Can I Include an Image in an HTML Email??

[minskin]

Hello everyone,

I have managed to create quite a complicated set of forms that output to an HTML email template and I am very happy with them. Thanks, by the way, for such a great bit of software and excellent documentation included. However, I would like to include an image in the email that is determined by a hidden field in the form. Is this possible?

I have uploaded one of the forms for testing, here:
www.tracksandpoles.com/pelmform01.shtml. There is an image at the top of each of these forms and it's this I would like to include in the email.

Hope someone can help.

Minskin

[russellr]

Hi,

I think I understand....you want a different image dependant on the value of a field in the form?

If the image is generated dynamically, then this is going to be difficult, but not impossible. It will involve more programming before you call FormMail.

Howeve, if you want the form to select between a small number of images, then simply duplicate the HTML template and include a different image in each copy. The form can then select which HTML template to use.

Does this answer your question?

[minskin]

Hi Russell,

thanks for your reply,

yes, you understand me correctly and I have already thought of having a different email template for each image but I have 3 email templates to support 3 form styles with 14 possible image choices for each so that would mean 42 email templates! I don't think I want to go down that road.....

If you could point me in the right direction as to how I could acheive what I want to do I would be grateful. I don't want to give up just yet if there's a way although I'm already thinking it may be beyond me.

Much appreciated,

Minskin

[russellr]

Hi,

How are your PHP skills?

Once you have the information required to select the image (e.g. from the user's responses on the form), here's how you proceed:

1. A PHP script takes a standard template and changes the "img" tag to point to the right image; it copies that template to the template directory under a new name (a temporary file).
2. It calls FormMail and specifies that new temporary file as the template to use for the HTML email.
3. It removes temporary files older than some hours (auto cleanup).

So, it would look a little like this:

Form
|
PHP Preprocess script -> creates temporary template
|
FormMail

All quite easy to do, but you need to be a bit of a programmer.

[minskin]

Hi Russell,

Mmmmmmm, well, my php skills are just about none existent. I have had a look at a couple of php tutorials and I have a lot to learn! I will try and work on it though because as well as being handy for the images in the emails, I have a large website and acquiring php skills will probably prove to be very useful. I can manage without the images in the emails for now until I learn how to include them. Thanks so much for the suggestion.

Minskin