Show images in customer's email

[vistamaster]

Hi,

Is there a way to include images into the email layout?

Rytis

[Duncan Rounding]

No, the email is text not html.

[vistamaster]

Thanks Duncan...

[NormanRouxel]

Actinic contains code to send emails in HTML format but it's never been used. Look in ACTINIC.PM for the line

	return(SendRichMail($sSmtpServer, $sEmailAddress, $sSubjectText, $sMessageText, "", $sReturnAddress));

The fragment $sMessageText, "" is the interesting bit. The empty "" parameter is the HTML message and if something is put in there it will be added as an HTML part. So changing that line to

	return(SendRichMail($sSmtpServer, $sEmailAddress, $sSubjectText, $sMessageText, $sMessageText, $sReturnAddress));

should result in the message being sent as both plain and HTML versions.
And

	return(SendRichMail($sSmtpServer, $sEmailAddress, $sSubjectText, "", $sMessageText, $sReturnAddress));

should send as HTML only (which might be a bit risky if some customers cannot display HTML email).

You could experiment and see what happens. Backup ACTINIC.pm first!

However, getting an image (other than a link to an image on your server) embedded into the emails would be a big job.

[vistamaster]

Actinic contains code to send emails in HTML format but it's never been used. Look in ACTINIC.PM for the line

	return(SendRichMail($sSmtpServer, $sEmailAddress, $sSubjectText, $sMessageText, "", $sReturnAddress));

The fragment $sMessageText, "" is the interesting bit. The empty "" parameter is the HTML message and if something is put in there it will be added as an HTML part. So changing that line to

	return(SendRichMail($sSmtpServer, $sEmailAddress, $sSubjectText, $sMessageText, $sMessageText, $sReturnAddress));

should result in the message being sent as both plain and HTML versions.
And

	return(SendRichMail($sSmtpServer, $sEmailAddress, $sSubjectText, "", $sMessageText, $sReturnAddress));

should send as HTML only (which might be a bit risky if some customers cannot display HTML email).

You could experiment and see what happens. Backup ACTINIC.pm first!

However, getting an image (other than a link to an image on your server) embedded into the emails would be a big job.

It works! Now I need to figure out how to embed the image... Any ideas on this? No job too big for me!

[vistamaster]

By the way, I've emailed you few days ago in regards to one of your plugins (real time price change) or something similar, did you get the email?

[guccij]

It works! Now I need to figure out how to embed the image... Any ideas on this? No job too big for me!

Yes it does work (thanks Norman) - but how did you get the spacing right on the CartOnlineXML cart contents? I couldn't separate out the lines so the products, price, VAT etc were all jumbled up and there was masses of white space between the address and the cart contents sections:

Dear xxxx xxxxx,
Thank you for shopping at Snorestore Ltd.
*****************************************************
Order Number: SNO10002
Order Date: 22 November 2008 14:02 GMT
We are sending your order to:
xxxx xxxx

22 Romney Drive

Harrow

HA2 7EG
United Kingdom
email@snorestore.co.uk
n/a















Shopping Basket (Prices in British Pounds) DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE Cost ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mack's High Fidelity 12dB 1 £9.95 £9.95 ====================================================================== Subtotal: £9.95 Shipping (First Class 1-2 days): £1.00 Total: £10.95 Including VAT: £1.63
******************************************************

I messed around with <br> and <p> but couldn't resolve the problem. The logo is from a link to the file on the server.

[meden]

as a matter of interest does anyone have any idea what percentage of people routinely accept html email as opposed to text only?

[Duncan Rounding]

No actual facts but I think most people accept html emails now but many don't accept images by default.

I would think if you are going to send html then it would be best to send both html and text versions.

[meden]

yeah I agree, just wondered if it was worth the extra effort involved if a large proportion didn't accept html anyway

[NormanRouxel]

Regarding line breaks in the HTML part being wrong. Try this. Edit ACTINIC.pm and look for the line

	$sMessageHTML =~ s/\n/\r\n/g;        			# all LF -> CRLF

Replace with (untested)

	$sMessageHTML =~ s/\n/\r\n<br\/>/g;        			# all LF -> CRLF<br/>

[Duncan Rounding]

yeah I agree, just wondered if it was worth the extra effort involved if a large proportion didn't accept html anyway

Personally I don't think so. The customer just wants confirmation that his order is in progress at that stage.

IMO to increase repeat sales the company image is more important with the paperwork that is sent with the goods, such as your invoice/packing list etc. Many people will keep that and remember it in future.

[meden]

Personally I don't think so. The customer just wants confirmation that his order is in progress at that stage.

IMO to increase repeat sales the company image is more important with the paperwork that is sent with the goods, such as your invoice/packing list etc. Many people will keep that and remember it in future.

Very good point Duncan

[RuralWeb]

I never send anything with images as most people have them blocked either by choice or through thier anti virus. The images show up as an attachment and we all know they often go stright to the spam folder

[NormanRouxel]

I can't speak for most people but I regularly receive HTML emails from Amazon, Play.com, Ebuyer, etc that contain images. As I know these companies, I'm happy to allow these images to display. Occasionally I see a picture of a product that interests me enough to buy it. A sale that would have been lost if I was living in a text-only world.

If I'd just trusted a company enough to order and pay for something from it, I'd probably be happy to see images in any email related to said purchase.