cmt said:
I am not an outlook user but have received an email with an attachment
created with Word that has embedded files in it. How can I, a non-outlook,
user open the embedded files?
Tell the sender to stop using RTF (Rich-Text Format). The only e-mail
client that understands RTF is Outlook. Not even Outlook Express
understands RTF. RTF should only be used when sender and recipient are
BOTH using Outlook (and also when both use the same Exchange server).
Otherwise, plain-text or HTML formats should be used. The vast majority
of e-mail should be sent as plain text.
Have the sender resend their e-mail and this time have them use
plain-text or HTML format. They should never be using RTF unless their
company demands the need for it and then only for internal e-mails. If
the sender refuses to stop using RTF then send them a message stating
that their e-mails are in format that is unusable to non-Outlook users .
Then consider if you want to block their worthless e-mails.
Rich-Text Format actually refers to a style of composition that includes
bolding, underlining, fonts, etc. Microsoft's implementation of RTF
format is called Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format (TNEF).
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290809
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278061
You will get a text version of the e-mail but that won't have the
formatting or show the attachments (because that content is carried
within the winmail.dat file), or perhaps your e-mail client shows all
the MIME parts within the e-mail for the attachments. You never
bothered to mention WHAT e-mail client you do use. If it is a critical
e-mail or the sender died so they can't resend it to you in a format
that non-Outlook recipients can use then use a WinMail viewer
application. I found several just by Googling for them, like:
Winmail Opener
http://www.eolsoft.com/freeware/winmail_opener/
Never had to install and use it. I tell the sender to stop using a
Microsoft proprietary e-mail format and to resend their e-mail in text
or HTML format. If they want to show images and other formatting inline
the document then I tell them to write up their document (often in Word)
and attach it so I see it exactly how they want me to see it. Since
they really do want me to see their content, they comply. Then I don't
have to install and use software because of their poor choice for an
e-mail format.
