thanks to the plug-in, you can effortlessly link emails and attachments to the corresponding opportunity in OpenERP, or link an attached product folder to a customer, for instance.

小技巧

Outlook Versions

The Microsoft Outlook plug-in works with Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007, but not with Outlook Express.

In this chapter, only the actual possibilities of the plug-in will be discussed. For more information about how to install and configure the Outlook plug-in, please refer to the chapter outlook.

From the Outlook toolbar, have a look at the Tools menu.

The Push option allows you to archive emails to OpenERP, either to new document types or to existing ones (such as Leads). It also allows you to create a new contact.

The Partner option allows you to open the Partner in OpenERP according to the email (i.e. contact email address) selected.

With Document, you can open the document (i.e. a customer, an opportunity) concerned in OpenERP. Make sure your web server is running to use this functionality.

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How to Access OpenERP from Outlook?

  • Link an email to an existing document in OpenERP

To archive an email in OpenERP from Outlook, select the email and click the Push button. Alternatively you can open the menu Tools ‣ Push: the Push to OpenERP screen will open.

In the Link to an Existing Document section, check Partner. Then select the customer you want to attach the selected mail to. The plug-in also allows you to select several customers at once, simply by selecting a customer and pressing the ctrl button while selecting the next one.

Suppose you decide to no longer link the selected email to a customer, but instead to an opportunity. Then you have to click the Search button to refresh the Documents list to display your opportunities.

From the list of available documents, you can select any document type you defined in the Document Settings section.

  • Create a New Document

This feature can be used to create any of the configured document types in the Document Settings tab. Suppose you would like to create a new lead from an email. In the Create a New Document section, select CRM Lead, then click the Create button. A new lead will be created in OpenERP from the selected email.

  • Create a New Contact / Partner

If the partner or contact from your email does not exist in OpenERP yet, the Outlook plug-in allows you to create one on the fly simply by using the information contained in the email.

Select the email from which you want to create a new contact, then click the Push button. In the Create a New Contact section, click the New Contact button. This option offers two possibilities: either you just create a contact (address), or you create a partner with the contact linked to it.

  • When you just want to create a new contact, complete the address data in the dialog box and click the Save button. The contact will then be created in OpenERP.

  • When you also want to create a new partner, complete the contact data. Then click the Create Partner button, add the partner’s name and click the Save button.

  • You can also add a new contact to an existing partner. Click the Search button next to the Partner field and select the corresponding partner from the list. Then complete the contact data and click the Save button.

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Creating a Contact on the Fly from Outlook

  • Open the Document created in OpenERP

From your mailbox, simply by clicking an email, you can directly access the corresponding data in OpenERP. Go to the menu Tools ‣ Document which will open the corresponding document (e.g. a lead) in OpenERP, directly from the email you selected.

小技巧

Knowledge Management

The Outlook plug-in is compatible with OpenERP’s Knowledge (i.e. Document) Management. If you install the Knowledge application you will be able to:

  • search through the content of your company’s documents (those that have the type .doc, .pdf, .sxw and .odt) and also in archived emails,

  • have a shared file system that is connected to various OpenERP documents to share information and access it with your favorite browser,

  • organize and structure your documents (such as projects, partners and users) in OpenERP’s system.

  • Step 1: Install the Outlook plugin in OpenERP

Use the OpenERP Configuration Wizard and install the Customer Relationship Management application. In the CRM Application Configuration dialog under Plug-In, select MS-Outlook. Then the Outlook Plug-In wizard appears. Next to the Outlook Plug-in field, click the Save As button to save the plugin to your desktop (or any other location on your computer).

You can also download the installation manual by clicking the green arrow next to Installation Manual.

Another way to use the Outlook plugin, is by installing the OpenERP module outlook. When you install this module, the same Configuration Wizard as explained before will be displayed. Follow the same instructions.

  • Step 2: Prerequisites (for more details, please refer to the online documentation)

    1. Install Python 2.6+

    2. Python for Windows extensions - PyWin32, this module for python must be installed for the appropriate version of Python.

    3. Specify the python folder in the system path (typically with this installer C:Python26)

  1. *How to set the path in Windows XP* For Windows XP: [http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm](http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm)
  3. *How to set the path in Windows 7* To change the system environment variables, follow the steps below.
  5. > -   From the Windows button, select Control Panel, then click System.
  6. >     
  7. > -   Click Remote Settings to open the System Properties window.
  8. >     
  9. > -   In the System Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
  10. >     
  11. > -   In the Advanced section, click the Environment Variables button.
  12. >     
  13. > -   Finally, in the Environment Variables window (as shown below) under System Variables, highlight the Path directory, click Edit and add ;C:Python26.
  14. >     
  16. 4\. If you are using MS Outlook 2007 then you are required to install "Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1 (CDO 1.21)" Double-click Exchange CDO to install it.
  18. 5.  If you are using MS Outlook 2003, be sure to install the built-in CDO component.

