Mail does not display html content

Question

Level 1

2 points

Mail does not display html content

When viewing some phplist-generated html messages that contain images loading from a remote server, the message content is not showing in the message window (neither text nor images); the message does not include any attachments. The only content that shows up is the phplist footer.

When I view the message's raw source, the content is there. When I forward the mail to another mail client (to Thunderbird, from Mail) the message shows up as designed (I'm the author, and have been testing the message in Mail and other clients). The messages show up correctly in other mail clients.

Weirdly, when similar html email is sent from another domain/server using phplist, the content shows up in Mail just fine.

Here's what I've done to try to resolve the problem:

1. Checked Mail Preferences to verify that "Display remote images in HTML messages" is checked.

2. Searched phplist forums for similar problems. Nothing.

3. Conversed with tech support for the web host (LunarPages, who've been very generous with their time); after a week+ of troubleshooting, they insist the problem must be with Mail.

4. Rebooted mail; rebooted the computer; repaired permissions; run disc repair from the OS X startup disk.

5. Trashed the com.apple.mail.plist file and rebuilt Mail anew.

The problem remains. Has anyone else come across this issue? Any suggestions?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Mail v4.3

Posted on Nov 4, 2010 4:32 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 23, 2017 11:27 PM in response to mellions

By default, an iPhone will always send new messages in Plain Text unless any formatting has been applied to the text. If formatting is applied to the text, such as making the text bold or italic, then it will send the message in HTML.

This shows how to set the default signature on the iPhone to bold or italic, so that all message sent will be in HTML.

On the iPhone tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars and scroll down to the Signature section.
Tap Signature and then tap and hold on your current signature and tap Select All.
Tap the > arrow and then select the B/U button.
Make the text bold or italic and then tap Mail.. at the top left of the screen to save the settings.

With these changes, any emails sent from your iPhone that include this signature will be sent in HTML. This means that Mail Disclaimerswill be able to apply the HTML version of your signature to the message.

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Answer 2

fcagle

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2010 7:17 PM in response to mellions

This is not an answer. I just started to have the same problem last week. I have done everything you have plus formatted the drive and reloaded everything. Mail still does not see most of the HTML messages. I get the error message that my mail client does not support HTML. Mail worked fine before this. I would sure like an answer also.

Floyde

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Answer 3

mellions Author

Level 1

2 points

Nov 6, 2010 8:11 AM in response to fcagle

Something I didn't mention in my original post: when I view the messages in webmail using Safari (the latest), all the content is there; but when the same messages are brought into Mail the content disappears.

Fortunately for me, the issue seems to reside only in content coming from this particular server; other html content comes through just fine. This is why I spent a week in server-side tech support. But because the content is viewable in ALL OTHER mail clients AND webmail, they think it's a problem with Mail.

And yes, I've fiddled with my phplist config.php file, and compared it to other phplist config settings that I use successfully. Besides the things that must change, all other settings are identical.

Apple tech? Any response?

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Answer 4

mellions Author

Level 1

2 points

Nov 6, 2010 8:14 AM in response to mellions

Another note: I'm using the latest OS X (10.6.4) and not what was shown at the bottom of my earlier posts.

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Answer 5

Nov 10, 2010 7:14 AM in response to mellions

I'm having exactly the same problem, and would appreciate it if anyone had any further suggestions.

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Answer 6

shabrino

Level 1

0 points

Dec 16, 2010 4:40 PM in response to Jason_1848

Ditto. The only way to display HTML content in Mail is to pull down “VIEW” menu to DISPLAY MESSAGE then select “BEST ALTERNATIVE”. The it pops up fine. I have done all the trouble shooting as noted above. Many thanks.

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Answer 7

Feb 22, 2011 9:09 PM in response to shabrino

I am experiencing the same issue. This happened literally overnight, was working on an html email for a client and everything was working fine. Spent the next day working on an iPhone app, went to send the html email and nothing displayed when I cc'd it to myself. I checked with the client and everything looks fine on their end. Also tested on gmail, yahoo, and hotmail and everything is ok. This is definitely a MacMail issue, and if there is no fix I will have to stop using it 😟

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Answer 8

kitkatk

Level 1

0 points

Apr 8, 2011 7:36 PM in response to mellions

Did anyone get a resolution? I'm still having this issue! Any suggestions would be great!

k

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Answer 9

Sep 29, 2011 11:38 AM in response to kitkatk

Same issue here. I live and die by emails as part of my job.

I'm also having the reverse issue where formatting looks normal when I send an email but if I check my sent items via webmail, the formatting is all over the place which is incredibly embarassing and unprofessional.

Any resolutions yet?

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Answer 10

agent209

Level 1

0 points

Feb 23, 2012 6:50 AM in response to mellions

I'm just getting this now. Can't figure it out. Did any of you resolve this?

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Answer 11

Tims96

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2012 2:28 PM in response to mellions

Same issue here. It's actually gradually gotten worse, with just a few emails not displaying properly originally, and now nearly every one I receive will not display HTML by default. And in multiple email accounts! Would love to get a response from someone!

Running 10.6.8

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Answer 12

agent209

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2012 7:45 PM in response to mellions

I can't find the link now, but I've read elsewhere that such issues can be related to the mail .plist file becoming corrupt.

One potential fix would be to copy your mail .plist folder to a different location and have it rebuilt. You can find links online for doing that. I haven't tried it. I use imap though, so it would probably be easier for me. If you use pop then you might lose your mail if you do it wrong.

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Answer 13

Mar 12, 2012 11:41 AM in response to agent209

Did anyone ever find a solution to this problem? I'm having the same problem on Lion and Mail 5.2. Some emails display HTML but many do not (and they definitely include an HTML version). All of my "view alternatives" are grayed out. I do not have PreferText set to True.

Please help!

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Answer 14

MaxGuru

Level 1

35 points

Mar 13, 2012 3:09 PM in response to mellions

The solution I found for this problem is to use the utility Onyx after quitting Mail. Open Maintence>Rebuild and check Mail Envelope Index. Select Execute. When I reopened Mail all the messages displayed correctly.

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