Background-image In Email

[StudUK]

First thing is to say hi I a new user

 

Second, I wonder if you help!

 

At work I'm writing a web app that generates HTML newsletters (email).

 

First issue I have come across in embedding HTML in email. First of I'm experimenting pasting code in the source editor in outlook express and sending the email to another PC and examining the Result.

 

Its seems the <img> works fine at looking at the source the image gets encoded. However the CSS style I use for skinning tables does not??

i.e

{BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(Testing/images/my.gif)}

 

I can change the URL to point to a site but it would be great for MIME to encode the image this like the <IMG>

 

Can anyone help?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Cheer

 

Steve

[StudUK]

what I'm trying to say is the style BACKGROUND-IMAGE url im emails seems to be ignored when MIME encoding unlike the <IMG> image wich does

 

???

 

 

 

Source of received email

 

Is encoded

IMG src="cid:002901c4ca3c$9316ccd0$647ba8c0@stevep4"></IMG>

 

Not Encoded

style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(c:/logo.gif); WIDTH:

[TCH-Andy]

Hi Steve,

 

Welcome to your new home

 

I think many email clients do not support CSS - but I'm sure someone knowledgable on that side will be along soon.

[StudUK]

Thanks Andy

[Madmanmcp]

Not sure about CSS but would like to comment on the issue. Personally I turn off html and I recommend that everyone turn off html in their email clients and I know that I am not alone. Their are too many security risks. I also know that most spam programs being used will block emails or block html content.

 

So you are probably starting off on the wrong path if you are going to use html for your emails. Just my opinion.

[StudUK]

your opinion is welcomed, Thanks

 

In fact I totally agree but this is a task that has been given to me even after hearing my suggestions against it

[TCH-Bruce]

Welcome to the family, Steve.

 

I've found when doing HTML newsletters you need to have a fully qualified url for the background image.

 

background-image: url (http...........);

[StudUK]

Hi Bruce,

 

I think I will abandon this encoding way of thinking and just have may HTML newletter have fully qualified URL links. It seems all the newsletters I get seem to do it this way.

 

I.e

So when the Receiver opens my newsletter it then goes hunting for my the images hosted by my web server:)

 

Obviousily the emails will be much smaller in size , but the newsletter will not be displayed correct (missing images) if the Receiver has no web access.

 

As I'm new to HTML newsletters I was fixated in embedding(MIME) the images in the email but its seem that this is NOT the way to go anyway

 

Any opinions?

[TCH-Don]

Welcome to the Family Steve

 

and your new home!

 

As Bob said, many of your recipients will have html disabled

or even reject html email

 

I have reached that point myself.

I now use poptray to view headers and delete most html e-mails.

 

Spammers love to send html e-mails with a link

to a 1x1 gif image in it that does not exist

And when their error logs show a 404 for that image

they can look up the image name to see who they sent it to

and bingo an another address on their list

and you only have to preview it for this to work.

 

A better way might be to send a link to your news letter online

with some higlights of the content.

 

 

We really are like family here.

So if you need anything,

just ask your new family!

We love to help

[StudUK]

Wow!! thanks for the info

 

[TCH-Thomas]

Welcome to your extended family

[StudUK]

what a friendly forum, I dont want to leave

 

Don you mentioned

 

"A better way might be to send a link to your newsletter online

with some higlights of the content."

 

I'm probably being thick but this in it self would have to be a HTML email to show the link?

[TCH-Don]

No you can put a link in the email in the text mode.

 

You can also use html mode and your email client will create a text version for those that have html turned off.

[StudUK]

thanks Don

[StudUK]

Can one use hyperlinks in text with the ability to scroll to a certain points in a email?