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by James Senick
adapted from original method by Oleg Zalyalov
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Composing solid multipart HTML messages:
Purpose:
To create an HTML message that can be read by both HTML and Text-Only e-mail clients without the side effects of simply using an attachment.
First, this method, while solid, is a bit too involved to create one HTML message. It's application is better suited to mailing a newletter on a mass scale or the like. As such, that's how I will approach the details. However, it still can be used for single messages, of course. Simply adjust the message creation portions of this text to suit your needs.
Step One.
- Create two HTML files in your favorite editor. The first one should be the one you actually want to send, formatted to your liking. The second should be extremely small (to save time) and named something like 'dummy.html' without the quotes.
The 'dummy.html' file could be something like the following:
--
Dummy File
Dummy
--
The reason for the dummy file is for something constant to search on. The code TB converts it too will be easily searched and replaced with the true file you want. It's small size is important since the exported and re-imported files will later be deleted anyway. Why take up useless space more than once? Small size also speeds the search process.
(Note: The dummy file's creation is completely unnecessary when only concerned with creating one single e-mail as a result)
Step Two:
Create the real HTML file...the one you want to send. I'll do something simple again just to save space here and keep it easy on the eyes:
--
My Tres Cool Message :)
My Utterly Cool Message to You:
Finding a break in work tonight, I knew not what to do with myself. It was not sufficient to simply waste my own time. So, I am out to waste yours as well. Not that you don't waste my time. What, with all those corny forwarded jokes and "forward this to 100 people in the next 15 seconds or you'll develop a rash" crap!
In fact, why am I writing you at all?
You have the nerve to try to make me feel guilty for not responding to any of your messages for a measly 42 months! All you send me is the same old tired, forwarded crap that takes not an ounce of energy, let alone thought, to spew forth. From now on, you'll be hearing from me daily as I have configured my far superior mail client (The Bat!) to redirect all my spam to you courtesy of yours truly.
--
Step Three:
(NOTE: This step is unecessary for creating single messages; instead, create a message and attach your desired HTML file and follow up with Step 4)
Choose your address book / group to whom you wish to send messages and create a mass mailing template for them. The template should include a %ATTACHFILE= macro that includes your dummy.html file and the text portion of your HTML message minus all tags, of course. Make sure that the "Action" portion of the Mass Mailing dialogue is set to "Put in Outbox".
Step Four:
After TB creates all the messages with you attached dummy.html file, export them as .MSG files to a temporary folder you can access quickly.
Step Five:
Delete the generated messages from the Outbox and open one of the exported .MSG messages in a text editor.
Step Six:
(NOTE: Depending on the number of messages you're dealing with, it may help substantially to use a find / replace tool such as 'Adanced Find and Replace' or any tool that can perform multiple replace actions in one sweep across an entire folder's contents.
If you are only creating one message, editing by hand will do just fine.)
Perform the following search and replace actions between the *** lines:
***************
Look For:
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
Replace with:
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
Look For: (note that the file name and code portions will differ depending on the dummy file you create)
Content-Type: text/html; name="dummy.html"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="dummy.html"
PGh0bWw+DQo8aGVhZD48dGl0bGU+RHVtbXkgRmlsZTwvdGl0bGU+DQo8L2hlYWQ+DQo8Ym9keT5E
(*whole bunch of code dependant on your attached Dummy file*)
dW1teTwvYm9keT4NCjwvaHRtbD4=
Replace with:
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
(Insert your real HTML source code here)
***************
That's It for the find and replace. Be sure not to delete or replace the boundary markers like '------------12A4D95AB37924--' though!
Step Seven:
Make sure you have deleted the messages you previously exported from your Outbox. Then Import the newly aletered .MSG messages into the Outbox. They / It should be ready to go. Be sure to clean all those .MSG files out of the temporary folder if you use this method often.