How to send HTML email SANS Plain Text alternative
Michel Merlin
Sure I am accustomed to the web being hoarded by Fast Posters & Flat Brains who blindly apply anything provided it has been repeated and repeated and worn and worn for decades and decades, no regard if it is totally outdated or inefficient, however I didn't expect that sort of obscurantism was so badly spread everywhere: http://www.google.com/search?q=How+to+send+HTML+email+without+Plain+Text+alternative returned almost nothing out of those ridiculous undying stances explaining why HTML is bad, etc - I felt like gone 20 years earlier (when 300bps modem was luxury), and I only wonder why they stop before explaining why telephone, current water and horsecars are dangerous bleeding edge. Those mutually-appointed Gurus will as usual take another decade before realizing that nowadays every flower seller at their corner has sent all her email in HTML for that past decade, that all threats in HTML have been reasonably tamed, and that everyone receives and reads HTML email with no problem.
So I turn here, sure prepared for another shower of same blind guru stances condescendingly explaining why I should keep uselessly 40%-burdening every email with outdated material that none will use, but also hoping that amid this, a few open minds remain and will be able, 1st to imagine that I *may* be smart enough to decide by myself what use of this I *may* make, where and when, 2nd to accordingly reply in an open manner... TIA for any such help (and forgive me for that unfortunately necessary intro),
Versailles, Fri 1 May 2009 13:02:35 +0200
Michael Santovec
cannot do that in Outlook Express. You'll have to find another mail
client.
You also won't be able to do that in Windows Live Mail.
I don't know if that is an option in the Office Outlook. You may need
an non-Microsoft mail client.
--
Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm
"Michel Merlin" <michel...@laposte.net> wrote in message
news:eUFYTxky...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
Michel Merlin
What I didn't mention is that of course in a first period of time I need better control over the PT alternative (than simply ditch it), e.g. replacing it with just a note like « If you are unable to read HTML email, please hit "Reply" and tell me »
(Doing something similar in 2006 on news://msnews.microsoft.com when switching from "7bit" to "quoted-printable" ensured me that by that switch I caused no trouble to anyone, despite the almost unanimous opposite Guru stances about it).
Versailles, Sun 3 May 2009 11:12:20 +0200
----- Parent Message (links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Michael Santovec" <michael_...@prodigy.net>
Newsgroup: news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/uBTiAXoy...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl
Sent: Fri 1 May 2009 10:53:31 -0700 (17:53:31 GMT)
Subject: Re: How to send HTML email SANS Plain Text alternative
If you want to send pure HTML without the Plain Text alternative, you cannot do that in Outlook Express. You'll have to find another mail client.
You also won't be able to do that in Windows Live Mail.
I don't know if that is an option in the Office Outlook. You may need an non-Microsoft mail client.
--
Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm
----- Parent Message (links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Michel Merlin" <michel...@laposte.net>
Newsgroup: news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/eUFYTxky...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl
Sent: Fri 1 May 2009 13:02:30 +0200 (11:02:30 GMT)
Subject: How to send HTML email SANS Plain Text alternative
Michael Santovec
would be to write a proxy server that sits between OE and the ream SMTP
mail server. This is commonly how anti-virus software does outgoing
e-mail scanning.
If your real SMTP mail server doesn't use SSL, that programming wouldn't
be too complicated. If it does, that complicates things.
You may be able to some sample programs on shareware sites.
--
Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm
"Michel Merlin" <michel...@laposte.net> wrote in message
news:ezVuE98y...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
RobertVA
If the redundant plain text copy of your message is causing a whooping
40% increase in the total message size there must be relatively little
in the way of graphics or other media in your HTML presentation. As the
size of the media decreases the additional percentage added to the
message by the redundant plain text would shrink.
It would take a VERY long winded message for that 40% to make much
difference in either the transmission time or the message's storage
requirements (on the server or your local client or on the recipient's
system).
If you send messages without the redundant plain text and the recipient
has their mail client to display only the plain text they will not be
able to see your message. If the recipient is blocking graphics to foil
spammer's attempts to identify valid email addresses your pretty
backgrounds and borders will also be blocked.
I'm not understanding why you're so worried about it.
Michel Merlin
1) I assume you meant "whopping". It is quite silent, not "whooping".
2) When messages *convey information and ideas*, they usually are made mostly of text, and formatting is essential to their readability. Of course OTOH "Fast Posters & Flat Brains" mostly post heavy graphics and anemic text wrapped in irrelevant formatting; but, while a majority on some discussion areas (like the ones officially selecting "Most Vocal Posters"), they are a minority in plenty other places.
« It would take a VERY long winded message for that 40% to make much difference »
Email is the main use of the web, and many keep all their messages. They can have a 1GB message store, and backup a couple copies. Personally I have less, but I still have to slice it in a couple folders to make browsing and searching faster. If I had not eliminated useless stuff all the long, I would have more folders. And if all messages got rid of their PT copies, I would have less.
Anyway 40% is 40%, and progress often goes by much smaller steps. There always have been closed minds and obscurantists to refuse any progress, no matter the pretexts, as e.g. refusing big steps, or refusing small steps.
« If you send messages without the redundant plain text and the recipient has their mail client to display only the plain text they will not be able to see your message »
I am appalled to see someone repeating that ridiculous outdated worn reworn rereworn rerereworn "argument", without addressing the real question ("are there still people unable to see HTML in messages?"), after the lengthy warning I cared to post (and to impose uselessly on the possibly present educated readers), just trying to elude that kind of useless automatic reckless obscurantist resistance to change.
PS. Don't be impressed by those blowing hot air when short of arguments - be they official Most Vocal Posters.
Versailles, Thu 7 May 2009 07:00:00 +0200
----- Parent Message (links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "RobertVA" <robert_c7...@invalid.com>
Newsgroup: news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/esdcbGFz...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl
Sent: Sun 03 May 2009 20:45:18 -0400 (Mon 04 May 2009 00:45:18 GMT)
Subject: Re: How to send HTML email SANS Plain Text alternative
If the redundant plain text copy of your message is causing a whooping 40% increase in the total message size there must be relatively little in the way of graphics or other media in your HTML presentation. As the size of the media decreases the additional percentage added to the message by the redundant plain text would shrink.
It would take a VERY long winded message for that 40% to make much difference in either the transmission time or the message's storage requirements (on the server or your local client or on the recipient's system).
If you send messages without the redundant plain text and the recipient has their mail client to display only the plain text they will not be able to see your message. If the recipient is blocking graphics to foil spammer's attempts to identify valid email addresses your pretty backgrounds and borders will also be blocked.
I'm not understanding why you're so worried about it.
----- Parent Message (links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Michel Merlin" <michel...@laposte.net>
Newsgroup: news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/eUFYTxky...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl
Sent: Fri 1 May 2009 13:02:30 +0200 (11:02:30 GMT)
Subject: How to send HTML email SANS Plain Text alternative
All the HTML messages (mail or news) I send using OE6 (Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5512 xpsp.080413-2105) embed the traditional Plain Text alternative, which typically adds 40% to the size of the message. I often remove it from the Sent or Received messages that are stored in my Local Folders. But how do I get rid of it in messages BEFORE or WHILE I send THEM to others?