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more on butchered email




I originally sent this message only to Bob and Ludwik, but Ludwik
suggested that the phys-l list readers might also be interested. He
also points out that using fewer than 74 columns will eliminate the =
signs. Usually a mailer can be set to word-wrap automatically at
whatever column you like.

the message:

Bob and Ludwik (private email, not phys-l):

The problem with butchered text is on both Bob's end and on Ludwik's.
L. is apparently using a primitive mail reader which can't decode MIME
encoded quoted-printable mail. As Bob says, he isn't sending HTML mail,
but he IS sending MIME. Here's what happened. The post has lines that
go beyond 74 columns. Outlook is inserting the = sign and a carriage to
indicate that the receiving emailer is to removed the carriage return
and the = sign to display what you sent. My mailer correctly shows the
long line. Ludwik's doesn't.

The "blase" error is due to an auto-correct feature in Microsoft
products that (correctly for typesetting) adds the diacritical mark
above the e. MIME-encoding will send the code to make the symbol
display properly on savvy mail readers. Again, Ludwik's mailer didn't
decode it properly.

To fix the problem, you can turn off Quoted-Printable encoding in OE,
or Ludwik can get a newer email client. Since there are lots of people
who use advanced mailers like OE, the latter approach is probably better.

JEG



__________________________________

John E. Gastineau gastineau@mindspring.com KC8IEW
900 B Ridgeway Ave. http://gastineau.home.mindspring.com
Morgantown WV 26505 (304) 296-1966 voice (304) 296-5035 fax
USA