I've found many code samples to send email in VB.net. The problem is, they all require a line such as:

Dim client As New SmtpClient("Your SMTP Server")

That works fine on my computer, but if I distribute the program to someone else, I don't know their "SMTP Server".

So how do you send email from a VB.net program when the "SMTP Server" is unknown.

Thanks.

The easy answer is: you don't. I assume you are talking about a windows app here so, what I would do, is add an option for the user to configure their mail server (much like outlook does) and write these values to a config file (a good place would be that app.config file). In your code you need to check for the existence of a value in the app.config, if it exists try and send the email, otherwise inform the user that they need to configure their mail server.

hth.
-Doug

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Thanks. I was afraid of that. Your solution is doable if the user can figure out what their SmtpServer is.

I don't suppose there is any way to do this if the user only uses web mail such as gmail or yahoo and doesn't have an email program on their computer?

Yes this can be done. Most, if not all, web mail programs can be setup to work with outlook. To provide the most flexibility for the user you should allow them to configure to provide configuration options for all possible properties (StmpServer, Ports, etc).

hth.
-Doug

================================================== =========
Read this if you want to know how to get a correct reply for your question:
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================================================== =========
.: Wrox Technical Editor / Author :.
Wrox Books 24 x 7
================================================== =========