[Mailman-Users] Message HTML/Plain text. Wish client display HTML when possible

[John W. Baxter]

On 4/29/06 7:50 AM, "Thomas Carpentier" <thomasc at belgaboard.com> wrote:

> Sending a message in both  Plain Text and HTML doesn't seem to be a
> solution. Apple mail displays the Plain Text only (as immediate
> alternative). Eudora displays the two parts, plain text and HTML. No
> idea about others programs.

Apple Mail as shipped "prefers" the HTML part.  Using defaults write blah,
blah in Terminal one can (and I have) set Mail to "prefer" plain text.
Either way, the other form can be displaying using Command-] (short for
View-->Message-->Next Alternative).

However, in this case, you control the sending (you are the one who sends to
the newsletter).  You could split the list into two lists, one preferring
plain text and the other preferring HTML, and then send messages with only
the right form to each list.

The Mac-related TidBITS newsletter works that way (with a third alternative
of HTML with article headlines linked to the stories on the web site).

It appears that, using Thunderbird, you would prepare the HTML version of
the newsletter, and send it to the address of the HTML-preferring list,
whose address would be marked in the Thunderbird address book as preferring
HTML mail. Then you would select the message in the sending account's Sent
folder, and use the Message-->Edit Message as New command.  Change the
address to that of the plain text list.

In Thunderbird's Preferences in the Composition tab, on the "Configure text
format behavior" line, click the Send Options... button.  In the upper box,
set the popup to "Convert the message to plain text".

Suggestion:  if you go this route, tune up your Thunderbird settings by
sending to a couple of addresses which are NOT lists, until you get it
right.  With luck, that will help you avoid annoying the list members with
failed tests.

  --John