Why do replies to email w/ attachments still have attachments?

Question

Level 1

130 points

Why do replies to email w/ attachments still have attachments?

I'm sending out lots of e-mails w/pics of the kids & we usually get lots of replies, but they all contain the original attachments. I'd like to save the responses for the kids to see later in life, but don't want to chew up memory with duplicate files. Rather than manually removing attachments from the replies before saving, how can I change Mail settings to automatically drop attachments in the replies to my outgoing mail? Thanks!!

24" iMac Intel Core 2 Duo with 3G RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 25, 2008 7:35 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dirk

Level 2

335 points

Oct 25, 2008 8:09 AM in response to shalafarky

Hi shalafarky,
what you describe is very unusual for any Mail App whether it is on a PC / or MAC. Normally, when you respond to an Email, the attachement you got is NOT attached again...
I checked it with MAC Mail and Outlook on my PC....

I also checked whether it is possible to automatically delete attachements on "responds" ...but as far as I know - there is no way to do that - even with setting up "rules" for mail...

Try to contact the Email receivers end - how they have set up their Email Apps..in responding to yours...
Sorry no better news from my side....

Reply

Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 25, 2008 8:27 AM in response to shalafarky

Open Mail. From the Edit menu select menu item Attachments. If you have the option to include them in your replies, then uncheck that option.

Reply

Answer 3

shalafarky Author

Level 1

130 points

Oct 25, 2008 8:34 AM in response to Kappy

thx for your reply kappy - this would seem to control how my e-mail handles attachments in my replies to others' e-mail. what i'm trying to control for is how i can receive the replies sans the original attachments that are already on my computer twice - the original saved file and the copy in my sent folder.

Reply

Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 25, 2008 8:39 AM in response to shalafarky

Well, that you have no control over. Just don't save the attachments since they remain with the message, or if you prefer saving the attachment after you do select Remove Attachment from the Message menu - you must have the message selected (and you can select multiple messages if you want.)

Reply

Answer 5

gumsie

Level 4

2,185 points

Oct 25, 2008 8:54 AM in response to shalafarky

The only way around it, not sure if it's the solution you're after, is to look at the 'Composing' tab of Mail preferences. There are reply options there.

Reply

Answer 6

shalafarky Author

Level 1

130 points

Oct 25, 2008 9:12 AM in response to gumsie

Thx - again, these options control how I respond to e-mails with regard to original attachments. I think the answer lies in Dirk's response. I need to have the responders change their settings. This should be easy enough as the most frequent offenders are our parents.

thanks for all your help, everyone!

Reply

Answer 7

gumsie

Level 4

2,185 points

Oct 25, 2008 9:23 AM in response to shalafarky

Oh right. Gotta admit, I still think as if I was on a pay-per-MB broadband service so have the replies not quoting the original message. That way when you reply to one that has an attachment in it and you get an ongoing conversation it's not included further down the line.

Reply