Project

General

Profile

Actions

Feature #2230

open

Issue creation via email from anyone without a Redmine account using an Inbox project

Added by Brad Rushworth over 15 years ago. Updated about 13 years ago.

Status:
New
Priority:
Normal
Assignee:
-
Category:
Email receiving
Target version:
-
Start date:
2008-11-26
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Estimated time:
Resolution:

Description

Further to issues #444 and #1110, I think redmine needs its issue creation via email functionality to be improved.

I totally agree with Ewan Makepeace in #444 about FogBugz (http://www.fogcreek.com/FogBUGZ/). They have really done the receiving email system right.

For those who aren't familiar with FogBugz, this is how it works:

  • Anyone can email your FogBugz email address, such as
  • FogBugz implements a Spam filter to check incomming emails. (I don't think we need this.)
  • The email is turned into an Issue in the Inbox project.
  • The Issue is reviewed by staff and then moved into the appropriate project (if any, otherwise left in Inbox).
  • All email traffic between the business and clients is stored in FogBugz as an Issue, or follow-ups to an Issue.
  • The tracker type should be defaulted to Email. Emails that describe a feature/bug/etc can be updated by staff.
  • When an email conversation is finished, the staff resolve and close the Email Issue.
  • If the client later replies, the Issue is reopened automatically.

The major selling feature of FogBugz email integration is that the client does not need an account in your FogBugz to use the system. This is achieved by using a special authentification token in the email response link:

Thank you for your message. We have received it and will get back to you as soon as possible.

We use FogBugz to keep track of our incoming email. You can check the status of your message at the following URL:

https://bitbot.fogbugz.com/default.asp?8_i2nobc50

You may want to save your case's tracking ticket: 8_i2nobc50

Please reply to this message if there's anything else we can do for you.

--
BitBot Software
bitbot at bitbot.com.au
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by FogBugz from Fog Creek Software. http://www.fogcreek.com/FogBugz

At the bottom of the FogBugz Issue page, the client (who does not have a login) can see other issues submitted with their email address. In this case, this email address submitted tickets 7 and 8.

The problem with Redmine is that an "Inbox" project allows all clients to read each other's emails. This is not good. FogBugz doesn't have this problem. Only staff can view all clients emails.

In summary, I would like to publish an email address like on my website. All email to that address is inserted into Redmine as an Email Issue in the Inbox project, regardless of who it is from. The email is automatically responded to with a link to the issue in Redmine, including an authentification token. This allows the client to see the issue in Redmine and their other issues, but no-one elses. All this without a username/password.

Most clients won't need to follow the link either, since the system can be completely interacted with via email (from the client's point of view).

I think most of this functionality already exists in Redmine, we just need to sort out the permissions system. Its pretty minor change really, but does require a database field for the auth token.

Alternatively, perhaps it can be done by automatically creating a user account for the email address. But how do we stop them from viewing emails from other clients?


Related issues

Related to Redmine - Defect #3554: The IMAP method for anonymous issue creation doesn't work from revision Revision 2789Reopened2009-06-28

Actions
Related to Redmine - Defect #4407: Accept emails from anyone on a private projectClosed2009-12-15

Actions
Precedes Redmine - Feature #3003: Better handling of unknown and aliased email addresses when submitting issue via emailNew2009-03-18

Actions
Actions #1

Updated by Jean-Philippe Lang over 14 years ago

  • Target version set to 0.9.0
Actions #2

Updated by Kolja K. over 14 years ago

If you plan to put this issue in 0.9, it would be a really good idea to allow anonymous tickets with an email adress attached. This way, you are not forced to have every email to create an user only to know who has created the ticket. Kind of light users only with an email adress and unable to log in. Think of redirecting your into redmine... and btw: there is a patch to activate a permission called "view own issues" - perfect solution for inbox projects.

Actions #3

Updated by Jean-Philippe Lang over 14 years ago

  • Target version deleted (0.9.0)

Yes, this would be a really good idea. But time is missing for adding this in 0.9.

Actions #4

Updated by Mischa The Evil over 14 years ago

  • Target version set to 0.9.0

Jean-Philippe Lang wrote:

  • Target version deleted (0.9)

Yes, this would be a really good idea. But time is missing for adding this in 0.9.

I've rebound this issue to version 0.9.0 since the ability to accept incoming emails from unknown users is actually implemented in r2789 which will be included with/in 0.9.0. This way it also reaches the changelog of 0.9.0 when you close this issue.

I'll copy Kolja's message and your response to issue #3003 which I've also marked as an issue following this issue. From then issue #3003 can be used for 0.9+ improvements of this feature.

Actions #5

Updated by Brad Rushworth over 14 years ago

Hey guys... thanks for doing this. You are both awesome! I haven't tried it yet but I had a read of your code.

I think its a useful feature that allows Redmine to be used outside of software development and for customer service roles as well. Similar functionality is implemented in Jira and FogBugz (the two commercial products in this space). Having used both those products, I truly believe that Redmine is a better product, and you can't beat the price!

ps I'm starting my software business full-time from January. Redmine is something I'm definitely using in-house but I'm also planning to install and support it as a service to my clients. I've definitely seen an improvement to workflow and efficiency in many "knowledge worker" type industries by having an integrated task-tracking system like Redmine.

I'm hoping to spend more time contributing ideas and code patches to Redmine too, so look out.

Thanks again.

Actions #6

Updated by Jean-Philippe Lang about 14 years ago

  • Category changed from Email notifications to Email receiving
  • Target version deleted (0.9.0)

As of r3195, you can allow anyone to submit emails to a private project.
But the token mechanism to access issues without any account will not be implemented in 0.9.

Actions #7

Updated by O G about 13 years ago

For what it's worth, the FogBugz-like flow that Brad described initially still sounds good to me. From what I can tell from comments here, Redmine can accept email from anyone, and it can go to a private project, but I'm not sure if it works the same way as described in that flow.

Does anyone know if it does? Thanks.

Actions

Also available in: Atom PDF