Here’s what I do:

SETUP A CONFIGURATION FILE

< ?php
 
// Site configuration settings
...
...
...
// Email Settings (For PHPMailer)
define('EMAIL_FROM_NAME', 'Webmaster' ); // from email name
define('EMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS', 'webmaster@mywebsite.com'); // from email address
// Do we need to relay to a different server???
// -> Provide option to use external mail server.
define('SMTP_MODE', 'disabled'); // enabled or disabled
define('SMTP_HOST', '');
define('SMTP_PORT', '');
define('SMTP_USERNAME', '');
?>

CREATE A CUSTOM CLASS

require_once($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/lib/phpmailer/class.phpmailer.php');
 
class MyMailer extends PHPMailer
{
var $priority = 3;
var $to_name;
var $to_email;
var $From = null;
var $FromName = null;
var $Sender = null;
 
function MyMailer()
{
 
if(defined('SMTP_MODE') && SMTP_MODE == 'enabled')
{
$this->Host = SMTP_HOST;
$this->Port = SMTP_PORT;
if(defined('SMTP_USERNAME') && !empty(SMTP_USERNAME))
{
$this->SMTPAuth  = true;
$this->Username  = SMTP_USERNAME;
$this->Password  =  SMTP_PASSWORD;
}
$this->Mailer = "smtp";
}
if(!$this->From) {
$this->From = EMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS;
}
if(!$this->FromName) {
$this-> FromName = EMAIL_FROM_NAME;
}
if(!$this->Sender) {
$this->Sender = EMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS;
}
$this->Priority = $this->priority;
}//end constructor
} //end class
?>

IN USE:

< ?php
 
// Include site config
require_once($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/config.php');
 
// Include the MyMail class
require_once($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/lib/MyMailer.php');
 
// Instantiate the class
$mailer = new MyMailer();
 
// Set the subject
$mailer->Subject = 'This is the subject';
 
// Body
$mailer->Body = 'This is the body';
 
// Add an address to send to.
$mailer->AddAddress('foo@bar.com.au', 'Foo Bar');
 
if(!$mailer->Send())
{
echo 'ERROR: Unable to send email';
}
else
{
echo 'SUCCESS: Mail sent!';
}
// Clear all addresses and attachments ready for next email
$mailer->ClearAddresses();
$mailer->ClearAttachments();
?>