Is it possible to disable incoming emails that are HTML, or to convert them from HTML to Plain Text on arrival? This is for Exchange 2003. The majority of the client machines are on Outlook 2000 if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance.

Hi,So far as I know, there is no way to convert or reject inbound HTML emails. Could you let me know why you don't like HTML format?Thanks,Elvis

Hello,You can disable the same by writing custom VBA Program. Here is the code and follow the instruction.One of the big security risks (if not the biggest) coming from Microsoft Outlook is HTML email: malicious scripts, hidden images and frames - just enough to track your email or even bring down your computer. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't provide an easy way to turn HTML email off. Fortunately, Outlook provides rich object model accessible through VBA. Whenever new email arrives to Outlook Inbox Application_NewMail() event happens. At this point we can loop through all unread email messages and convert them from HTML to plain text. In your Outlook menu bar click "Tools" and select "Macro", then "Visual Basic Editor". VBA editor will show up. Enter the following code: Private Sub Application_NewMail() On Error Resume Next Set oFolder = GetNamespace("MAPI").GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox) For Each oNewItem In oFolder.Items.Restrict("[Unread] = 0") s = oNewItem.HTMLBody If Trim(s) <> "" Then 'convert to plain text s = oNewItem.Body & vbCrLf & "/*HTMLBody*/" & vbCrLf & _ oNewItem.HTMLBody & vbCrLf & "/*End HTMLBody*/" oNewItem.HTMLBody = "" oNewItem.Body = s oNewItem.Subject = "(*) " & oNewItem.Subject 'mark email subject oNewItem.Save End If Next End Sub Now, on new email arrival, HTML messages will be marked with "(*)" in subject line and converted to plain text When closing Outlook don't forget to save changes you made. Also set macros security level to medium - you'll be prompted on each macro encountered by Outlook. When starting Outlook click on "Enable Macros" button. General suggestion - disable message preview in Inbox folder What if there are HTML emails in folders other than Inbox? What if you want to see converted email in HTML format? Let's get complicated. Replace the code you entered in previous step with the following: Public WithEvents oItem As MailItem Public WithEvents oInspector As Inspector Public WithEvents oInspectors As Inspectors Public WithEvents oControl As CommandBarButton 'track Inspectors '(Inspector is a child window, displaying an Outlook item: email, task, note, etc.) Private Sub Application_Startup() Set oInspectors = Application.Inspectors End Sub 'handle new email here Private Sub Application_NewMail() On Error Resume Next Set oFolder = GetNamespace("MAPI").GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox) For Each oNewItem In oFolder.Items.Restrict("[Unread] = 0") s = oNewItem.HTMLBody If Trim(s) <> "" Then 'convert to plain text s = oNewItem.Body & vbCrLf & "/*HTMLBody*/" & vbCrLf & _ oNewItem.HTMLBody & vbCrLf & "/*End HTMLBody*/" oNewItem.HTMLBody = "" oNewItem.Body = s oNewItem.Subject = "(*) " & oNewItem.Subject 'mark email subject oNewItem.Save End If Next End Sub 'if Outlook item is opened get its Inspector Private Sub oInspectors_NewInspector(ByVal Inspector As Inspector) Set oInspector = Inspector On Error Resume Next Set oItem = oInspector.CurrentItem 'if Item is not email message - error happens End Sub 'open Inspector window Private Sub oInspector_Activate() If oItem Is Nothing Then Exit Sub 'if Item is not email message - leave s = oItem.HTMLBody If Trim(s) <> "" Then 'convert to plain-text s = oItem.Body & vbCrLf & "/*HTMLBody*/" & vbCrLf & _ oItem.HTMLBody & vbCrLf & "/*End HTMLBody*/" oItem.HTMLBody = "" oItem.Body = s oItem.Save End If If InStr(oItem.Body, "/*HTMLBody*/" & vbCrLf) > 0 Then 'load ShoHTML button to menu bar Set oControl = oInspector.CommandBars("Menu Bar").FindControl(, , "ShowHTML") If oControl Is Nothing Then Set oControl = oInspector.CommandBars("Menu Bar").Controls.Add oControl.Tag = "ShowHTML" oControl.Caption = "ShowHTML" End If oControl.Visible = True End If End Sub 'convert email message back to HTML format Private Sub oControl_Click(ByVal Ctrl As Office.CommandBarButton, CancelDefault As Boolean) Dim sBody As String Dim sHTML As String Dim nStart As Long Dim nEnd As Long Set oItem = oInspector.CurrentItem sBody = oItem.Body nStart = InStr(sBody, "/*HTMLBody*/" & vbCrLf) If nStart > 0 Then sHTML = Mid(sBody, nStart + 14) nEnd = InStr(sHTML, vbCrLf & "/*End HTMLBody*/") If nEnd > 1 Then sHTML = Left(sHTML, nEnd - 1) If nStart > 1 Then sBody = Left(sBody, nStart - 1) Else sBody = "" oItem.Body = sBody oItem.HTMLBody = sHTML If Left(oItem.Subject, 4) = "(*) " Then oItem.Subject = Mid(oItem.Subject, 5) oControl.Visible = False End If End If End Sub 'close Inspector window Private Sub oInspector_Deactivate() On Error Resume Next oControl.Delete End Sub Note: the code was tested in Microsoft Outlook 2000. With minor changes it should work in other versions, supporting macros and VBA. Arun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3