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Submission details

26 +27/-1 votes

Windows Live Mail: Bring back ability to view source HTML

Submitted by pmbAustin on June 21, 2009 to Aesthetics, Annoyance, Bug, Usability

In the old Outlook Express, you could turn on an advanced mode that would enable three tabs across the bottom... the editing tab (normal view), a preview tab (show email exactly as it will appear when sent), and a source tab (show the underlying HTML so you could directly edit the formatting).

This was very useful when you wanted to do something specific and the UI either wouldn't let you, or something was getting messed up in the email (usually due to a paste from Word or a Web Page) and you needed to clean up or fix up something).

Again, let the user be in control if they have the desire and knowledge. Please restore the ability to edit the HTML directly by adding an "advanced mode" that will turn on a "source" tab along the bottom of the editing window.

High

High

Not fixed

Discussion (10 comments)

Andreas Hohendorf wrote on July 2, 2009, 9:25pm

I'm usually using Outlook Express, but, after I've installed Windows 7, I had to make Windows Live Mail as my favored email-application.
The first thing I was missing, was the option to switch to the source view. And there's no solution???

Mickstah wrote on August 14, 2009, 9:06am

The lack of html editing is the only thing holding back an otherwise solid application.

It's rather amusing that outlook express on XP had more html functionality than Windows Live Mail. C'mon this is 2009 and you're not making our jobs any easier!

cumbrowski wrote on November 4, 2009, 8:37am

Damn. I thought there might be a trick to turn that feature back on. What I also miss is the ability to add photos to the contacts, considering that the new .CONTACTS format supports this. I am also wondering why they did not manage to add a dedupe feature to the address book after all those years.

kib3000 wrote on January 27, 2010, 7:51pm

I feel likewise. There's simply no substitute for quality of information when troubleshooting mailing paths. Hours and days of productivity can be lost through being denied this facility.
One solution is to access your account through the site http://www.hotmail.com then either right click on the message in the inbox (/spam folder/ecylcling folder - if you've set up filter rules) to view source (of message) or double click the email to view, then right click for view source to see the html page code.
A direct link to this feature through Windows Live Mail would be better. Hope this helps.

kavamura wrote on March 3, 2010, 8:20pm

i need this tool

highway35 wrote on April 18, 2010, 8:15pm

YES! PLEASE bring this fuctionality back! It's very frustrating to use this mail client without it.

Like buying a new car that has less amenites than the 10 year old one.

I too used OE and this particular function quite often. Everything seems to be so much more strictly controlled.

"...Again, let the user be in control if they have the desire and knowledge..." AGREED!

~M

flagrat wrote on January 17, 2011, 6:42am

I used the source edit tabs daily. Another tool was under, insert image to any place on page you wanted. IT'S GONE TOO! We paid a lot of money for our computers. The one who ommited these features, didn't u\se it.
The souce edit box is important to some of us. Be nice and make some freeware so we can enjoy all features on our computers again.
Thanks, flagrat

byron@pickeringstudio.com wrote on April 23, 2013, 1:18am

Hey, folks.....here's a suggestion: I tried this and it seems to work. Please give it a shot and let me know if it works for you.
Open Word Pad
Write your html code....file it under plain text, but be sure to save the file as an html file; ie: type in the file name and then .html extension. This will change the file into an internet ready file where you saved it to...the "big E".
Open the file
Edit/select all
Edit/copy

Now open Windows live mail and click on "e-mail message."
Once the box comes up, address to yourself for a test.
Right click on the open text area and click "paste." Everything should appear from the html file. Be sure your images are small enough to come up quickly. If you've written an html link...it will, of course not open until it reaches it's destination.

Click send and then wait until it gets to your box. Open it and "voila" there it is!
Looks great, but I'm wondering if it's a universal thing??
Thanks!
Seapick

byron@pickeringstudio.com wrote on April 23, 2013, 1:21am

Nope....I don't know a way to view the source code of the e-mail once it arrives in Windows Live Mail. This is for writing and sending only.
SeaPick

Comment edited on April 23, 2013, 3:40am

byron@pickeringstudio.com wrote on April 23, 2013, 1:38am

Nope, wrong that time, as usual....if you want to read the source code of an incoming e-mail..open the blue drop-down box at upper left and choose "Save" and "Save as file." When the "Save" box opens choose your file name and then open the drop-down list below. Choose html file setting. Click "Save."

Find the file in your documents (or wherever you saved it to), double click it open and there is the page. NOW you can click "View" and "Source" and read the script. You can now make whatever changes you want and reverse the procedure as I descirbed above.

Comment edited on April 23, 2013, 3:39am

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