Topic awaiting preservation: !DOCTYPE = EMAIL???

OK - Here's a tricky one for y'awl !!!

I'm trying to write a page that is essentially a pre-formatted email document, but doesn't call the mail client on rendering...
I'd like the page to sit in a frame (or equiv) and be 'Sendable' as email, but appear in the frame as HTML.

First question - does anyone know if this is even achievable?
Second question - If so, HOW???

In advance, many thanks
Dufty

<Edit>
Upon further consideration, maybe a 'Send This Page' button would be more appropriate, since Outlook renders HTML quite happily.

Any ideas if I can do this instead?

Thanks again.
</Edit>


Cell number: 698

[This message has been edited by Dufty (edited 11-19-2002).]

'Send This Page' isn't too terribly hard, especially if the page is dynamically created from a db. Just shove the page into a PHP variable, then use mail() to send it.

I prefer to send a link to the page for several reasons. One is that it's easier to track, especially advertising. Second, a LOT of people are using plain text email clients, such as wireless devices, etc. So sending an HTML page isn't really desired. Plus, those same devices might be capable of receiving a fairly complex and large page. Outlook still converts plain text links, such as email addresses and URLs, to hotlinks. Third, it's a LOT less work. Formatting for plain text is pretty easy, and much easier on the mail server.

just to chime in: I *hate* HTML mail...


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Your points are indeed quite correct for general usage, but I'm developing an idea for a closed intranet, where all users are locked into IE6 and Outlook, so HTML mail isn't a problem (nor is bandwidth).

Unfortunately, I have no PHP scripting capabilities (and no head space for yet another language just yet), so I was thinking there would be some method of getting JavaScript / VBScript to do this at the server end, and without the intervention of a cgi script (the more 'conventional' approach I guess).

I figure I'll have to access the BOM (Given that there is zero support for this in the DOM) but it seems I have a lot more research to do. I may even have to devise some method for accessing the API.
My head hurtss already!

Thanks guys.