Microsoft Outlook creates winmail.dat file with formatting commands when it sends emails in RTF format. You won’t be able to open these winmail.dat files. The problem with this file is it includes the format that can be readable by sending the client, but it can’t be recognized by mail receiving client.
In order to prevent outlook from formatting email as winmail.dat, you need to use plain text format. To set plain text format for preventing winmail.dat attachments do as follows-
- Open Outlook, then click on File tab
- Select Options from the left-hand side of the screen
- Then, select Mail category from left-hand side of the screen
- Now, select Plain Text under Compose Messages
- Finally, hit OK button
If you want to remove Rich Text Format from the recipient attribute in the Personal Address Book, then follow the steps mentioned below:
- Click on Address Book and select the Address that you want to set as plain text
- Hit Properties on the File menu and check clear the Always send to this recipient in Microsoft Exchange rich text format check box under SMTP-General tab
- Then, click OK.
Follow the below guide to set plain text in the recipient’s contact record:
- Go to Contacts folder and open recipient’s record
- Double-click on recipient’s e-mail address and select E-Mail Properties
- It opens E-Mail Properties dialog box. Here you need to select Send Plain Text only under Internet Format.
If you want to prevent Winmail.dat Attachments in Outlook 2002-2007, then go through the following procedure-
- Navigate to Tools-> Options-> Mail Format
- Select either HTML or Plain Text, under Compose in this message format
- Now, hit Internet Format button under Message Format
- In the internet Format window, select either Convert to Plain Text format or Convert to HTML format, under Outlook Rich Text options
- Then, click OK.
This procedure restricts Outlook, attaching winmail.dat files to emails as attachments. It will help receiving clients to recognize the format.
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