Paul writes "NoHTML.dll is an Outlook Add-in designed to convert HTML-based emails into harmless messages. It works slightly differently for Outlook 2000 than it does for Outlook 2002. Does not work with Outlook 98, or any version of Outlook Express.

In Outlook 2000, NoHTML converts HTML-based emails into RTF format. While this eliminates all HTML tags and scripting, it has the unfortunate side-effect of possibly resulting in completely blank emails. An example would be if the original HTML-based email is based entirely on a Table (ZDNet Anchordesk newsletters are one example), it will appear completely blank in Outlook 2000 after NoHTML. Unfortunately Outlook 2000 cannot convert HTML to Plain Text.

In Outlook 2002, NoHTML converts HTML-based emails into Plain Text format. It places the word HYPERLINK in front of URLs (Outlook does this, not me), but strips the message of all HTML tags and scripting. Tables appear as long lists of text strings and/or URLs.

The .dll found at the bottom of this page works on either Outlook 2000 or Outlook 2002. It works with the Outlook Email Security Update, and the default installation of Outlook 2002 (In other words, it doesn't conflict with Outlook built-in security measures).

NoHTML works on the basis of a selection change, that is, whenever an item in Outlook is selected, NoHTML checks to see whether or not it should affect it. NoHTML only works on standard email messages, known as IPM.Note items, so it will not affect the notes field in a Contact item, or non-standard or custom Outlook forms.

If NoHTML determines it can affect a mail message, and if the message is in HTML format, NoHTML will convert it. NoHTML also adds the NoHTML category to the message, allowing you to see whether a message was in HTML format when it arrived. No attempt is made to save the original HTML contents.

Outlook includes the built-in functionality for the conversion, this feature is not code that I have written, so what you get is what you would get if you opened a message and choose to change its format.

If Preview Pane is enabled, Outlook renders, in HTML, any HTML-based email you select PRIOR to NoHTML triggering. This is, unfortunately, out of my control. I could disable the Preview Pane automatically, but many people insist on it being available. In both Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002 the Preview Pane is restricted, by Outlook, from executing Scripts and Active Content, so the risk is one of Privacy leakage rather than malicious code execution. Many HTML-based emails contain tracking elements, like a 1-pixel GIF image, which will still work in Preview Pane.

Continued...

Caveats

Download NoHTML v1.2.0.0."