  • Step 3: Install the OpenERP extension in Outlook.

    1. Double-click the file ``OpenERP-Outlook-addin.exe``that you saved on your desktop. Confirm the default settings.

    2. Double-click the file ``Register plugin``in the OpenERP Outlook Addin folder (typically in C:Program Files).

    3. Start Outlook.

When you have executed Installation Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3, the first thing to do is connect Outlook to OpenERP. A little configuration needs to be done.

小技巧

Toolbars

If you want the OpenERP connection to be shown as a separate toolbar, go to the menu View ‣ Toolbars. Select OpenERP.

  • Go to the menu Tools and select Configuration. If this raises an error, make sure to check the access rights to that particular folder.

A configuration window appears enabling you to enter configuration data about your OpenERP server.

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How to Connect to the Server

  1. On the Configuration Settings tab, under Connection Parameters click the Change button and type your server settings and XML-RPC port, e.g. http://127.0.0.1:8069,

  2. Select the database you want to connect to, and type the user and the password required to log in to the database,

  3. Click the Connect button,

  4. On the Configuration Settings tab, under Webserver Parameters click the Change button and type your web server settings, e.g. http://localhost:8080,

  5. Click the Open button to test the connection.

When your connection has succeeded, you would typically want to configure Outlook to fit your needs.

To define extra document types, go to the Document Settings tab. This is the place where you can add objects from OpenERP that you wish to link mails to. The default installation comes with a number of predefined documents, such as Partners, Leads and Sales Orders.

Here is an example of how to configure extra document types. Suppose you would like to link mails to a meeting:

  1. In the Title, type Meeting,

  2. In the Document, type the object from OpenERP, in this example crm.meeting,

  3. In the Image, select an icon you would like to use,

  4. Click the Add button to actually create the document type.

注解

A Word about Objects

To find the object you need in OpenERP, go to the menu Administration ‣ Customization ‣ Database Structure ‣ Objects. OpenERP will only show objects for which the corresponding Business Applications / Modules have been installed. You can only add objects to Outlook that are available in the selected database.

从Mozilla Thunderbird管理你的CRM

With the Mozilla Thunderbird plug-in you can carry out a series of OpenERP operations directly from Thunderbird, such as:

  • create a contact or partner from an email,

  • open a partner from an email,

  • save an email and its attachments in OpenERP,

  • send any attachment to an OpenERP document (such as opportunities, customers).

Thanks to the plug-in, you can effortlessly link emails and attachments to the corresponding opportunity in OpenERP, or link an attached product folder to a customer, for instance.

In this chapter, only the actual possibilities of the plug-in will be discussed. For more information about how to install and configure the Thunderbird plug-in, please refer to the chapter thunderbird.

From the Thunderbird toolbar, have a look at the OpenERP menu.

The Push option allows you to archive emails to OpenERP, either to new document types or to existing ones. It also allows you to create a new contact.

The Partner allows you to open the Partner in OpenERP according to the email (i.e. contact email address) selected.

With Document, you can open the document (i.e. a customer, an opportunity) concerned in OpenERP. Make sure your web server is running to use this functionality. You have to open the mail to use this feature.

  • Link an email to an existing document in OpenERP

/doc_static/6.0/_images/thunderbird_selection.png

How to Access OpenERP from Thunderbird?

To archive an email in OpenERP from Thunderbird, select the email and click the Push button. Alternatively you can open the menu OpenERP ‣ Push: the Push to OpenERP screen will open.

In the Link to an Existing Document section, check Partner. Then select the customer you want to attach the selected mail to. The plug-in also allows you to select several customers at once, simply by selecting a customer and pressing the ctrl button while selecting the next one.

Suppose you decide to no longer link the selected email to a customer, but instead to an opportunity. Then you have to click the Search button to refresh the Documents list to display your opportunities.

From the list of available documents, you can select any document type you defined in the Document Settings section.

  • Create a New Document

This feature can be used to create any of the configured document types in the Document Settings tab. Suppose you would like to create a new lead from an email. In the Create a New Document section, select CRM Lead, then click the Create button. A new lead will be created in OpenERP from the selected email.

  • Create a New Contact / Partner

If the partner or contact from your email does not exist in OpenERP yet, the Thunderbird plug-in allows you to create one on the fly simply by using the information contained in the email.

Select the email from which you want to create a new contact, then click the Push button. In the Create a New Contact section, click the New Contact button. This option offers two possibilities: either you just create a contact (address), or you create a partner with the contact linked to it.

  • When you just want to create a new contact, complete the address data in the dialog box and click the Save button. The contact will then be created in OpenERP.

  • When you also want to create a new partner, complete the contact data. Then click the Create Partner button, add the partner’s name and click the Save button.

