"Send Complex Email X" & GoLive absolute links

[John B.]

I'm almost sucessful in using Paul Berkowitz' "Send Complex Email X"

I compose my HTML pages in Adobe GoLive and presently all links are
"relative." But "Send Complex Email X" needs absolute references, for
instance, http//:xxxxx.jpg.

From a GoLive HTML page., can I export an HTML page with ALL absolute
references (links, images, etc.)?

If I'm not mistaken, GoLive defaults to relative references.
Is there an easy way in GoLive to convert all references in one command?
(I'm a lightweight both with Golive and HTML!)

I tried unchecking "relative" in the goLive Inspector window (to the right
of the source file). But this didn't change things to the satisfaction of
"Send Complex Email."

By the way, in my test emails, all HTML text shows perfectly formatted ...
but as expected, without absolute links, I've got dead links, missing
images, and no background.

Thanks, John

 

[John B.]

I'm almost sucessful in using Paul Berkowitz' "Send Complex Email X"

I compose my HTML pages in Adobe GoLive and presently all links are
"relative." But "Send Complex Email X" needs absolute references, for
instance, http//:xxxxx.jpg.

From a GoLive HTML page., can I export an HTML page with ALL absolute
references (links, images, etc.)?

If I'm not mistaken, GoLive defaults to relative references.
Is there an easy way in GoLive to convert all references in one command?
(I'm a lightweight both with Golive and HTML!)

I tried unchecking "relative" in the goLive Inspector window (to the right
of the source file). But this didn't change things to the satisfaction of
"Send Complex Email."

By the way, in my test emails, all HTML text shows perfectly formatted ...
but as expected, without absolute links, I've got dead links, missing
images, and no background.

Thanks, John

After more experimenting, it appears that a Cascading Style Sheet link would
have to be absolute as well! I email myself a CSS webpage, and the email is
completely blank.

John

 

[John B.]

After more experimenting, it appears that a Cascading Style Sheet link would
have to be absolute as well! I email myself a CSS webpage, and the email is
completely blank.

John

Paul? You out there?

My work would be done, and I would think "Send Complex Email X" quite cool
.... if only it would append my domain name before all relative references.

For instance, here's a relative reference to a graphic:

images/logo.gif

The absolute reference (needed by "Send Complex Email X") is simply a
concatenation of my domain name and the relative reference:

http://www.domainname.com/ + images/logo.gif

In other words, in true URL speak:

http://www.domainname.com/images/logo.gif

Couldn't "Send Complex Email X" post a dialog that's asks the user to enter
their domain name? Then it could concatenate all relative references to
absolutes. Correct? (NOT that simple???)

Here's why I ask. I'm having trouble getting GoLive to generate true
absolutes from relative references. If I go the extra mile, edit the HTML,
and explicitly insert the http://www.domainname.com/ before GoLive's
relative refs, "Send Complex Email X" is happy -- but GoLive is not, and it
can no longer preview images, etc., diminishing its usefulness as a
graphical webpage editor.

There must be a happy middle ground.

What about a separate AppleScript that converts all relatives to absolutes?

Thanks, John

 

[Diane Ross]

Paul? You out there?

If you are having problems with a downloaded script (rendering the script
inoperable or a constant error message on launch, for example), please
contact the script¹s author directly for assistance and follow-up. Most
script authors provide a link for e-mail contact; otherwise, most scripts
have a link for the author¹s e-mail and website.

 

[John B.]

If you are having problems with a downloaded script (rendering the script
inoperable or a constant error message on launch, for example), please
contact the script¹s author directly for assistance and follow-up. Most
script authors provide a link for e-mail contact; otherwise, most scripts
have a link for the author¹s e-mail and website.

Thanks Dianne,

I'll look for Paul's address. But I don't think the script is failing to
accomplish its designed task.

I'm trying to find out if Entourage users know of a good way to generate
absolute references (the more accurate term is "fully qualified URLs) from
relative ones. Possibly a good search and replace tip.

