missing plain text option for quick test message

Alicia Searfoss

Does anyone know if the option to send a quick plain text message was removed on purpose or if it is a bug?  I have a test email account just for testing plain text for conditionals and such, but I hate to have to log into it just for a quick last minute review of the email.

Alicia Searfoss

My account I set up for plain text isn't getting plain text any more either.

Brian Mucha

Yes, my Email specialist Phil discovered this recently.



A recent update changed the functionality around this. The format preference on the constituent record is no longer used. Apparently both versions are sent and the email client preferences (MS Outlook: FILE > OPTIONS > TRUST CENTER > E-MAIL SECURITY > Read all standard mail in plain text) control which version is presented. I haven't researched how they are doing this yet.

 

A single email message now contains both the HTML and Plain text versions of the message. The control for which message is visible to the end user is now configured in the individual's email viewer (Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) configuration.  

 

Additionally, the preferred format option on a constituent record no longer controls which version is sent by default to the individual recipient. The field remains on the constituent record as a data point and simply represents the constituents "preference."  

 

In short, the system will now send all messages in HTML by default but also with the plain text version included. Control for which version is viewed is now dependent on individual email viewer configuration. 

Seems like poor timing for a big email change, but realistically I think a tiny precentage are requesting text email anyhow.

Alicia Searfoss

Thank you for this.  Yes, very poor timing.    We have quite a few, surprisingly, so hopefully it doesn't cause any problems.  I don't know why they couldn't have just left it alone.  I'm going to have to go through all my registration forms that may have that field showing and remove it now.   And, figure out how to configure my email accounts to receive plain text only.   Grrr!