  • You can also add a new contact to an existing partner. Click the Search button next to the Partner field and select the corresponding partner from the list. Then complete the contact data and click the Save button.

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Creating a Contact on the Fly from Thunderbird

  • Open the Document created in OpenERP

From your mailbox, simply by clicking an email, you can directly access the corresponding data in OpenERP. Go to the menu Tools ‣ Document which will open the corresponding document (e.g. a lead) in OpenERP, directly from the email you selected.

小技巧

Knowledge Management

The Thunderbird plug-in is compatible with OpenERP’s Knowledge (i.e. Document) Management. If you install the Knowledge application you will be able to:

  • search through the content of your company’s documents (those that have the type .doc, .pdf, .sxw and .odt) and also in archived emails,

  • have a shared file system that is connected to various OpenERP documents to share information and access it with your favorite browser,

  • Step 1: Install the Thunderbird plugin in OpenERP

Use the OpenERP Configuration Wizard and install the Customer Relationship Management application. In the CRM Application Configuration dialog under Plug-In, select Thunderbird. Then the Thunderbird Plug-In wizard appears. Next to the Thunderbird Plug-in field, click the Save As button to save the plugin to your desktop (or any other location on your computer).

You can also download the installation manual by clicking the orange arrow next to Installation Manual.

Another way to use the Thunderbird plugin, is by installing the OpenERP module thunderbird. When you install this module, the same Configuration Wizard as explained before will be displayed. Follow the same instructions.

  • Step 2: Install the OpenERP extension in Thunderbird.

To do that, use the file ``openerp_plugin.xpi``that you saved on your desktop.

Then proceed as follows:

  1. From Thunderbird, open the menu Tools ‣ Add-ons.

  2. Click Extensions, then click the Install button.

  3. Go to your desktop and select the file openerp_plugin.xpi. Click Open.

  4. Click Install Now then restart Thunderbird.

Once the extension has been installed, a new OpenERP menu item is added to your Thunderbird menubar.

小技巧

Thunderbird Version

The OpenERP plugin for Thunderbird works as from Thunderbird version 2.0.

So check your Thunderbird version before installing, and download the latest version that you need from the following address: http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

When you have executed Installation Step 1 and Step 2, the first thing to do is connect Thunderbird to OpenERP. A little configuration needs to be done.

注解

Before starting the configuration, make sure your GTK server and web server are running (XML-RPC should be allowed).

Go to the OpenERP menubar and select ` Configuration`.

A configuration window appears enabling you to enter configuration data about your OpenERP server.

/doc_static/6.0/_images/thunderbird_config.png

How to Connect to the Server

  1. On the Configuration Settings tab, under Connection Parameters click the Change button and type your server settings and XML-RPC port, e.g. http://127.0.0.1:8069,

  2. Select the database you want to connect to, and type the user and the password required to log in to the database,

  3. Click the Connect button,

  4. On the Configuration Settings tab, under Webserver Parameters click the Change button and type your web server settings, e.g. http://localhost:8080,

  5. Click the Open button to test the connection.

When your connection has succeeded, you would typically want to configure Thunderbird to fit your needs.

To define extra document types, go to the Document Settings tab. This is the place where you can add objects from OpenERP that you wish to link mails to. The default installation comes with a number of predefined documents, such as Partners, Leads and Sales Orders.

Here is an example of how to configure extra document types. Suppose you would like to link mails to a purchase order.

  1. In the Title, type Purchase Order,

  2. In the Document, type the object from OpenERP, in this example purchase.order,

  3. In the Image, select an icon you would like to use,

  4. Click the Add button to actually create the document type.

注解

A Word about Objects

To find the object you need in OpenERP, go to the menu Administration ‣ Customization ‣ Database Structure ‣ Objects. OpenERP will only show objects for which the corresponding Business Applications / Modules have been installed. You can only add objects to Thunderbird that are available in the selected database.

/doc_static/6.0/_images/thunderbird_document.png

How to Add Extra OpenERP Document Types to Thunderbird? * organize and structure your documents (such as projects, partners and users) in OpenERP’s system.

用移动设备同步你的CRM

Synchronize your OpenERP calendars with your mobile device and know which meeting to go to from wherever you are!

Make your OpenERP even more efficient and let your sales synchronize their meetings with their mobile devices. Anywhere your sales people are, they can easily check their planning and confirm new meetings with customers on the spot.

You can synchronize your calendars with iPhone and Android phones, and also with tools such as Evolution and Sunbird/Lightning.

注解

Installation and Configuration

Please note that setting this up requires some technical knowledge, and probably the assistance of IT staff.

OpenERP 服务器和 SSL 设置

Some modules need to be installed on the OpenERP server (or may already be installed). These are:

  • caldav: Required, has the reference setup and the necessary

    underlying code. Will also cause document & document_webdav to be installed.

