Email Tracking? Best way?

[Mje]

I have a simple php email tracking script I use that creates a 1x1 png picture and logs the host. I set a get variable in the url when I send the message that represents that message. I. E. <img src="http://webserver.com/makeImage.php?id=xxxxx>

Is there a better way?

I know there are sites that do this like trackthis.cc, but they add a sig to your messages. This doesn't.

Any input is appreciated.

Here is the Php snippet for those who want to try it. If you use the IMG insertion in outlook you have to set outlook to NOT send images with the message (options -> send tab -> html messages button). You also need GD installed (for the image) or it won't work.

<?php

//Creates a 1 x 1 image
header ("Content-type: image/png");
$im = imagecreate(1, 1);
$background_color = imagecolorallocate($im, 255, 255, 255);
imagepng ($im);

//CONNECTION LOGGING
$filename = 'log.txt';
//Writes the DATE, IP ADDY, HOSTNAME, USER AGENT and ID (passed through GET variable) to log
$appendData = date("H:i:s l, F dS Y")." ".$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']." ".gethostbyaddr($_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])." ".$_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']." ".$_GET['id']." "."\n";
//Open the file in append mode. If !exist, it will (maybe, but probably not so create it beforehand) be created.
$fp = fopen($filename, 'a');
fwrite($fp, $appendData);
fclose($fp);
//END CONNECTION LOGGING

?>

 

[Nothinman]

You're one of the many reasons I hate HTML mail and have my mailer convert them all to plain text.

 

[Mje]

muhahahAHAHSHHAhahSHhaHHAHAHAH!!!!

It's useful sometimes.