View Source of HTML Email in Microsoft Outlook
April 15, 2009 – 1:43 pm
For some reason, Microsoft decided it would be fun to make it nearly impossible to view the HTML source of an email in Outlook.
Below are the convoluted steps to make it accessible. Most of the steps are for the initial setup which makes a new icon available from the quick access toolbar. After you set that up it’s fairly straightforward.
1-time Setup
Standard HTML email in Outlook
Click the drop-down beside the quick access toolbar and then “More Commands…”
Click the drop-down for “Choose commands from:” and select “All Commands”
Scroll down to “View in Browser” and click “Add >>”
You should see “View in Browser” in the “Quick Access Toolbar” list
Click “OK”
Now you have a handy little icon in the quick access toolbar that looks like a globe.
Each time you want to view the HTML source
Notice the new icon in the quick access toolbar that looks like a globe and click it.
Click “OK”
The HTML email now opens in Internet Explorer. Right-click anywhere on the page and click “View Source”.
Take a look at the source
Wasn’t that fun? Microsoft, if you’re listening, how about making that a tad bit easier? Please add a context menu item for the email itself that will open up the source in the default text editor. Thanks!
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2 Responses to “View Source of HTML Email in Microsoft Outlook”
Why would you want to send/recieve HTML email anyways???
() ascii ribbon campaign – against html e-mail
/\ http://www.asciiribbon.org – against proprietary attachments
By Josh Smith
on Apr 16, 2009
Josh, can you honestly tell me that the Victoria’s Secret newsletters you get would be as interesting if they were text-only?
Besides that, HTML emails are the only semi-reliable way to track opens and clicks from your users. Sure you can track clicks in text only emails if you’re willing to have 100-character long links, but who wants to do that? Therefore, when you need to prove ROI to the client, HTML emails are my first choice.
By Jeremy
on Apr 16, 2009