KC said:
I have an html signature file with an animated GIF
included. The signature and .GIF send out fine when
creating new mail, but on replies the animated GIF cannot
be found. Is there a different/additional directory I
should place the .GIF so reply messages can find it?
Thanks, K.C.
Ideally you should put the GIF on a public web server and reference in your
e-mail rather than embed it. Take a look at the following:
To Embed or Not to Embed
Logos in Outlook signatures sometimes don't go through to the recipient as
expected. What happens depends on how the signature is set up. Here is an
overview of the options available:
1. Use a text-only tag line This is done by simply entering text for your
signature
PROS:
a.. All recipients should see the text.
CONS:
a.. They obviously don't see the logo.
2. Reference the logo on a public web server. To do this, you may have to
edit the HTML of the signature directly, and insert an IMG tag with a SRC
attribute pointing the URL of the graphic
(
http://www.someserver.com/graphic.gif")
PROS:
a.. The size of the e-mail is smaller compared to e-mails that embed the
logo.
b.. Recipients will not get strange attachments they are not expecting.
CONS:
a.. Recipients who are not connected to the Internet when they view
their e-mail may not see the logo.
b.. Recipients with dial-up Internet (or other Internet connections that
are not "always on") may receive a prompt to connect to the Internet when
they view the e-mail
c.. This requires HTML formatting, which some older e-mail programs do
not support.
3. Embed the logo in the e-mail. This is done by using INSERT | PICTURE in
an e-mail, or copying and pasting it into an e-mail.
PROS:
a.. Recipients do not have to be connected to the Internet in order to
view the logo.
CONS:
a.. This increases the size of the e-mail.
b.. Some mail servers may strip out the attached logo, so the recipient
will not see it, only an "X".
c.. Some recipients may get the logo as an attachment, instead of or in
addition to seeing it in the body. This may confuse them if they were not
expecting one.
d.. This requires HTML formatting, which some older e-mail programs do
not support.
4. Reference and embed the logo in the e-mail. This is done by first
referencing as in option 2 above, and then turning ON "Send Pictures from
the Internet" under TOOLS | OPTIONS | MAIL FORMAT, or under the FORMAT menu
in a new e-mail message. The signature still references the logo on the web
server, but also includes the logo as an attachment to the e-mail. If the
recipient is using a program that supports this setup, the program will
display the logo from the attachment if it is unable to connect to the web
server.
PROS:
a.. Recipients do not have to be connected to the Internet in order to
view the logo.
CONS:
a.. This increases the size of the e-mail.
b.. Some mail servers may strip out the attached logo.
c.. Some recipients may get the logo as an attachment, instead of or in
addition to seeing it in the body. This may confuse them if they were not
expecting one.
d.. The recipient's e-mail program has to support this setup.
e.. This requires HTML formatting, which some older e-mail programs do
not support.
Obviously, there is no ideal, gonna-do-what-we-want-every-time solution.
That is the nature of the Internet. Option 2 seems like the best option for
the majority of cases. If users want to be extra sure, they can turn ON the
"Send Pictures from the Internet" option. They should be prepared, however,
for their recipients asking about strange attachments that may show up in
their e-mails.
