I think its time to try to correct what seem to be some misapprehensions
that have arisen about the proposal for a notional mail system (The Mail
Program - TMP) that cooperates with OpenOffice.
1. The notion that one would create and reply to e-mails using the
Writer UI is *not* intended to imply that what gets sent would be ODF.
The plan is to use the UI. Only. What gets sent would be the same as
what gets sent today. The user has the option of sending "pure" text or
HTML. The user's configuration options would be no different from those
available today in "modern" mail programs.
If one thinks about it this is sort of obvious. If some new program
(TMP) started sending ODF as the actual e-mail messages, other people
who don't use TMP wouldn't be able to read those messages. That would be
really silly.
2. Nobody is *demanding* that emails get created using the Writer
interface. In the first place it would only become possible if the user
had TMP *and* OpenOffice (or Writer or the Writer UI) installed. In the
second place the use of the Writer UI is intended to be an option. If
you prefer to use two different UIs - one for mail and a different one
for all other documents - fine. Emacs rules, OK! The plan is to try to
make life easier for those who aren't interested in trying to learn 15
different shortcut keys for doing the same thing in different contexts.
This is also obvious if one thinks about it. I suppose one could demand
that TMP actually incorporate the Writer UI but that was not the idea.
Instead the idea is that TMP would be able to use the Writer UI if it is
available (installed) *and* if the user requests it. The programs are
supposed to cooperate; they are not handcuffed together.
3. Why would anyone using this scheme be obliged to receive anything
other than pure text? Again, TMP is intended to be as configurable as
any other civilised mail program. I have to say, though, that I don't
know how to avoid HTML in any of the internet based mail programs I've
ever used - Turnpike, Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Notes and
Thunderbird. But if you want to configure your mail reader to reject
HTML and only accept "raw" text, fine. Just recognise the fact that
non-computer people in general (a) don't understand the discussion and
(b) would be shocked to the core if they were told they couldn't include
their new baby's photograph *in the body of* the e-mail they just sent
to granny and grandpa who wouldn't know an attachment from a hole in the
wall. If they can't see it in-line they can't see it at all. Ditto links
that "work".
--
Harold Fuchs
London, England
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