Answer Tracker Email Interface ============================== The Answer Tracker has an email interface, although it's quite limited at the moment. The only thing you can do is post new messages on the question. This is an important feature, though, since it ensures that if a user decides to reply to a question notification, his email won't be lost, it will be added to the question. Incoming emails for the Answer Tracker are processed by the AnswerTrackerHandler. # Define a time generator to ensure ordering of the messages. That is # necessary because the date of the messages created from an email has # only resolution to the second whereas the ones created by the DB API # have microseconds resolution. This means that it would be possible # for a message created using the DB API before one created by # the email interface to sort after. >>> from datetime import datetime, timedelta >>> from pytz import UTC >>> def now_generator(now_ref): ... now = now_ref ... while True: ... yield now ... now += timedelta(seconds=1) # We are using a date in the past because MessageSet disallows the # creation of email message with a future date. >>> now = now_generator(datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(hours=24)) # Define a helper function to send email to the Answer Tracker handler. >>> from lp.answers.mail.handler import AnswerTrackerHandler >>> from email.Utils import formatdate, make_msgid, mktime_tz >>> from lp.services.mail.signedmessage import signed_message_from_string >>> handler = AnswerTrackerHandler() >>> def send_question_email(question_id, from_addr, subject, body): ... login(from_addr) ... lines = ['From: %s' % from_addr] ... to_addr = 'question%s@answers.launchpad.net' % question_id ... lines.append('To: %s' % to_addr) ... date = mktime_tz(now.next().utctimetuple() + (0, )) ... lines.append('Date: %s' % formatdate(date)) ... msgid = make_msgid() ... lines.append('Message-Id: %s' % msgid) ... lines.append('Subject: %s' % subject) ... lines.append('') ... lines.append(body) ... raw_msg = '\n'.join(lines) ... msg = signed_message_from_string(raw_msg) ... if handler.process(msg, msg['To']): ... # Ensures that the DB user has the correct permission to \ ... # saves the changes. ... flush_database_updates() ... return msgid ... else: ... return None It only processes emails which are sent to an address of the form 'question@answers.launchpad.net', where is the question id. (The domain is configured through the config.answertracker.email_domain configuration variable.) All other email addresses are ignored: >>> raw_msg = """From: test@canonical.com ... To: foo@support.launchpad.net ... Subject: Hello ... ... Hello there.""" >>> msg = signed_message_from_string(raw_msg) >>> handler.process(msg, msg['To']) False The message will also be ignored if no question with the addressed ID can be found: >>> comment_msgid = send_question_email( ... 1234, 'foo.bar@canonical.com', 'Hey', 'This is another comment.') >>> comment_msgid is None True Incoming Email and Workflow --------------------------- With the way the Answer Tracker workflow is modelled (see answer-tracker-workflow.txt for the details), adding a message will usually also change the status of the question. But currently, there is no way to specify the exact workflow action accomplished by a given message. (That will probably change in the near future when we add the possibility to embed commands in the message body.) So, a default action is chosen based on who is sending the message and the current state of the question. There is the possibility that the default action is wrong, but we chose the defaults based on what we assume is the common case and by trying to minimize the impact of that error on future possibilities for the user. # We will use a new question on the Ubuntu distribution in these # examples. We also use two actors, No Privileges Person which will # be the question owner and Sample Person who will play the role of # answer contact. Foo Bar is used to change the status of the # question. >>> from lp.registry.interfaces.distribution import IDistributionSet >>> from lp.registry.interfaces.person import IPersonSet >>> login('no-priv@canonical.com') >>> personset = getUtility(IPersonSet) >>> sample_person = personset.getByEmail('test@canonical.com') >>> no_priv = personset.getByEmail('no-priv@canonical.com') >>> foo_bar = personset.getByEmail('foo.bar@canonical.com') >>> import transaction >>> from lp.services.config import config >>> from lp.testing.layers import LaunchpadZopelessLayer >>> LaunchpadZopelessLayer.switchDbUser('launchpad') >>> ubuntu = getUtility(IDistributionSet)['ubuntu'] >>> question = ubuntu.newQuestion( ... no_priv, 'Unable to boot installer', ... "I've tried installing Ubuntu on a Mac. But the installer never " ... "boots.", datecreated=now.next()) >>> question_id = question.id >>> transaction.commit() >>> LaunchpadZopelessLayer.switchDbUser(config.processmail.dbuser) # We need to refetch the question, since a new transaction was started. >>> from lp.answers.interfaces.questioncollection import IQuestionSet >>> question = getUtility(IQuestionSet).get(question_id) # Define an helper to change the question status easily. >>> def setQuestionStatus(question, new_status): ... login('foo.bar@canonical.com') ... question.setStatus(foo_bar, new_status, 'Status Change', ... datecreated=now.next()) ... login('no-priv@canonical.com') Message From the Question Owner ------------------------------- When the owner sends a message on the question, the message is interpretated in three different manners based on the current question state. Open and Needs Information .......................... In the Open and Needs Information states, we assume the message provides more information on the problem. For example, from the Open state: >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'no-priv@canonical.com', 'PowerMac 7200', ... "I forgot to specify that I'm installing on a PowerMac 7200.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Give more information >>> print message.subject PowerMac 7200 >>> print message.text_contents I forgot to specify that I'm installing on a PowerMac 7200. >>> print message.owner.displayname No Privileges Person And from the Needs information state: >>> from lp.answers.enums import QuestionStatus >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.NEEDSINFO) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'no-priv@canonical.com', 'Re: What model?', ... 'A PowerMac 7200.') >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Give more information In these states, the other possibility would be that the message is really stating the owner solved his own problem. This is a less likely scenario, since it would mean that the owner is replying to one of his own message. And if that was the case, it is easy for the owner to correct our bad decision, since the question will stay on his list of open questions. Answered and Expired .................... When the question is in the Answered or Expired states, we assume that the email is reopening the question with more information. >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.ANSWERED) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'no-priv@canonical.com', 'Re: BootX', ... "I installed BootX, but I must have made a mistake somewhere " ... "because it still doesn't boot. I have a dialog which says " ... "cannot find any kernel images.