
Simple Email Service Tutorial
*****************************

This tutorial focuses on the boto interface to AWS' Simple Email
Service (SES). This tutorial assumes that you have boto already
downloaded and installed.


Creating a Connection
=====================

The first step in accessing SES is to create a connection to the
service. To do so, the most straight forward way is the following:

   >>> import boto.ses
   >>> conn = boto.ses.connect_to_region(
           'us-west-2',
           aws_access_key_id='<YOUR_AWS_KEY_ID>',
           aws_secret_access_key='<YOUR_AWS_SECRET_KEY>')
   >>> conn
   SESConnection:email.us-west-2.amazonaws.com

Bear in mind that if you have your credentials in boto config in your
home directory, the two keyword arguments in the call above are not
needed. More details on configuration can be fond in *Boto Config*.

The "boto.ses.connect_to_region()" functions returns a
"boto.ses.connection.SESConnection" instance, which is a the boto API
for working with SES.


Notes on Sending
================

It is important to keep in mind that while emails appear to come
"from" the address that you specify via Reply-To, the sending is done
through Amazon. Some clients do pick up on this disparity, and leave a
note on emails.


Verifying a Sender Email Address
================================

Before you can send email "from" an address, you must prove that you
have access to the account. When you send a validation request, an
email is sent to the address with a link in it. Clicking on the link
validates the address and adds it to your SES account. Here's how to
send the validation email:

   >>> conn.verify_email_address('some@address.com')
   {
       'VerifyEmailAddressResponse': {
           'ResponseMetadata': {
               'RequestId': '4a974fd5-56c2-11e1-ad4c-c1f08c91d554'
           }
       }
   }

After a short amount of time, you'll find an email with the validation
link inside. Click it, and this address may be used to send emails.


Listing Verified Addresses
==========================

If you'd like to list the addresses that are currently verified on
your SES account, use "list_verified_email_addresses":

   >>> conn.list_verified_email_addresses()
   {
       'ListVerifiedEmailAddressesResponse': {
           'ListVerifiedEmailAddressesResult': {
               'VerifiedEmailAddresses': [
                   'some@address.com',
                   'another@address.com'
               ]
           },
           'ResponseMetadata': {
               'RequestId': '2ab45c18-56c3-11e1-be66-ffd2a4549d70'
           }
       }
   }


Deleting a Verified Address
===========================

In the event that you'd like to remove an email address from your
account, use "delete_verified_email_address":

   >>> conn.delete_verified_email_address('another@address.com')


Sending an Email
================

Sending an email is done via "send_email":

   >>> conn.send_email(
           'some@address.com',
           'Your subject',
           'Body here',
           ['recipient-address-1@gmail.com'])
   {
       'SendEmailResponse': {
           'ResponseMetadata': {
               'RequestId': '4743c2b7-56c3-11e1-bccd-c99bd68002fd'
           },
           'SendEmailResult': {
               'MessageId': '000001357a177192-7b894025-147a-4705-8455-7c880b0c8270-000000'
           }
       }
   }

If you're wanting to send a multipart MIME email, see the reference
for "send_raw_email", which is a bit more of a low-level alternative.


Checking your Send Quota
========================

Staying within your quota is critical, since the upper limit is a hard
cap. Once you have hit your quota, no further email may be sent until
enough time elapses to where your 24 hour email count (rolling
continuously) is within acceptable ranges. Use "get_send_quota":

   >>> conn.get_send_quota()
   {
       'GetSendQuotaResponse': {
           'GetSendQuotaResult': {
               'Max24HourSend': '100000.0',
               'SentLast24Hours': '181.0',
               'MaxSendRate': '28.0'
           },
           'ResponseMetadata': {
               'RequestId': u'8a629245-56c4-11e1-9c53-9d5f4d2cc8d3'
           }
       }
   }


Checking your Send Statistics
=============================

In order to fight spammers and ensure quality mail is being sent from
SES, Amazon tracks bounces, rejections, and complaints. This is done
via "get_send_statistics". Please be warned that the output is
extremely verbose, to the point where we'll just show a short excerpt
here:

   >>> conn.get_send_statistics()
   {
       'GetSendStatisticsResponse': {
           'GetSendStatisticsResult': {
               'SendDataPoints': [
                   {
                       'Complaints': '0',
                       'Timestamp': '2012-02-13T05:02:00Z',
                       'DeliveryAttempts': '8',
                       'Bounces': '0',
                       'Rejects': '0'
                   },
                   {
                       'Complaints': '0',
                       'Timestamp': '2012-02-13T05:17:00Z',
                       'DeliveryAttempts': '12',
                       'Bounces': '0',
                       'Rejects': '0'
                   }
               ]
           }
       }
   }
