Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How can I send emails "multipart/related" so that recipients can download pictures inserted?

  • 1 reply
  • 2 have this problem
  • 112 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

more options

I'm trying to send mail "Rich Text (HTML) Only" which I have set under options. Thunderbird is sending the mail "multipart/alternative" and I need it to be sending it "multipart/related." I need this because some people receiving mail "multipart/alternative" try to save a photo inserted into the mail get the error "The system cannot find the file specified." Sending mail "multipart/related." resolves this issue.

I'm trying to send mail "Rich Text (HTML) Only" which I have set under options. Thunderbird is sending the mail "multipart/alternative" and I need it to be sending it "multipart/related." I need this because some people receiving mail "multipart/alternative" try to save a photo inserted into the mail get the error "The system cannot find the file specified." Sending mail "multipart/related." resolves this issue.

Chosen solution

I'm presuming the images are embedded in the text and not attached as attachments.

eg: click on 'Write' enter TO email address type subject Type some text 'Insert' > 'Image' click on 'Choose file' select image and click on Open select 'Attach this image to the message' either add alternative text or select 'Don't use alternative text' click on 'OK'

In 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' >Composition' > 'General' tab click on 'Send options' make sure you have 'SEnd the message in both plain text and html' click on all OK's

I did the above and sent to another of my email addresses. Did you do exactly as described above?


The source code of the received email said this... MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; followed by Content-Type: text/plain; section followed by Content-Type: multipart/related; followed by Content-Type: text/html; section followed by Content-Type: image/jpeg; section ......which includes Content-Disposition: inline; followed by filename then a load of jibber which relates to the image.

So the text/html section and image are in a Content-Type: multipart/related; section.

If I view the received email using 'Message Body as' > 'Original html' , I see the image in the email content and a right click on the image offers me all options for saving etc.

If I view the 'Message Body as' > 'Plain Text', then the image is not visible within the email content. Instead it is shown as an attachment which I can also right click on the attachment and it offers me all options for saving etc.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (1)

more options

Chosen Solution

I'm presuming the images are embedded in the text and not attached as attachments.

eg: click on 'Write' enter TO email address type subject Type some text 'Insert' > 'Image' click on 'Choose file' select image and click on Open select 'Attach this image to the message' either add alternative text or select 'Don't use alternative text' click on 'OK'

In 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' >Composition' > 'General' tab click on 'Send options' make sure you have 'SEnd the message in both plain text and html' click on all OK's

I did the above and sent to another of my email addresses. Did you do exactly as described above?


The source code of the received email said this... MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; followed by Content-Type: text/plain; section followed by Content-Type: multipart/related; followed by Content-Type: text/html; section followed by Content-Type: image/jpeg; section ......which includes Content-Disposition: inline; followed by filename then a load of jibber which relates to the image.

So the text/html section and image are in a Content-Type: multipart/related; section.

If I view the received email using 'Message Body as' > 'Original html' , I see the image in the email content and a right click on the image offers me all options for saving etc.

If I view the 'Message Body as' > 'Plain Text', then the image is not visible within the email content. Instead it is shown as an attachment which I can also right click on the attachment and it offers me all options for saving etc.