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Reopen From the Open state, the other possibilities for the owner email would be that it was confirming that the provided answer work. We minimize the chance of this happening by adding an explanation message in the footer of the notification containing the answer. The other possibility is that the user sent a message to explain that he solved his problem. We do support this use case yet. From the Expired state: >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.EXPIRED) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'no-priv@canonical.com', 'Need Help', ... "I still cannot install on my PowerMac.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Reopen From the Expired state, the other possibility is the less probable explaining that the owner solved his problem. Again, to minimize confusion, the outoing notification contain a footer explaining what will happen if one reply to the message. Solved and Invalid .................. When the question is in the Solved or Invalid state, we interpret the message as a comment. >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.SOLVED) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'no-priv@canonical.com', "Thanks", ... "Thanks for helping me make BootX work.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Comment The other alternative is that the owner wanted to reopen the question. But it is more likely that an email after he marked the problem as solved would come as a reply to another comment, so it is safer to assume it was a comment. And from the Invalid: >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.INVALID) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'no-priv@canonical.com', 'Come on!', ... "Trying to install on an old machine shouldn't be considered " ... "an invalid question!") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Comment That is the only possibility on an Invalid question. From the 'Invalid' state, there is no normal transition. The only possibility is that an admin comes to change the status of the question. Message From Another User ......................... It is simpler when a user other than the owner sends an email. When the question is in the Open or Needs information state, there are only two choices: either a question for more information or an answer. We will assume it is an answer because it gives the opportunity for the owner to confirm that the problem is solved. If it was really a question for more information, the user can reply and the resulting state will be fine. So it is the safest thing to assume. >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.OPEN) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'BootX', ... "You need to install and configure BootX to boot the installer " ... "CD.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Answer >>> print message.owner.displayname Sample Person Needs information example: >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.NEEDSINFO) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'What model?', ... "What Mac model are you trying to install on?") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Answer Answered example: >>> print question.status.title Answered >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'More info on BootX', ... "You can find instructions on BootX installation at that URL: " ... "https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/OldWorldMacs") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Answer Solved, Invalid and Expired ........................... When another user than the owner sends a message to a question in the Solved, Invalid or Expired states, the only possible interpretation is that it is a comment. >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.SOLVED) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'RAM', ... "You will probably need to install some RAM to make this usable " ... "though.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Comment >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.EXPIRED) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'How weird', ... "Is somebody really trying to install Ubuntu on such obsolete " ... "hardware?") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Comment >>> setQuestionStatus(question, QuestionStatus.INVALID) >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'Error?', ... "I think the rejection was an error.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Comment >>> transaction.abort() Answers linked to FAQ questions ............................... Answers may also be linked to FAQ questions. >>> LaunchpadZopelessLayer.switchDbUser('launchpad') >>> from zope.security.proxy import removeSecurityProxy >>> login('foo.bar@canonical.com') >>> faq = question.target.newFAQ( ... no_priv, 'Why everyone think this is weird.', ... "That's an easy one. It's because it is!") >>> removeSecurityProxy(question).faq = faq >>> transaction.commit() >>> LaunchpadZopelessLayer.switchDbUser(config.processmail.dbuser) >>> login('no-priv@canonical.com') # Make sure that the database security and permissions are set up # correctly for answers that link to FAQs. If they are not, then # this will raise an error; See bug #196661. >>> msgid = send_question_email( ... question.id, 'test@canonical.com', 'Fnord', ... "You will probably need to install some RAM to see the fnords.") >>> message = question.messages[-1] >>> message.rfc822msgid == msgid True >>> print message.action.title Answer AnswerTrackerHandler Integration -------------------------------- The general mail processor delegates all emails to the config.answertracker.email_domain to the AnswerTrackerHandler. >>> raw_msg = """From: test@canonical.com ... X-Launchpad-Original-To: question1@answers.launchpad.net ... Subject: A new comment ... Message-Id: ... Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 15:42:07 -0000 ... ... This is a new comment. ... """ >>> from lp.services.mail import stub # Clear email queue of outgoing notifications. >>> stub.test_emails = [] >>> stub.test_emails.append(( ... 'test@canonical.com', ['question1@answers.launchpad.net'], ... raw_msg)) >>> from lp.services.mail.incoming import handleMail >>> handleMail() >>> question_one = getUtility(IQuestionSet).get(1) >>> '' in [ ... comment.rfc822msgid for comment in question_one.messages] True For backward compatibility with notifications sent before the support tracker was renamed to Answer Tracker, we still accept emails sent to the old ticket@support.launchpad.net address: >>> raw_msg = """From: test@canonical.com ... X-Launchpad-Original-To: ticket11@support.launchpad.net ... Subject: Another comment ... Message-Id: ... Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:00:00 -0000 ... ... This is another comment. ... """ >>> stub.test_emails.append(( ... 'test@canonical.com', ['ticket11@support.launchpad.net'], ... raw_msg)) >>> handleMail() >>> question_11 = getUtility(IQuestionSet).get(11) >>> '' in [ ... comment.rfc822msgid for comment in question_11.messages] True