Viewing HTML emails from other Windows emailclient (Outlook) + inserting tables

[elyan]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel
Email Client: pop

Dear Mactopia,

I just installed Office 2008. Happy with my MAC after migrating from Vista business, yet this migration comes with some issues having the full features of using applications like Office 2007 for Windows and now using office 2008 for MAC.

For me the most important is the email client, in my case migrating from Outlook 2007 to Entourage. Now I can't view any HTML email that sent to me using outlook 2007 the same way it was formated, especially if it was containing a table and colors. When an email reaches my email box in Entourage all I see is a plain text and the content of any formated table is scattered and not in the original formate it was sent. Also I notice with emails that I do receive from Outlook users formated in HTML and not plain text, always there is an attachment of "winmail.dat"..

The other issue even with my emails sending option set in Entourage to HTML still I do not know how to insert a table. I could do that easily in Thunderbird email client without any hassles.. But in Entourage I didn't find till now how to insert a table in my email.

1- is there any way that I could view the HTML emails that I do receive from Windows users in the same way it was originally formated.

2- What is the way to insert Tables in Entourage emails.

Appreciated your support.

Regards,

A. Elyan

 

[Michel Bintener]

See inline for answers.

For me the most important is the email client, in my case migrating from
Outlook 2007 to Entourage. Now I can't view any HTML email that sent to me
using outlook 2007 the same way it was formated, especially if it was
containing a table and colors. When an email reaches my email box in Entourage
all I see is a plain text and the content of any formated table is scattered
and not in the original formate it was sent. Also I notice with emails that I
do receive from Outlook users formated in HTML and not plain text, always
there is an attachment of "winmail.dat"..

There must be something wrong with the sender's mail setup, as Entourage
2008 renders HTML messages almost always without a glitch. As a matter of
fact, Entourage uses WebKit, i.e. the web engine that is also used by
Safari, so basically anything that displays in Safari can also be displayed
in Entourage. As for the winmail.dat files: that is a known issue with
Outlook users sending their message not in HTML or plain text, but in RTF.
See here for more details:

The other issue even with my emails sending option set in Entourage to HTML
still I do not know how to insert a table. I could do that easily in
Thunderbird email client without any hassles.. But in Entourage I didn't find
till now how to insert a table in my email.

Entourage's HTML creation capabilities are more than limited, and the
creation of tables is not part of its feature set. However, you can write
your message in Word (and create your tables in that application), and when
you're done, click on File>Send to>Mail Recipient (as HTML). This will
transfer your message to Entourage; it won't be editable any longer, nor
will you be able to add attachments to it, but the strikethrough is right
there in your message and you're free to send it as soon as you've entered a
recipient. Note that this method is only available if Entourage is defined
as your default e-mail client.

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:mac (Entourage & Word)

*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***

 

[Silversurfer_C6]

"Entourage's HTML creation capabilities are more than limited, and the
creation of tables is not part of its feature set. However, you can write
your message in Word (and create your tables in that application), and when
you're done, click on File>Send to>Mail Recipient (as HTML). This will
transfer your message to Entourage; it won't be editable any longer, nor
will you be able to add attachments to it, but the strikethrough is right
there in your message and you're free to send it as soon as you've entered a
recipient. Note that this method is only available if Entourage is defined
as your default e-mail client."

Michael thank you!!! That was arguably one of the best advices I have seen so far. As an ex-windows/office user, you are right. The HTML deployment is pitiful at best and yours is a great work-around.

 

[dwhitney]

Related to this issue...

When I receive email messages from Windows/Outlook users that have tables etc. in them, EVEN IF they display appropriately (which they don't always...), the message gets COMPLETELY screwed up (formatting wise) if you reply or forward that same message. All the tables get converted to plain text etc.

I HAVE already checked the preference (and turned it both on an off to test if it makes a difference...) about using the same format of the original message when replying.

This is really annoying - not only to me - but to the recipients of the messages that I reply to or forward.

 

[Steve Siegel]

Related to this issue...

When I receive email messages from Windows/Outlook users that have tables etc.
in them, EVEN IF they display appropriately (which they don't always...), the
message gets COMPLETELY screwed up (formatting wise) if you reply or forward
that same message. All the tables get converted to plain text etc.

I HAVE already checked the preference (and turned it both on an off to test if
it makes a difference...) about using the same format of the original message
when replying.

This is really annoying - not only to me - but to the recipients of the
messages that I reply to or forward.

I'm having a similar problem with Entourage 2004. I can compose new HTML
format messages without problems. Forwarding received HTML messages results
in a text only format message. The messages are being forwarded with format
set to HTML and same format as original. Yes, annoying and unacceptable!

Steve

 

[Diane Ross]

When I receive email messages from Windows/Outlook users that have tables etc.
in them, EVEN IF they display appropriately (which they don't always...), the
message gets COMPLETELY screwed up (formatting wise) if you reply or forward
that same message. All the tables get converted to plain text etc.

Use Forward as Attachment or Redirect.