Hi -

I've got a script that uses the Send Mail step to grab text from
various fields and send an email via the user's default mail program.
The text in FMP is formatted, but when it shows up in their drafts or
outbox, it's plain text.  Is there a way to retain formatting?  This
is FM9 Adv hosted on FM Server to a mixed-platform userbase.

Thanks in advance.
-J.

In article
<5e3e8631-4238-4e57-9630-2080b7ba579b@z16g2000prn.googlegroups.com>,
jahn <jahnbigbooty@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi -
> 
> I've got a script that uses the Send Mail step to grab text from
> various fields and send an email via the user's default mail program.
> The text in FMP is formatted, but when it shows up in their drafts or
> outbox, it's plain text.  Is there a way to retain formatting?  This
> is FM9 Adv hosted on FM Server to a mixed-platform userbase.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> -J.

Emails are meant to be plain text, just like newsgroups messages.

Formatted emails are actually mini HTML webpages (and you should always
first ask the recieipent to make sure they want such emails, especially
if including images). It's not easy to get FileMaker and email
applications to play happily together. You really need an email plug-in
so FileMaker can send emails itself, eg. http://www.SMTPit.com

Helpful Harry                   
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships  ;o)

I used SMTPit several generations ago -- I think FM4 or 5 -- and liked
it, but I'd like to do this without plugins because it's for a
client.  Would you suggest passing the data to the email program as
HTML then?

In article
<b55e65d8-188a-4286-a977-8db51abc4c8e@p39g2000prm.googlegroups.com>,
jahn <jahnbigbooty@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I used SMTPit several generations ago -- I think FM4 or 5 -- and liked
> it, but I'd like to do this without plugins because it's for a
> client.  Would you suggest passing the data to the email program as
> HTML then?

The main problem is that every email application reacts differently to
FileMaker's Send Mail command, which is a non-standardisation fault in
the email applications.

For some you might be able to use a Text field containing HTML code and
pass that to the email application. For others you might have to use
the Copy command to copy the text from a field and then an AppleScript
or Windows-equivalent to paste it into a new email message.

You could play around for weeks and not get anywhere, so you would be
far better off just sending plain text or using a plug-in.

OR
You could:
  - print a filemaker Layout to a PDF and send that as an
    email attachment,

  - put the HTML on a website (where it really belongs) and
    simply send an email with a link to it.


Helpful Harry                   
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships  ;o)

So many options!  Thanks, Harry.  I'll tinker around and see if I can
find the most efficient way.  Appreciate your thoughts on this.

-J.

Op Sat, 24 May 2008 20:54:16 -0700 (PDT) schreef jahn
<jahnbigbooty@yahoo.com>:

>Hi -
>
>I've got a script that uses the Send Mail step to grab text from
>various fields and send an email via the user's default mail program.
>The text in FMP is formatted, but when it shows up in their drafts or
>outbox, it's plain text.  Is there a way to retain formatting?  This
>is FM9 Adv hosted on FM Server to a mixed-platform userbase.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>-J.

I also use the Send Mail step in a script (FM7) and I had the same
problem. To solve this I made a script in the mailprogram that opens
the mails one by one and changes it into HTML and then save it again.
So I didn't solve this problem in FM but in the mailprogram.
 
Have Fun

Fons

On May 29, 7:48=A0am, Fons <Fon...@SPAMvraagt.nl> wrote:
> Op Sat, 24 May 2008 20:54:16 -0700 (PDT) schreef jahn
> <jahnbigbo...@yahoo.com>:
>
> >Hi -
>
> >I've got a script that uses the Send Mail step to grab text from
> >various fields and send an email via the user's default mail program.
> >The text in FMP is formatted, but when it shows up in their drafts or
> >outbox, it's plain text. =A0Is there a way to retain formatting? =A0This
> >is FM9 Adv hosted on FM Server to a mixed-platform userbase.
>
> >Thanks in advance.
> >-J.
>
> I also use the Send Mail step in a script (FM7) and I had the same
> problem. To solve this I made a script in the mailprogram that opens
> the mails one by one and changes it into HTML and then save it again.
> So I didn't solve this problem in FM but in the mailprogram.
>
> Have Fun
>
> Fons

Still, there is another - more advanced - little known option to send
mail directly from FileMaker without a plugin. You need FileMaker
Server 9 of FMS 8 Advanced. FileMaker has written several XSLT
extension functions, a few of which allow you to send plain text of
HTML mail. You need to be proficient with XSLT of course.

- Jeroen

On May 29, 11:32=A0am, goo...@carconnex.be wrote:
> On May 29, 7:48=A0am, Fons <Fon...@SPAMvraagt.nl> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Op Sat, 24 May 2008 20:54:16 -0700 (PDT) schreef jahn
> > <jahnbigbo...@yahoo.com>:
>
> > >Hi -
>
> > >I've got a script that uses the Send Mail step to grab text from
> > >various fields and send an email via the user's default mail program.
> > >The text in FMP is formatted, but when it shows up in their drafts or
> > >outbox, it's plain text. =A0Is there a way to retain formatting? =A0Thi=
s
> > >is FM9 Adv hosted on FM Server to a mixed-platform userbase.
>
> > >Thanks in advance.
> > >-J.
>
> > I also use the Send Mail step in a script (FM7) and I had the same
> > problem. To solve this I made a script in the mailprogram that opens
> > the mails one by one and changes it into HTML and then save it again.
> > So I didn't solve this problem in FM but in the mailprogram.
>
> > Have Fun
>
> > Fons
>
> Still, there is another - more advanced - little known option to send
> mail directly from FileMaker without a plugin. You need FileMaker
> Server 9 of FMS 8 Advanced. FileMaker has written several XSLT
> extension functions, a few of which allow you to send plain text of
> HTML mail. You need to be proficient with XSLT of course.
>
> - Jeroen- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I meant "plain text or HTML mail" of course. Sorry

- Jeroen

Hi, Jeroen -

My client has Server 9, though I haven't worked with it myself.  Are
the XSLT extension functions on Server different than the FMPXMLRESULT
grammar options that can be used when exporting data as XML from FM 9
Advanced?  I'm only just now making my way through Server
documentation, but haven't come across this yet.

Thanks.

-J.