open_connection Function

This function opens a connection to an SMTP server.

Syntax

UTL_SMTP.OPEN_CONNECTION (

host        IN  VARCHAR2, 
port        IN  PLS_INTEGER DEFAULT 25, 
c           OUT connection, 
tx_timeout  IN  PLS_INTEGER DEFAULT NULL) 

RETURN reply; 
UTL_SMTP.OPEN_+CONNECTION (

host        IN  VARCHAR2, 
port        IN  PLS_INTEGER DEFAULT 25, 
tx_timeout  IN  PLS_INTEGER DEFAULT NULL) 

RETURN connection; 

Parameters

Table 82-7 open_connection Function Parameters

Parameter	Description
host (IN)	The name of the SMTP server host
port (IN)	The port number on which SMTP server is listening (usually 25).
tx_timeout (IN)	The time in seconds that the UTL_SMTP package waits before giving up in a read or write operation in this connection. In read operations, this package gives up if no data is available for reading immediately. In write operations, this package gives up if the output buffer is full and no data is to be sent into the network without being blocked. 0 indicates not to wait at all. NULL indicates to wait forever.

Usage Notes

The expected response from the server is a message beginning with status code 220.

The version of open_connection()API that returns utl_smtp.connection record is actually the procedure version of open_connection that checks the reply code returned by an SMTP server when the connection is first established.

A timeout on the write operations feature is not supported in the current release of this package.