Add Pictures or Background Music to Outlook Express emails
Gazette Reader Jim R. writes:
I read your article about sending music with e-mail. I had already been through all the HTML setup when I had trouble not getting pictures sent. All the solutions you mentioned I have done, but I still can't send music as background with email. Any other solutions? I am at a loss as to where to go next. I am running Windows XP, Internet Explorer 6, and Outlook Express 6. "
My response:
You are correct, in that that you need to ensure that your mail sending format is set for HTML (rather than plain text), in order to insert (*not* attach) pictures and apply Background music. As you mentioned, I covered both these topics exhaustively in the Gazette; however, it is still worth going over one more time since I get asked these questions frequently.
RE: How to add Pictures or Background music in emails using Outlook Express
First, ensure Outlook Express is set for HTML compliant emails. Launch Outlook Express, click Tools -> Options -> Send tab, and ensure that "Mail Sending Format" has "HTML" selected. Click Apply, and then OK.
To insert a graphic into your outgoing email, click the Create Mail button and a new window will appear. Next, click on the body of the message, and Insert -> Picture. If you don't click on the body of the message before clicking Insert -> Picture, the menu will appear 'ghosted' and will not allow you to insert a picture file.
To insert music into the email, follow the same steps above, except click Format -> Background -> Sound as the final instruction. Note that the sound file must be in MIDI, AIFF, SND, WAV, or WMA format (.MP3 files are not supported).
If you need further assistance, you can also check out this page from about.com:
http://email.about.com/od/outlookexpresstips/
How to extract Background Music from emails
Q: I received an e-mail that has music with it. I would like to extract
that music and save it to play with Windows Media Player. How do I do it?
A:
Tools | Options | Send tab
Uncheck "Reply to messages using the same format....."
Be sure the "Include message in reply is checked.
Check the option in Mail Sendin Format to Plain Text
Click OK button
Now, Forward the message
When the message window opens, you will see the file as an attachment.
File | Save Attachments.
That's all there is to it.
Be sure to replace the options changed when finished