Yes, obviously it doesn't provide full equation formatting capabilities, as in LaTeX for example, but at least one can type or paste in equations containing for example the Greek 'sigma' character (upper or lower case of course) or the 'square root' symbol instead of having to spell them all out! For obvious reasons I'm unable to demonstrate non-ASCII text!
The Wikipedia article on MIME (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIME) that I quoted earlier says: "The basic Internet e-mail transmission protocol, SMTP, supports only 7-bit ASCII characters (see also 8BITMIME). This effectively limits Internet e-mail to messages which, when transmitted, include only the characters sufficient for writing a small number of languages, primarily English. Other languages based on the Latin alphabet typically include diacritics not supported in 7-bit ASCII, meaning text in these languages cannot be correctly represented in basic e-mail. MIME defines mechanisms for sending other kinds of information in e-mail. These include text in languages other than English using character encodings other than ASCII, ...". -- Ian > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Phil Evans > Sent: 15 September 2009 12:42 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] attachments > > On 15 Sep 2009, at 11:24, Ian Tickle wrote: > > > > > 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. > > I didn't know you could sensibly do equations & Greek letters in html, > but clearly html can be useful. I would have plain text as the > default, though > > > > > 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. > > > > I suppose I also don't understand why people composing html messages > would select a tiny font size, or is that a function of the Mail > reader rather than the writer (which would seem to defeat the purpose > of the writer formatting the message)? > > Phil (confused as usual) > 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 [email protected] 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. 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
