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Xcelsior · Jan 20, 2003, 11:08 AM

*sigh*

Ignoring the obnoxiousness of it, my boss would like to send an e-mail announcement to our clients (mostly corporate running exchange or lotus) that contains Flash. I've tried to explain that it really wouldn't be that polite to force someone to run that in their e-mail client but he's determined to do it.

So now my questions is, is it even possible? Will Outlook and the like allow for flash to be displayed inside the e-mail? I'm hoping no but was wondering if anyone has any first-hand knowledge to share...

Thanks,

xcelsior

Alex Duffield · Jan 20, 2003, 05:39 PM

Originally posted by Xcelsior:
*sigh*

Ignoring the obnoxiousness of it, my boss would like to send an e-mail announcement to our clients (mostly corporate running exchange or lotus) that contains Flash. I've tried to explain that it really wouldn't be that polite to force someone to run that in their e-mail client but he's determined to do it.

So now my questions is, is it even possible? Will Outlook and the like allow for flash to be displayed inside the e-mail? I'm hoping no but was wondering if anyone has any first-hand knowledge to share...

Thanks,

xcelsior

From the test Ive done, No.

Millennium · Jan 20, 2003, 06:53 PM

Nope. E-mail clients can't do Flash. Absolutely not. No way, no how. Honest. Really.

Or at least, that's what you should tell him. To tell the truth, it can be done. But for the love of God, don't let him know that!

Simon Mundy · Jan 20, 2003, 10:06 PM

It really would be good etiquette to provide an introductory paragraph of copy inviting them to visit a presentation you've prepared at http://your-presentation-url.com

Saves email bloat and also prevents the likelihood of an email virus checker slashing your code to bits.

Arkham_c · Jan 20, 2003, 11:08 PM

No windows mail server admin worth a crap will let an email with embedded flash through his mail filter. At the company where I work, any attachements even remotely suspicious are removed.

Just don't do it!

Xcelsior · Jan 21, 2003, 09:23 AM

That's exactly the response I wanted (although I like the suggestion of the polite paragraph pointing 'em to a page. That may make for a much more suitable solution).

Thanks!

bluedog · Jan 21, 2003, 09:53 AM

Not only is the link to the page containing your flash item preferrable, you have a BETTER chance of watching the result of your email. You can track them.

Every person who actually CLICKs on the link can be TRACKED. You have an IP address at the least, and can resolve them to their domain and likely to their hostnames. With this info you would NEVER get that by EMBEDDING the thing in their email.

You would know who is truely responding to the email and then be able to better 'serve/target' them in future correspondence.

Don't you just love the minds and justifications that marketing brings out in people! :/

frogstar · Jan 21, 2003, 03:27 PM

If you really wanted to get serious about tracking your visitors you could use a script to generate each email you send and embed a unique identifier into the URL like so:

"Hey guys, check out this presentation! http://www.your-presentation.com?id=65363"

Now you can track each request for that URL and match it to the identifiers and email addresses in your database.

Moderator · Jan 24, 2003, 12:22 PM

I had a sleazey boss like that too...the day I start getting Flash emails...ohh man...something bad is going to happen..