Phil Nothing at all wrong with plain text for simple messages as you say, but if you want to communicate a complicated equation (particularly one containing a lot of Greek letters and math symbols not in the standard ASCII set!) the HTML version is much cleaner and easier to understand. Obviously I would never try to send such an equation to the BB, I'm talking about private messages. The problem is remembering to switch back to plain text for run-of-the-mill messages (and knowing people's sensitivities I always try to do that!). On my client admittedly the option for plain text/HTML sending is in clear view, in a previous version it was buried deep in the menu options and had to be selected before you started to compose the message, and the same may well be true for other clients.
The other point of course is that you're never going to be able to stem the tide! There will always be people who will use HTML even for simple messages, mostly through ignorance, and it seems to me that if the HTML version causes problems as it seems to be doing in your client, then the easiest solution is to adapt and select the 'by default view as plain text' option. Cheers -- Ian > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk [mailto:owner-ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] On > Behalf Of Phil Evans > Sent: 15 September 2009 10:47 > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] attachments > > There are two problems, I think > > 1. Sending a simple mail like this in anything other than plain text > is wasteful, and also enforces the sender's way of displaying it on > the reader, rather than following the reader's preference. > (That may of course be appropriate in some cases where formatting is > important, but not in this context) > > 2. Messages such as Norman's (and others), which seem to come from > Outlook Express or Exchange Server, specify a font size 3D2 (whatever > that means) which comes out too small to read, at least for me > > The html line is:- > <P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial"> > > <Luddite> What's wrong with plain text? </Luddite> > > Phil > > On 15 Sep 2009, at 10:34, Ian Tickle wrote: > > > > > Phil > > > > I had this same problem a while ago, if you recall. Modern e-mail > > clients sending a message in HTML format will almost certainly send it > > in 2 parts, the first a version converted to plain text and the second > > the original HTML version (and possibly other versions of the same > > message). This is the 'MIME multipart alternative' e-mail standard > > which is designed so that e-mail clients or users reading the message > > can choose the version they want to display. To quote from > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIME#Alternative : "Systems can then > > choose > > the "best" representation they are capable of processing; in general, > > this will be the last part that the system can understand". > > > > So assuming your mail client is MIME-compatible (I would have thought > > that all modern clients are) there should be an option on your mail > > reader (as there is on mine) to always display the plain text version. > > > > Cheers > > > > -- Ian > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: owner-ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk [mailto:owner- > >> ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] > > On > >> Behalf Of Phil Evans > >> Sent: 15 September 2009 09:59 > >> To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > >> Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] attachments > >> > >> while we're on this topic, it would be nice also if messages were > >> sent > >> in plain text, not as html (like yours, Norman :-)), particularly as > >> these ones generally come out in a tiny font in my (Apple) mail > >> reader, for some reason > >> > >> Phil > >> > >> > >> On 15 Sep 2009, at 09:45, Stein, Norman (STFC,DL,CSE) wrote: > >> > >>> In the past month there have been several postings to the BB with > >>> large > >>> (100kB or more) attachments. Can I remind subscribers that it is our > >>> policy to discourage attachments as, amongst other things, they can > >>> cause mailboxes to fill at an alarming rate. A link to a website > >>> carrying the data which would otherwise appear in the attachment, is > >>> more appropriate. > >>> > >>> Norman Stein > >>> CCP4 > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Scanned by iCritical. > >>> > > > > > > > > Disclaimer > > This communication is confidential and may contain privileged > > information intended solely for the named addressee(s). It may not > > be used or disclosed except for the purpose for which it has been > > sent. If you are not the intended recipient you must not review, > > use, disclose, copy, distribute or take any action in reliance upon > > it. If you have received this communication in error, please notify > > Astex Therapeutics Ltd by emailing i.tic...@astex-therapeutics.com > > and destroy all copies of the message and any attached documents. > > Astex Therapeutics Ltd monitors, controls and protects all its > > messaging traffic in compliance with its corporate email policy. The > > Company accepts no liability or responsibility for any onward > > transmission or use of emails and attachments having left the Astex > > Therapeutics domain. Unless expressly stated, opinions in this > > message are those of the individual sender and not of Astex > > Therapeutics Ltd. The recipient should check this email and any > > attachments for the presence of computer viruses. Astex Therapeutics > > Ltd accepts no liability for damage caused by any virus transmitted > > by this email. 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Astex Therapeutics Ltd monitors, controls and protects all its messaging traffic in compliance with its corporate email policy. The Company accepts no liability or responsibility for any onward transmission or use of emails and attachments having left the Astex Therapeutics domain. Unless expressly stated, opinions in this message are those of the individual sender and not of Astex Therapeutics Ltd. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of computer viruses. Astex Therapeutics Ltd accepts no liability for damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. E-mail is susceptible to data corruption, interception, unauthorized amendment, and tampering, Astex Therapeutics Ltd only send and receive e-mails on the basis that the Company is not liable for any such alteration or any consequences thereof. Astex Therapeutics Ltd., Registered in England at 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge CB4 0QA under number 3751674