Then I can use Paul Berkowitz' "Send Complex Email X" email with Entourage.

Or perhaps Entourage users know of a better solution for sending a webpage.

John

 

[Diane Ross]

I'll look for Paul's address. But I don't think the script is failing to
accomplish its designed task.

He includes it with script readmes;

I'm trying to find out if Entourage users know of a good way to generate
absolute references (the more accurate term is "fully qualified URLs) from
relative ones. Possibly a good search and replace tip.

You might find more help from the GoLive talk list.

<http://www.blueworld.com/blueworld/lists/golive.html>

 

[John B.]

He includes it with script readmes;

Paul Berkowitz <[email protected]>

Thanks again Dianne. I have read Paul's readme file, but didn't notice his
address!

You might find more help from the GoLive talk list.

<http://www.blueworld.com/blueworld/lists/golive.html>

I left messages at the Adobe User forums. unfortunately the concensus is
Find and Replace -- mind numbingly tedious even at dual 1.25 MHz.

 

[Paul Berkowitz]

I left messages at the Adobe User forums. unfortunately the concensus is
Find and Replace -- mind numbingly tedious even at dual 1.25 MHz.

I'm afraid I don't know the first thing about GoLive or web HTML coding at
all. But if they have a Find and Replace, don't they have a "Replace All"?
That shouldn't take more than a few steps, surely? As you wrote me yourself,
just three possibilities: Replace

background=" -- with -- background="http://www.singingwood.com

src=" -- with -- scr="http://www.singingwood.com

href=" -- with -- href="http://www.singingwood.com


Can't you do a "Replace All".

If not, yes you could do the equivalent in by AppleScript in 6 steps if you
can get ahold of the source text by AppleScript. That would depend on GoLive
being scriptable (or 'the clipboard' Standard Addition if it isn't, maybe).
and since I don't have GoLive I have no idea if it is or not. What happens
if you "Open Dictionary" in Script Editor and browse to GoLive? Do you get a
dictionary or an error?


--
Paul Berkowitz
MVP Entourage
Entourage FAQ Page: http://www.entourage.mvps.org/toc.html

Please "Reply To Newsgroup" to reply to this message. Emails will be
ignored.

PLEASE always state which version of Entourage you are using - 2001 or X.
It's often impossible to answer your questions otherwise.

 

[L. D. Ford]

Will this help?

http://www.golivein24.com/HTMLemail/index.html

Len

 

[John B.]

Will this help?

http://www.golivein24.com/HTMLemail/index.html

Len

Yes! Thanks Len. That's an extremely useful, well written article, with a
thoughtful list of pros and cons that all should consider ... and a ton of
helpful links!

Howeveer, I'm still wondering if I can use Cascadingg Style Sheets -- I
didn't see mention of it in the article. So far my attempts fail -- when
opening CSS email it's entirely blank!

Thanks, John

 

[John B.]

Hi John,

Just out of curiosity, are you embedding the CSS within the document? Or,
are you having the CSS write to a separate page? I'm pretty sure that the
CSS won't work if it's linked to a different source. Have you tried using
the option to embed the CSS into the document?

You might try contacting the author of that tutorial. They might be able to
straighten that part out. I have a sneaky suspicion that you're probably
going to need regular HTML and not CSS formatting within the document so
that ALL email clients capable of reading complex HTML messages can view it.

Glad this helped somewhat, though. GoLive is an incredible tool.

Len

My CSS definitions are saved in a separate file in a folder on my web site:

/CSS_Styles/My.css

The emailed HTML has an "absolute" link to this file:

<link href=http://www.myDomainName.com/CSS_Styles/My.css
rel="stylesheet" media="screen">

Whether I use and absolute or relative reference, the CSS works fine in a
browser. I'm not sure what to alter to make it palatable as email HTML. And
I ALWAYS like to know why!

