ActionMailer and development mode, can it write to a file or something?

Question

I want to test my registration process locally (development mode), how can I test how emails will be sent out and rendered etc?

I am not referring to a unit-test or integration test, but just while developing my app and going on the register page etc. I want it to send out the emails but to a file not using smtp.

Is this possible?

What options do I have?

Answer 1

This is configurable in the config/environments/*.rb files.

# output to tmp/mails directory config.action_mailer.delivery_method = :file # ... and to specify output location # config.action_mailer.file_settings = { :location => Rails.root.join('tmp/mail') } 

Detailed information can be found in the config section of Action Mailer Basics or on ActionMailer::Base API

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Rails 4.2 :file delivery method source and Mail::FileDelivery source

Answer 2

LetterOpener makes it even simpler for you to preview the emails you just sent by opening the file in the browser automatically (in development environment of course).