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Author Topic: Text Area to Email  (Read 2163 times)
Andy
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« on: February 16, 2008, 09:54:19 AM »
Does anyone know how to preserve line breaks from a form's text area data if the form's action is a mailto: and the text area is supposed to be the body text for an email? When I tried it, the email body ends up with the text but minus any line breaks.

I only want to use HTML and Javascript (client-side code) to solve this.

Any tips appreciated  Smiley
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« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2008, 10:25:58 AM »
Andy, can you please show example as because of headache I hardly could understand what you're trying to achieve.
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Denis
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« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2008, 01:05:32 PM »
It's weird since I thought there was a problem with this technique and just put together an example that 90% works:

Code:
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<form action="mailto:me@hotmail.com" method="get">
<input type="hidden" name="subject" value="enq" />
<textarea rows="8" cols="32" name="body">
Hello,

how are you today?

All the best,

Arnie
</textarea>
<br />
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>
</body>
</html>

Some Javascript to remove the + signs in the email body would be all that's required. At least in IE6.
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SensoVision
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« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2008, 10:25:23 AM »
what about using method="post" instead, as it wouldn't add "+" signs between words like with get and you need to set your enctype to plain/text.
So in the end you'll should get something like this:
Code:
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<form action="mailto:me@domainexample.net" method="post" enctype="text/plain">
<input type="hidden" name="subject" value="enq" />
<textarea rows="8" cols="32" name="body">
Hello,

how are you today?

All the best,

Arnie
</textarea>
<br />
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>
</body>
</html>

Would this solution work for you?

Be aware that not all e-mail clients work with this, so such method is less reliable than PHP forms IMHO.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2008, 10:34:01 AM by SensoVision » Report to moderator   Logged
Denis
Andy
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« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2008, 11:19:56 AM »
I solved this problem today. The answer is to use the POST method like you suggested.

The reason I didn't want to use the PHP sendmail function is that the email may get blocked by ISPs and it does nothing to stop your form being used to send you anonymous Spam messages. Also, PHP is required which may not be available to every webmaster.

I created a product around this idea so can't post the actual code I came up with, but it is similar to what you posted.

Quote
Be aware that not all e-mail clients work with this, so such method is less reliable than PHP forms IMHO.

I have sold products based on this idea before and nobody asked for a refund so I am ok so far with compatibility.

Thanks for the tips anyway.
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« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2008, 11:29:47 AM »
Quote
I solved this problem today. The answer is to use the POST method like you suggested.
sorry for late response, have been busy yesterday evening, so only replied now.

Quote
The reason I didn't want to use the PHP sendmail function is that the email may get blocked by ISPs and it does nothing to stop your form being used to send you anonymous Spam messages. Also, PHP is required which may not be available to every webmaster.
each method have it's own drawbacks and flaws Smiley

Quote
I have sold products based on this idea before and nobody asked for a refund so I am ok so far with compatibility.
sure, if it's working most of time, than there is no reason to stop using this code.

Quote
Thanks for the tips anyway.
you're always welcome!
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