I forget how to embed CSS into the HTML. Probably pretty simple though. I'll
check my notes and give it a try ... Maybe that's all that's required. (If
so, that's too bad. I'd like to have CSS definitions that I can update in
one place -- that one of the main advantages, right?)

I've CCed the author at: (e-mail address removed), and I've also CCed others
that I've been in touch with on this topic. (I also have a thread in the
Adobe mac GoLive user forum, entitled: "Exporting: Converting relative to
absolute references")

Thanks to all, John

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Yes! Thanks Len. That's an extremely useful, well written article, with a
thoughtful list of pros and cons that all should consider ... and a ton of
helpful links!

Howeveer, I'm still wondering if I can use Cascadingg Style Sheets -- I
didn't see mention of it in the article. So far my attempts fail -- when
opening CSS email it's entirely blank!

How many style sheets are you linking to? It seems to be it would be easier
to post the CSS file to a website and just add another <link> tag into the
HTML code you're going to send.

For example, you could code your page like this within the <BODY> tag.
<link href="http://www.yoursite.com/emailstyle.css" rel="stylesheet"
type="text/css">
<link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">

The page will be rendered within Entourage using whichever CSS file it can
find, in this case it would be the first one that is online.

 

[Mickey Stevens]

My CSS definitions are saved in a separate file in a folder on my web site:

/CSS_Styles/My.css

The emailed HTML has an "absolute" link to this file:

<link href=http://www.myDomainName.com/CSS_Styles/My.css
rel="stylesheet" media="screen">

Whether I use and absolute or relative reference, the CSS works fine in a
browser. I'm not sure what to alter to make it palatable as email HTML. And
I ALWAYS like to know why!

Try encasing the URL in quotation marks. Like:
<link href="http://www.mydomainname.com/CSS_Styles/My.css" rel="stylesheet"
media="screen">

I forget how to embed CSS into the HTML. Probably pretty simple though. I'll
check my notes and give it a try ... Maybe that's all that's required. (If
so, that's too bad. I'd like to have CSS definitions that I can update in
one place -- that one of the main advantages, right?)

That might be a good idea.

 

[John B.]

How many style sheets are you linking to?

Mickey Stevens (Microsoft MVP for Office:mac)

Just the one mentioned.

It seems to be it would be easier
to post the CSS file to a website and just add another <link> tag into the
HTML code you're going to send.

Linking to a web site based .CSS file is exactly what I'm doing ( ...
correctly I hope.)

For example, you could code your page like this within the <BODY> tag.
<link href="http://www.yoursite.com/emailstyle.css" rel="stylesheet"
type="text/css">

<link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">

Mickey, directly above, should "style.css" a literal, or should I insert the
name of my file there?

i.e. emailstyle.css

I haven't used this statement at all, yet CSS works for my web pages.

I've used:

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
</style>

Also, all my CSS references have been in the HTML header ... nothing in the
body section ... ?

I'm feeling like I know far more than I should have to, and far less than I
should!

The page will be rendered within Entourage using whichever CSS file it can
find, in this case it would be the first one that is online.

--
Mickey Stevens

Try encasing the URL in quotation marks. Like:
<link href="http://www.mydomainname.com/CSS_Styles/My.css" rel="stylesheet"
media="screen">

Encasing the URL in quotes made a difference. The page now shows in email,
but defaulting back to pure HTML. The webpage also views this way! Weird.

I've never encountered a good CSS tutorial, though I've read many.
Suggestions?

Thanks to the newsgroup for tolerance as we veer slightly of topic!

I wonder if we're at the bleeding edge here. If so, I'm likely to back off,
and soon. But an occasional CSS email would be quite useful. HTML is like
going back 15 years in desktop publishing -- unfortunately CSS doesn't seem
that much better. Looking forward to the next breakthrough.

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Just the one mentioned.


Linking to a web site based .CSS file is exactly what I'm doing ( ...
correctly I hope.)


Mickey, directly above, should "style.css" a literal, or should I insert the
name of my file there?

i.e. emailstyle.css

I haven't used this statement at all, yet CSS works for my web pages.

