inserting html document with hyperlinks into email

[Wendy j Chapman]

Hello,
I have created an 8x10 size document in InDesign - newsletter style with photos and text. Then I export it as an EPS so I can open it in Photoshop and save it as a JPG. Then, I go to my email (Microsoft Outlook) and insert the JPG newsletter into the body of the email. I want to insert versus attaching it. I want the image to appear instantaneously when the email is opened. And, I also want the recipent of the email to be able to click on a hyperlink within my JPG newsletter. I have created hyperlinks using Photoshop and Image Ready, but then it is an HTML document. So, can I insert this HTML document into my email? When I tried the link was broken. I am sure I am doing this the long way, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[YrbkMgr]

Create an HTML page based on your image. Use it as a stationary in Outlook.

[Wendy j Chapman]

I tried to insert the document as stationary, but all the links were still broken. I can see the boxes defining the slices I made in Image Ready, but again, the links are x-ed out. Maybe I am saving the file incorrectly from Image Ready?

[dave milbut]

you need to host the images somewhere and make sure your links point at that server.

[Colin Walls]

Wendy:

What Dave is saying is: when an email has "embedded" images, they are actually on a Web server somewhere. The email just contains hyperlinks to that place. So, the first thing to establish is: do you have somewhere to store [=host] them?

[Wendy j Chapman]

Continuing to prove my ignorance....
Yes, I have a place to store my images. I can post them on my company's "extranet" if I can't save them on my hard drive. I have embedded images using InDesign and Illustrator, but have not considered it in regards to email.

[Colin Walls]

The point is: an HTLM email is just like a Web page. It's a bunch of HTML, which manifests itself as text on the screen and pulls other stuff [like images] of the Internet. So, in constructing one, that's the approach you need to take. It's one of these things that's more complex than it appears.

[YrbkMgr]

So, it goes like this.

Use Front Page or your favorite HTML Editor, and create a web page. Add your JPG and your links to the HTML page.

Use an FTP Program to put the JPG and any other graphic elements on your server, make sure your HTML page references the location on the server.

Then save the HTML page. In MS Outlook Tools|Options|Mail Format, use HTML, use the stationary picker, click New, and go navigate to the location of the HTML page.

That will be your new stationary, an HTML page, that references graphics items on your server.

[Wendy j Chapman]

Thanks! I will give it a shot.

[Wendy j Chapman]

Ok, I have tried and tried numerous things and have been very frustrated. I saved Optimized As and made my file an html document and then went to Microsoft Outlook and attempted to make this file my stationary. This did not work. All my slices were broken. I do not know how to write html code (although attempting to learn using Evrsoft's 1st Page 2000). Pouring over the Adobe Photoshop manual, web tutorials, etc. it seems that an html editor is the only way to do this. Also, when I make slices, IR creates additional slices around the remaining image. How can I avoid all these unneeded slices? What do I do after I have saved my file Saved Optimized As?

[Helen Polson]

Pouring over the Adobe Photoshop manual, web tutorials, etc. it seems
that an html editor is the only way to do this.




Most people would use a program like Dreamweaver for this, or perhaps code by hand.

Did you upload your images to your extranet? If not, then you're still going to get those broken links! Also, check that your links aren't pointing at the local version of your images.

[Helen Polson]

I think you're getting there Wendy- sometimes it can take a while for the penny to drop, but it will, I promise!

If you're using slices to make your links (instead of an image map), IR should have chopped your original image up into lots of bits for you. It's these bits which you need to upload to the server (extranet). The html will link to these, not your original jpeg.

Have a go at that and see if it works :)

[Wendy j Chapman]

I tried an image map as I liked that it did not create all the extra slices. But I couldn't get the image maps to work either. Also, in the manual it says that for basic optimization, saving as GIF, JPG, PNG or WBMP means that I will loose web features such as slices, links, rollovers. So I am confused after reading that. Also, whether I use slices or image maps, I need to load these images to my server, right? These images are in the images file that automatically gets created, right? Assuming I do that right and it works, how then do I get the whole thing inserted into the body of my email?

[Helen Polson]

These images are in the images file that automatically gets created, right?




Should be- and it's these images that you need to upload to the server (extranet).

The final step is to take the html file that IR created while making those slices, and make that into your e-mail. (You can do this by making it e-mail stationery- there's plenty of help how to do this in Outlook). Then, when you send it to someone the e-mail will automatically pull in the images from the web. So you're not sending anyone the images, you're just telling the e-mail where to get them from. Does that make sense?

[Wendy j Chapman]

It makes sense, but it doesn't seem to work. I uploaded all the images the IR turned into slices on my server. I went to Outlook and made a new stationary from the html file, but it is still broken. Also, if I get this stationary to work, won't it repeat the image over and over to fill the body of the email?

[Helen Polson]

It shouldn't do- although I have had problems with stationery myself in the past which defy all logic! I'm at work for another 20 minutes, if you like feel free to send me the html file and I'll see if I can get it into the stationery for you.

My e-mail is helen.polson"atsign"ebbon-dacs.com
(Change "atsign" to @, just a little trick to foil the e-mail address harvesters!)

[Wendy j Chapman]

I sent you 2 emails. Thanks for helping!

[dave milbut]

wendy, make sure the html <img> tags are pointing at the new loctaion of the image files (your slices) on the extranet before creating the stationary.

[Helen Polson]

I've just explained that to you in an e-mail Wendy, I'll hang around at work a little bit longer just to check everything is working ok :)

[Helen Polson]

I've got to get off home now (it's quarter to 6 here and the weekend has arrived!). I hope my e-mail makes sense to you Wendy, if you're still working on this on Monday please feel free to give me a shout then if you need any more pointers or help with the html.