Add picture or background music to Outlook Express emails?

Infopackets Reader Jim R. writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I read your article about sending music with e-mail. I had already been through all the HTML setup when I had trouble not getting pictures sent. All the solutions you mentioned I have done, but I still can't send music as background with email. Any other solutions? I am at a loss as to where to go next. I am running Windows XP, Internet Explorer 6, and Outlook Express 6. "

My response:

You are correct, in that that you need to ensure that your mail sending format is set for HTML (rather than plain text), in order to insert (*not* attach) pictures and apply Background music. As you mentioned, I covered both these topics exhaustively in the Gazette; however, it is still worth going over one more time since I get asked these questions frequently.

RE: How to add Pictures or Background music in emails using Outlook Express

First, ensure Outlook Express is set for HTML compliant emails. Launch Outlook Express, click Tools -> Options -> Send tab, and ensure that "Mail Sending Format" has "HTML" selected. Click Apply, and then OK.

To insert a graphic into your outgoing email, click the Create Mail button and a new window will appear. Next, click on the body of the message, and Insert -> Picture. If you don't click on the body of the message before clicking Insert -> Picture, the menu will appear 'ghosted' and will not allow you to insert a picture file.

To insert music into the email, follow the same steps above, except click Format -> Background -> Sound as the final instruction. Note that the sound file must be in MIDI, AIFF, SND, WAV, or WMA format (.MP3 files are not supported).

If you need further assistance, you can also check out this page from about.com:

http://email.about.com/od/outlookexpresstips/