Can mailto code include subject and body? 1

cthaxter · Feb 17, 2002

I am trying to compose a message by typing directly into a browser's address bar, or by using HTML code. Is that possible? I know that you can add the subject:

Code:

  mailto:someone@greatdomain.com?subject=How%20are%20you

but what would the syntax be to tag on the body?

Or, if anyone has a more roundabout solution, that would be appreciated as well.

I want someone to be able to click on a link that will take them directly to their default mail composer, such as Outlook; the whole message will be ready, and all they have to do is hit Send.

Thanks.

-Christopher

starway · Feb 17, 2002

To say truth, I don't see much sence in this. But if you want it, here it is:

<html>
<title>Emails </title>
<head>
<script>

function createEmail() {

document.location.href = "mailto:someone@somewhere.com?subject=" + document.email.subject.value + "&body=" + document.email.messagebody.value;

}
</script>
</head>
<body>

<form name=email>
subject: <input type=text name=subject><br>
text:<br>
<textarea name=messagebody rows=10 cols=30></textarea>
<br><input type=button value="send email" onclick=createEmail()>
</form>

</body>
</html>

Once you click "send email" button the default email client will launch and open new message window with data entered in form.
This script was tested in IE (that launch Outlook), Opera and N6 (that launch their own email clients).

BUT remember, you'll have a problem with line breaks in message body!
You need some script that will convert all line breaks that you make in textarea. Otherwise all text will be inserted as one line.
The example of such a script is here:

http://javascript.internet.com/forms/remove-returns.html

That example convert all carriage returns to <BR>, but it doesn't suit for you. You have to know the linebreak chars that email clients recognize (as for me - I don't know this).

Again, I don't see that this is very useful. I'd recommend to remove textarea, so the user will enter the message in new email client window. This is what it was developer for, right?

good luck

cian · Feb 17, 2002

Would this be an easier way?
Now sure how it works in different browsers though.

<a href="mailto:name@domain.com?subject=Website%20Feedback&body=Dear%20sir,%20regarding%20your...">Email me</a>

É **new site coming soon**

http://endamcg.com

crazyboybert · Feb 17, 2002

the line break character for an email client is:

\n

replace carriage returns with this to place a line break in the body of an email...

starway · Feb 18, 2002

crazyboybert, did you try it?
\n works fine in javascript, but it does not work in message body of email client.

This was the first thing I tried while writing this script.
Not \n nor \n\r works.

yuraupt · Oct 23, 2002

%0d makes a line break in email's body

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Can mailto code include subject and body? 1

cthaxter

Programmer

starway

Programmer

cian

Technical User

crazyboybert

Programmer

starway

Programmer

yuraupt

Programmer

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