OpenOffice Mail Merger - 530 Authenthication Required

Question

In OpenOffice Writer, I'm trying to to do a mail merge with OpenOffice Base. When I test the email settings, OpenOffice claims they work. However, when I try to do the actual mail merge, OpenOffice displays an error stating "Emails could not be sent", with the error being a 530 authentication required. Enabling or disabling SSL makes no difference, the same error still occurs.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

It would help to know to what kind of an email server you are trying to connect (for example gmail), your email client and the exact error message that you are getting.

If the problem is that OpenOffice is trying to send via unencrypted SMTP, while your email server (for example gmail) requires SSL or TLS, you need to update OpenOffice's settings to use the SSL or TLS on one of the ports accepted by your email server.

In OpenOffice:

1. Tools -> Options
2. OpenOffice.org Writer -> Mail Merge E-mail
3. Set port 465, and select Use Secure Connection (SSL)
4. Click Server authentication to set your username and password.