Error when trying to send email from sharepoint 2010 workflow

Question

When I try to send an email from a workflow I get the famous error "The e-mail message cannot be sent. Make sure the outgoing e-mail settings for the server are configured correctly". I have added the IP for the SMTP server in central admin -> outbound email and if I put an alert on a list and create a new item I get the alert so what am I missing here? Why can SharePoint email alerts but not from workflows?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

If there are multiple WFEs , try to whitelist all the sharepoint servers in Exchange. That can be another potential cause of mails dropping off.

Once done, perhaps an IISRESET can do the job.

You need to verify your exchange entries to see if mails are even reaching from SharePoint to exchange through your workflows.

Answer 2

Sometimes pause steps can impact email sending during workflows. This link http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sharepointworkflow/thread/6e848a25-019d-4220-aff6-c535da933e0f/ has some info on when pause steps can prevent emails being sent.

Keep it simple and create a test workflow wiht a single email step. Does that work?

Also confirm that the user being sent the email has the correct email setup in AD too. Was the alert for the same person?

Answer 3

Have you checked whether there is any anti virus software running in the background which is blocking the emails to be sent. Better still why don't you create a simple workflow with an sending email step and see whether it sends any mail. Are you able to send emails when adding users in a group or adding permissions. Try these steps and tell me if you face any problem.

Thanks, Sachin

Answer 4

I also did send mail by custom workflow. I have use below methods. both method working fine.

First Method

private bool sendEmail(SPWeb web, string from, string to, string cc, string bcc, string subject, string body)
    {

        try
        {
            StringDictionary headers = new StringDictionary();
            headers.Add("to", to);
            headers.Add("cc", cc);
            headers.Add("bcc", bcc);
            headers.Add("from", from);
            headers.Add("subject", subject);
            headers.Add("content-type", "text/html");
            bool flag = SPUtility.SendEmail(web, headers, body);
            if (flag)
                return true;
        }
        catch
        {

            return false;
        }
        return false;
    }

}

Second Method

public static bool SendMail(string Subject, string Body, bool IsBodyHtml, string From, string To, string Cc, string Bcc)
    {
        bool mailSent = false;
        try
        {
            SmtpClient smtpClient = new SmtpClient();
            smtpClient.Host = SPContext.Current.Site.WebApplication.OutboundMailServiceInstance.Server.Address;
            MailMessage mailMessage = new MailMessage(From, To, Subject, Body);
            if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(Cc))
            {
                MailAddress CCAddress = new MailAddress(Cc);
                mailMessage.CC.Add(CCAddress);
            }
            if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(Bcc))
            {
                MailAddress BCCAddress = new MailAddress(Bcc);
                mailMessage.Bcc.Add(BCCAddress);
            }
            mailMessage.IsBodyHtml = IsBodyHtml;
            smtpClient.Send(mailMessage);
            mailSent = true;
        }
        catch (Exception ex) 
        {

            return mailSent; 
        }
        return mailSent;
    }