You should insert the name of your file there. And it appears I made a
mistake - that should be within the <HEAD> tag, not the <BODY> tag. Sorry
about the confusion.

One other IMPORTANT thing: in Mail & News Preferences, under the "Read"
tab, the option to "Allow network access when displaying complex HTML"
*must* be checked for this to work. Otherwise this isn't going to work at
all.

I've used:

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
</style>

Also, all my CSS references have been in the HTML header ... nothing in the
body section ... ?

I'm feeling like I know far more than I should have to, and far less than I
should!


Encasing the URL in quotes made a difference. The page now shows in email,
but defaulting back to pure HTML. The webpage also views this way! Weird.

It is strange. I'm no expert on CSS; sorry I cannot be of more help.

 

[Diane Ross]

Thanks to the newsgroup for tolerance as we veer slightly of topic!

If I may be so bold to ask, what is the purpose of this type of message? I
certainly hope we haven't helped you produce spam.

 

[John B.]

You should insert the name of your file there. And it appears I made a
mistake - that should be within the <HEAD> tag, not the <BODY> tag. Sorry
about the confusion.

One other IMPORTANT thing: in Mail & News Preferences, under the "Read"
tab, the option to "Allow network access when displaying complex HTML"
*must* be checked for this to work. Otherwise this isn't going to work at
all.




It is strange. I'm no expert on CSS; sorry I cannot be of more help.

Mickey Stevens (Microsoft MVP for Office:mac)

So it's come to this.

My relative link works for viewing a CSS web page with a browser:

<link href=../CSS_Styles/Ape.css rel="stylesheet" media="screen">

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
</style>

But when using an absolute link the page defaults back to pure HTML.

< link href=http://www.myDomainName.com/CSS_Styles/Ape.css
rel="stylesheet" media="screen">

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
</style>

Why would that be? No sense in exploring the possibility of emailing CSS
HTML if absolute references fail to properly render a web page!

What am I missing? I promise to take notes.

John

 

[John B.]

If I may be so bold to ask, what is the purpose of this type of message? I
certainly hope we haven't helped you produce spam.

Hi Dianne!

I appreciate your concern.

Actually, my intentions are in keeping with the Internet at its best. (No
generic Viagra!)

Primarily I'll be sending HTML email to an "opt-in" mail list of people
participating in or interested in my music workshops. Some of the messages
are announcements to current workshop members; other indeed are
advertisements about the upcoming classes, but again, only to an opt-in
audience.

It's a small list, and to date, no one has ever requested to be removed. Of
course I would honor any such request.

Pages describing these workshops are at:

http://www.singingwood.com/AcousticInstruments101/

http://www.singingwood.com/horizon/index.html

Also, occasionally I like to be send a well formatted message to friends --
adding a table and a nicely placed graphic can make a huge difference.

There are a lot of pros and cons to HTML email. As I'm evaluating
feasibility, I'm also considering functionality and the potential annoyances
that it may cause. It's not a perfect solution ... but neither is emailing
links to my Website.

I'm with you. Down with spam.

John

 

[Diane Ross]

There are a lot of pros and cons to HTML email. As I'm evaluating
feasibility, I'm also considering functionality and the potential annoyances
that it may cause. It's not a perfect solution ... but neither is emailing
links to my Website.

I'm with you. Down with spam.

Thanks for the feedback.

You might want to check out MaxProg"s MaxBulk Mailer X. ($35)

Maxprog | MaxBulk Mailer, the mail-merge tool for Macintosh
<http://www.maxprog.com/MaxBulk.html>

 

[John B.]

Thanks for the feedback.

You might want to check out MaxProg"s MaxBulk Mailer X. ($35)

Maxprog | MaxBulk Mailer, the mail-merge tool for Macintosh
<http://www.maxprog.com/MaxBulk.html>

Thanks Dianne, I'm checking it out!

John