Troubleshoot file attachment problems caused by rich text emails.
The email application that comes as a standard feature on the Apple iPhone is compatible with most email message file attachment types, including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents, image files and video clips. However, sometimes file attachments won't open on the Apple iPhone if the email message is sent from the Microsoft Outlook email program in a specific format. The only way to resolve this problem is to ask your contact to send the email in a different format.
Email Formats
Most computer email programs and online services give the user a choice of email formats, including HTML Web design format and plain text format. Microsoft Outlook also offers a rich text format option. Rich text format emails are similar to plain text emails, but offer the user more formatting options, including a choice of font faces, font sizes and font styles, such as bold text or underlined text. HTML and plain text emails don't cause problems for the iPhone's email application, but RTF -- rich text format -- emails can stop attachments from showing and opening.
iPhone Email Attachments
The iPhone's email software handles file attachments in the same way as most full-featured computer email programs and online email services. When you receive a plain text or HTML email with an attachment, the iPhone displays a paper clip icon on the email message. After opening the email message, the attachment displays under the message text. Tapping on the attachment opens the file in the iPhone's default document, image or video software.
RTF Email Attachments
Problems with file attachments can occur when your contact sends an RTF email with a file attachment. Either the attachment doesn't display at all, or you see a "Winmail.Dat" file attachment instead of the expected file attachment indicated in the message subject line. The iPhone won't allow you to open or access the incorrect file attachment.
Solution
There's no way to correct the email file attachment problem on the Apple iPhone, so you need to ask your friend or contact to resend the attachment in an email formatted in plain text or HTML. Change the email format in Microsoft Outlook 2010 by clicking the "File" tab on the main menu ribbon. Click "Options" in the context menu, and then click "Mail." Click the check box beside "HTML" or "Plain Text" in the "Compose in this Message Format" list, then click "OK." For earlier versions of Microsoft Outlook, go to "Tools" followed by "Options," and click the "Mail Format" tab. Click the check box beside "HTML" or "Plain Text" in the "Compose in this Message Format" list, then click "OK." Windows Live Mail and most online email services offer only plain text or HTML email format options.
Tags: file attachment, email message, Microsoft Outlook, text format, text HTML, Apple iPhone, Email Attachments
