Looking for "email to a friend" script

October 11, 2007 2:14 PM

I'm looking for a script (javascript?) that will place an "email this post" button after posts on my blog. Something similar to the way you can email news stories from Yahoo!, etc. For the love of God, help me. If possible, I'd like to get one with a captcha or some such security device, but not absolutely necessary. Link to my site is available through my name, above, if that helps. I should also point out that I am not a coder, I barely know the difference between Javascript and printing.
posted by TheLastPsychiatrist to computers & internet (8 comments total)

What blog software do you use currently?
posted by demiurge at 2:16 PM on October 11, 2007

I see it's Movable Type, and from the forum searches, it seems like a lot of other people have the same issue as you. I would be looking for a MT plugin that does what you want, Javascript won't be able to send emails in the way that you want.
posted by demiurge at 2:28 PM on October 11, 2007

Google "send to friend script", review your (many, many) options, and pick one. There's generally little variation, since they really only do one thing, anyway.

Some offer more or less customization, with associated increase in work, and you didn't really indicate how much comfort you have with that sort of thing.

I don't think I've ever seen one that uses a CAPTCHA, though. They're usually pretty bare-bones.
posted by Su at 2:39 PM on October 11, 2007

Oh, and don't get too caught up in the concept of security being an active "device"(like the CAPTCHA, which is often overkill.) Some do server-level checks to prevent people using the scripts remotely, for example.

For what it's worth, I've used this one in the past. Was having trouble finding the source.
posted by Su at 2:45 PM on October 11, 2007

I've been using Master Recommend Pro after seeing it mentioned in this. You'll have to pony up $49 but it works pretty well and the setup is rather painless.
posted by Smallpox at 3:54 PM on October 11, 2007

You need to ensure that this sort of thing is supported by your hosting provider. An insecure form with the ability to send email is a spammer’s dream. Since all the mail that gets sent appears to be originating from your host, some providers will not approve of a script like this.

I see on your site that you’re hosted by Y!, so you might check with their support services.
posted by ijoshua at 4:13 PM on October 11, 2007

(Check here.) “Before you can send email with PHP, you must complete the PHP/Perl Mail Setup process.”
posted by ijoshua at 4:23 PM on October 11, 2007

Movable Type 4 has this ability built in -- I work with the MT team and we'd be happy to help you get this figured out. We've got a professional support team, and if you drop me a line ([e-mail]) I can introduce you to the right folks to get you fixed up. Sorry this has been so difficult, but it is definitely fixable!
posted by anildash at 7:14 PM on October 14, 2007