Hyperlinks and objects not showing in outlook mail

[Ed]

I have always been able to insert tables, pictures and hyperlinks into my
Outlook2000 emails. I am using Word2000 as my email editor and sending plain
text. I can still paste objects into the email when composing a new message
but now for no apparent reason they do not get sent. Pictures and tables
simply do not show and hyperlinks are not active after the email is sent. I
don't recall changing any settings (might have) and I am always up to date
with Windows and Office updates. Any suggestions?

 

[Roady [MVP]]

To be able to insert pictures, hyperlinks and tables, you'll need to set
your formatting to HTML.
Plain Text doesn't support formatting hence the name ;-)

 

[Ed]

Thank you for your reply.

Since posting my questions I reset my internet options in Explorer 7 and it
apparently did nothing to fix the problem. I tried a restart and again no
effect. I tried your suggestion to change to HTML formating-- still no
hyperlinks.

Next day, however after changing back to plain text formatting , Hyperlinks
worked OK.

Today I tried to send an email with an object pasted into it. It did not
work using plain text but did work using HTML.

Is it correct to think that hyperlinks will work using plain text but that
objects must be sent using HTML?

At this time I am getting by OK but this is confusing and flakey. Do you
have a definative answer?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Since posting my questions I reset my internet options in Explorer 7 and it
apparently did nothing to fix the problem. I tried a restart and again no
effect. I tried your suggestion to change to HTML formating-- still no
hyperlinks.

Next day, however after changing back to plain text formatting , Hyperlinks
worked OK.

Today I tried to send an email with an object pasted into it. It did not
work using plain text but did work using HTML.

Is it correct to think that hyperlinks will work using plain text but that
objects must be sent using HTML?

Plain Text cannot contain objects, period. You can include attachments, but
they won't be embedded objects. URLs won't actually be real links, either,
but many (most?) mail clients, including Outlook will scan Plain Text messages
looking for strings that appear to be URLs and will make them active for you
when presented.

 

[Ed]

Hello again and thank you very much for the clarification.

One further questioon, if I may. Many email etiquette websites advise that
mail be sent in plain text and to avoid HTML at all cost. Is this advise now
outdated? Do almost all email programs now work fine with HTML? Or do you
feel that there are still some significant concerns about compatibility?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

One further questioon, if I may. Many email etiquette websites advise that
mail be sent in plain text and to avoid HTML at all cost. Is this advise now
outdated? Do almost all email programs now work fine with HTML? Or do you
feel that there are still some significant concerns about compatibility?

While I'm of the opinion that most mail clients can render HTML (even though I
have no way of verifying that), I avoid it unless it's clearly a major
benefit. Messages that must illustrate something (such as a message
explaining how to use a product by including screen shots) seem a good use of
HTML. Messages that will be all text should remain Plain Text. HTML would
needlessly expand the size of these messages.