When replying to emails, Outlook sometimes replaces embedded images with text
<< OLE Object: Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) >> How can I prevent this? I am looking for a solution that would not require manual conversion to HTML with every email.
Additional info
Using Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Outlook Version 2102.
I have in Outlook Options -> Mail -> Compose messages -> Compose Messages in this format: HTML
Current workaround
Seems that this happens when the original message has been sent with non-HTML (e.g. Rich Text) format. In this case there is a manual workaround. Posting it here for quick help for people searching for a solution until there exists a better one:
- Double-click message to open it in new window
- Select Actions -> Edit Message
- Select Format Text -> As HTML
- Reply to the email as usual.
2 Answers
Microsoft does not offer any built-in solution apart from the one you found.
Some other solutions:
Use the VBA macro Always Reply in HTML. Full installation instructions are included.
Use the commercial add-on Bells & Whistles for Outlook ($29.95)
Use the commercial Reply with Attachment feature of Kutools for Outlook ($49)
As far as I know, there is no such option in the outlook client to always reply to all messages in HTML format. But as harrymc said, we can reply in HTML format automatically with VBA.
According to my test in outlook 365, please refer to the following steps:
1.Press the Alt + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window；
2.Click the Insert > Module>and paste the following code:
Sub AlwaysReplyInHTML() Dim oSelection As Outlook.Selection Dim oItem As Object 'Get the selected item Select Case TypeName(Application.ActiveWindow) Case "Explorer" Set oSelection = Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection If oSelection.Count > 0 Then Set oItem = oSelection.Item(1) Else MsgBox "Please select an item first!", vbCritical, "Reply in HTML" Exit Sub End If Case "Inspector" Set oItem = Application.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem Case Else MsgBox "Unsupported Window type." & vbNewLine & "Please select or open an item first.", _ vbCritical, "Reply in HTML" Exit Sub End Select Dim oMsg As Outlook.MailItem Dim oMsgReply As Outlook.MailItem Dim bPlainText As Boolean 'Change the message format and reply If oItem.Class = olMail Then Set oMsg = oItem If oMsg.BodyFormat = olFormatPlain Then bPlainText = True End If oMsg.BodyFormat = olFormatHTML Set oMsgReply = oMsg.Reply If bIsPlainText = True Then oMsg.BodyFormat = olFormatPlain End If oMsg.Close (olSave) oMsgReply.Display 'Selected item isn't a mail item Else MsgBox "No message item selected. Please select a message first.", _ vbCritical, "Reply in HTML" Exit Sub End If 'Cleanup Set oMsgReply = Nothing Set oMsg = Nothing Set oItem = Nothing Set oSelection = Nothing End Sub 3.On Outlook top, click down arrow>More Commands…;
4.Choose the macros and add to the Quick Access Folders>Ok;
5.Then the macro will be displayed in the top;
In this way, when you want to reply the message, just need to select the message and click the macro. The reply message will be the HTML format.
Hope the above help!
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