  • crm_caldav: Optional, will export the CRM Meetings as a calendar.

  • project_caldav: Optional, will export project tasks as a calendar.

  • http_well_known: Optional, experimental. Will ease bootstrapping,

    but only when a DNS srv record is also used.

When you install the above module(s), a ready-to-go reference setup of the folders is provided. The OpenERP administrator can add more calendars and (re)structure if needed.

It is highly advisable that you also set up SSL to work for the OpenERP server. HTTPS is a server-wide feature in OpenERP, which means a certificate will be set at the openerp-server.conf which will be the same for XML-RPC, HTTP, WebDAV and CalDAV. The iPhone also supports secure connections with SSL, although it does not expect a self-signed certificate (or one that is not verified by one of the “big” certificate authorities).

iPhone 设备日历

To set up the calendars, proceed as follows:

  1. Click Settings and go to the Mail, Contacts, Calendars page.

  2. Go to Add account…

  3. Click Other.

  4. From the Calendars group, select Add CalDAV Account.

  5. Enter the host name. (e.g. if the URL is http://openerp.com:8069/webdav/db_1/calendars/ , openerp.com is the host)

小技巧

Synchronize this Calendar

Go to Sales ‣ Meetings ‣ Synchronize this Calendar and select Iphone. Then the Caldav server will be shown.

  1. In Username and Password, type your OpenERP login and password.

  2. As a description, you can either leave the server’s name or something like “OpenERP calendars”.

  3. If you are not using a SSL server, you will get an error, do not worry and push “Continue”

  4. Then click “Advanced Settings” to specify the correct ports and paths.

  5. Specify the port for the OpenERP server: 8071 for SSL, 8069 without SSL.

  6. Set the Account URL to the right path of the OpenERP webdav: the URL given by the wizard (e.g. http://my.server.ip:8069/webdav/dbname/calendars/ )

  7. Click Done. The phone will connect to the OpenERP server and verify whether the account can be used.

  8. Go to the main menu of the iPhone and open the Calendar application. Your OpenERP calendars will be visible inside the selection of the “Calendars” button. Note that when creating a new calendar entry, you will have to specify which calendar it should be saved to.

If you need SSL (and your certificate is not a verified one), you will first need to let the iPhone trust the certificate. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Safari and enter the HTTPS location of the OpenERP server: https://my.server.ip:8071/ (assuming you have the server at “my.server.ip” and the HTTPS port is the default 8071)

  2. Safari will try to connect and issue a warning about the certificate used. Inspect the certificate and click “Accept” so that iPhone now trusts it.

Android 设备日历

Prerequisites

There is no built-in way to synchronize calendars with CalDAV. So you need to install a third party software: Calendar (CalDav) Sync BETA from Hypermatix Software (for now, it is the only one).

配置步骤

  1. 打开 Calendar Sync 应用. 打开后，界面上应该会有两个页面.

  2. 在 Connection 页面中, 找到 CalDAV 日历链接, 输入你的OpenERP 日历地址 “http://my.server.ip:8069/webdav/dbname/calendars/users/demo/c/Meetings“ 。

小技巧

Synchronize this Calendar

Go to Sales ‣ Meetings ‣ Synchronize this Calendar and select Android. Then the Caldav server link will be shown. Make sure to use the correct XML-RPC port, it may differ from 8069.

  1. 输入你的OpenERP帐户及密码.

  2. 如果你的OpenERP没有配置SSL，会接受一个关于SSL的警告，请选择 Yes.

  3. Then you can synchronize manually or customize the settings (Sync tab) to synchronize every X minutes.

Evolution 日历

  1. Go to Calendar View.

  2. File ‣ New ‣ Calendar.

  3. Enter the data in the form:

小技巧

Synchronize this Calendar

Go to Sales ‣ Meetings ‣ Synchronize this Calendar and select Evolution. Then the Caldav server will be shown.

  1. Click OK and enter your OpenERP password.

  2. A new calendar with the name you entered should appear on the left side.

Sunbird/Lightning 日历

Prerequisites

If you are using Thunderbird, first install the Lightning module http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/lightning/

配置

  1. Go to Calendar View.

  2. File ‣ New Calendar.

  3. Choose On the Network.

  4. As a format, select CalDav and as a location type the URL (e.g. http://host.com:8069/webdav/db/calendars/users/demo/c/Meetings).

小技巧

Synchronize this Calendar

Go to Sales ‣ Meetings ‣ Synchronize this Calendar and select Sunbird/Lightning. Then the Caldav server will be shown.

  1. Choose a name and a colour for the Calendar, and we advice you to uncheck “alarm”.

  2. Enter your OpenERP login and password (to give the password only once, check the box Use Password Manager to remember this password).

  3. Then click Finish; your meetings should now appear in your Calendar view.