There are at least three ways that an email program might try to "include"
images in an HTML-formatted email.  Each can break (producing little red
Xes) in its own way(s):

1.  Include the image as an attachment in the message.  Attempt to construct
links to it in the HTML text, which a *compatible* recipient email client
can follow to extract and display the images.  Note that this requires not
just that the recipient's email program be able to display HTML, but that it
handle attachments in a compatible fashion, or perform some mapping of image
links in the HTML body.

2.  Include links to images offered by an HTTP (web) server.  This can
greatly reduce the size of the email -- especially if it's going to multiple
recipients, but it means that the images can only be seen if the recipient
is currently connected to the Internet.  This won't work for anyone who
dials in to download their messages, and then reads them off-line.
  Also, since a lot of spam and spyware works this way, many email clients
(or client-side firewalls) will block the client's attempt to retrieve the
image....

3.  Include a local link to the image residing on the sender's hard drive.
Even if the drive is shared and mounted by the recipient, there's no
guarantee that it will have the same drive letter on the recipient's
machine, so this approach can hardly ever work -- basically, an email
sending program that does this is probably just broken.

  The thing is, unless one knows the sender's and the receiver's email
programs, and how they're configured, it's hard to guess whether it *can*
work, let alone why it doesn't in some particular case.

David Gillett



On 30 Jul 2004 at 16:01, a fennell wrote:

> I have the same problem with SOMETIMES a red X in a box will appear instead of a graphic.  However, I get HTML (graphic) email all the time.  Its just that now and then I will get the boxed X instead of the graphic.  I right click on the boxed X, but still can't get the picture.   Does anyone have a suggestion?  As I said, I get most graphics just fine - its only SOME that don't come through.     thanks,    -AnnFennell
>
> "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity,
> you will find that these are men who will deal likewise with their fellow man."   -St. Francis of Assisi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Don Penlington
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2004 8:31 AM
> Subject: [PCSOFT] HTML graphics for download or forward.
>
>
> Janet writes:
>
> <<When I download or forward emails with moving graphics or regular
> pictures, I end up with a box with an x in it instead of the pictures....
> then copy and paste in a new email but when it gets to the person I sent it
> to, again there it just a square for the picture and the little square with
> the x>>
>
> Well first of all, if you're not receiving these files, there's no way you
> can forward them.
>
> Second, we'd need to know what OS and email program you use.  If, for
> example, you use OE, it's likely that a recent security patch to OE
> prevents you from downloading such material, because of the high
> security  risk inherent in HTML emails. You'd have to reset its options to
> allow attachments and formatted text.
>
> For the same reason, it's probable that your recipients have html email
> blocked.
>
> You should be aware that receiving and sending html email is a high-risk
> area, and that in order to do so, you will have to set the security
> settings on whatever emailer you use accordingly.
>
> Make sure that your antivirus defences are right up-to-date, and that your
> sources are absolutely safe---ie that anyone sending you such material is
> VERY expert in their computer knowledge and experience.
>
> If, for example, your own computer were virus-infected, of which you might
> be totally unaware, that virus can propagate, through the html coding, onto
> any other computer to which you might transmit any formatted email. This is
> a favourite way in which viruses and other nasties such as malware choose
> to propagate themselves. They use an innocent  "host" computer from which
> to spread their evil ways. The poor innocent host doesn't know, until
> suddenly their friends stop speaking to them!
>
> Assuming you already know all that, if you still wish to proceed, have a
> look at your firewall settings, your email software security settings, and
> check that your ISP's at both ends will permit these transmissions. A lot
> of email filters will block html completely, or at least consign it to the
> "junkmail" bin.
>
> That's because html carries a very high "junk" or "spam" rating.
>
>   Personally, I have my email filters (Eudora) set to block all html email,
> as I know it will be either spam or possibly dangerous. Perhaps your
> recipients have similar settings.
>
> If you wish to send graphics safely, you can do so by sending them as
> regular .jpg or movie attachments.
> Embedding them into html email will put most filters onto high alert.
>
> Don Penlington
>
>
>
>
>  From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
> Computer tutorials and other things at my website:
> http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html
>
>              PCSOFT maintains many useful files for download
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>
>                          PCSOFT's List Owner's:
>                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>

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