| Does it sound like a foreign language? It's not and we | | | | (we're almost there), you won't need to first learn text |
| really don't need to know all that much. But going over | | | | emailing, then start over in a year or so and learn |
| a few basic email formats is important so we'll start | | | | HTML. |
| here. | | | | - You're already ahead of the curve! |
| Text emails are the most basic and everyone that | | | | PDF or "Portable Document Format" |
| receives email can read text. | | | | - Basically, PDF files enable documents to be |
| PDF stands for "Portable Document Format" and it is | | | | distributed on different computer systems while |
| commonly used on the web. PDF files are sent as | | | | preserving the layout of a document. The documents |
| attachments with the email message. | | | | look the same on everyone's computer whether it's a |
| HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is a document | | | | Dell computer or a MacIntosh computer. |
| format language used on the World Wide Web. It is | | | | - The PDF file format was developed by Adobe |
| expected that all emails will favor HTML-only in the | | | | Systems. PDF files are electronic documents that |
| near future based on current trends. Plus, they are | | | | must be read with Adobe Acrobat software. You can |
| preferred by readers. | | | | download the software program from the web for |
| Text Emails | | | | free to "read" PDF files. It comes already loaded on |
| Text emails are basically any email message sent with | | | | most computers and more than likely, Adobe Acrobat |
| just plain text. No graphics, tables, or sophisticated | | | | "reader" is on your computer. |
| anything. They're like watching black & white TV - | | | | - The naming convention for PDF files is |
| pretty boring. But they can be effective in some cases. | | | | Mydocument.pdf (the ".pdf" extension tells your |
| It is common to send a "text" email message with an | | | | computer to open the file using Adobe Acrobat |
| attachment such as a Microsoft Word document or a | | | | software. |
| PDF file, but the reader must take an additional step to | | | | HTML - Hypertext Markup Language |
| view your attachment (extra steps are not good) and | | | | HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is a document |
| they must have the appropriate software on their | | | | format language used on the World Wide Web. Web |
| computer to read the file, which is not always the | | | | browsers read HTML code and so do most email |
| case. In addition, some email programs don't allow | | | | programs. Using HTML allows you to bring together |
| attachments to be downloaded or opened by the | | | | text, pictures, sounds, video, and links. |
| recipient (user choice). | | | | - HTML files have ".htm" or ".html" file extensions |
| - Rather than sending text messages to some | | | | - HTML files can be created using a simple text editor |
| members and HTML to others, most email programs | | | | such as Microsoft Word or numerous others; many |
| allow us to send both in one "multipart" message. | | | | are available for free on the web |
| - Sending both lets the recipient's email program decide | | | | - When you're looking at a web page, you can "right |
| which one to open (user preference default setting). If | | | | click" your mouse, click on "view source" (or "view |
| you don't see any graphics in the email you receive, | | | | page source") and you'll see the HTML programming |
| your default may be set to text instead of HTML. | | | | code. |
| - Text files have a ".txt" or ".doc" file extension | | | | By the way, you don't need to know how to write |
| - Given text email newsletters are on their way out, | | | | HTML code any longer to create an email newsletter. |
| my recommendation for those just getting started is | | | | But it definitely helps to understand the basics. |
| go with HTML. As HTML becomes the standard | | | | |