Winmail.dat attachments are included in received messages in Outlook 2000 (197064)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q197064
For a Microsoft Outlook 2000 (IMO) version of this article, see 196784.

For a Microsoft Outlook 98 (IMO) version of this article, see 193117.

For a Microsoft Outlook 98 (CW) version of this article, see 193118.
NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Corporate Workgroup/Other option. This option allows you to use Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) services. To determine your installation type, on the Help Menu click About Microsoft Outlook. In About Microsoft Outlook you should see "Corporate" if you have the Corporate Workgroup installation.

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Outlook to send e-mail containing attachments through the Internet, some recipients using e-mail clients, other than Outlook, report that the mail message includes an additional file called Winmail.dat. The file is usually very small, but cannot be opened in the mail message.

CAUSE

The Winmail.dat file is used to preserve formatting that the sending client includes in the message, but is not recognized by the receiving client. In the case of Outlook, the Winmail.dat file includes Rich Text Formatting (RTF) instructions. This type of formatting is used with the Microsoft Outlook Rich Text Format and when using Microsoft Word as an e-mail editor.

RESOLUTION

To avoid including Winmail.dat, use the Plain Text mail format. To select Plain Text for all messages, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options and then Mail Format.
  2. In "Send in this message format", click to select Plain Text.
To send to certain recipients with RTF format and others with Plain Text, you must set the option for the recipient in either the Personal Address Book or the recipient's contact record.

To set Plain Text by recipient in the Address Book, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Address Book.
  2. In Show Names From, select the Personal Address Book.
  3. Select the addressee you want to set as Plain Text and on the File menu, click Properties.
  4. Click to clear the "Always send to this recipient in Microsoft Exchange Rich Text Format" check box and click OK.
To set Plain Text in the recipient's contact record, follow these steps:

  1. Open the recipient's record in the Contacts folder.
  2. Double-click the recipient's e-mail address.
  3. Click to clear the "Always send to this recipient in Microsoft Exchange Rich Text Format" check box and click OK.

REFERENCES

For additional information on Winmail.dat attachments, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

149203 XFOR: Preventing Winmail.dat From Being Sent Over IMC

138053 XFOR: Preventing WINMAIL.DAT Sent to Internet Users

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/7/2004
Keywords:kbreceivemail kbattachments kbprb KB197064
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