topic Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format" in Email

"This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:52:53 GMT

Hi, I am new to the Forum but have been with Metronet for many years. I am not sure why but the last few weeks I have started to receive some emails, (I use Outlook Express running on a PC with XP pro,) not all of them but some and they start with:-
"This is a multi-part message in MIME format....... followed by a load of letters and numbers and it is very hard to read the email.
I have to go to WEB mail and read the message it is as I would expect, inteligent English. If I then forward the message to my self and open up OE on my PC it arrives in perfect English.
I have flagged this with customer services who say it is my pc or email set up. If that was the case every email would be the same. Yes or No? I have tried the same excersise on my laptop, running XP Pro and the same happens.
Is it to do with the default settings in the new revised web mail page? And what should they be? Is there an explanation page telling what all the settings do. eg FULL RFC 2231(thunderbird) to some one who is not a computer nerd it means nothing.
I hope some one can answer this question.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Anotherone — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:31:05 GMT

On the main Outlook Express page go to the Tools drop down menu and select Options.
On the Options menu, select the Read Tab and uncheck the box that says Read all messages in plain text.
HTH.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:50:21 GMT

Hello Anotherone, I will check but I am almost sure that box is "un checked" I will let you know. As I said before not every email that comes in does it. Even emails from the same person on the same day can have the MIME message or not. I would say it is worst when there is an attachment. Many thanks for your reply.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Oldjim — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:52:51 GMT

Which antivirus are you using and is it scanning incoming emails

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:56:44 GMT

Hello Oldjim,
I am using the IOLO suite of System Shield and System Mechanic, I have used these for years.
System Shield scans incoming but not outgoing.
Thanks for your help.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:27:41 GMT

To Anotherone and Oldjim,
Please find attached latest e-mail which has come with "This is a multi-part message in MIME format......."
I have checked that the box for receiving plain text is unchecked, if that makes sense, by the way it was any way.
So over to you experts and tell me where the problem lays.
John

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Anotherone — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:53:13 GMT

Welcome to the Forum by the way, should have said that earlier. I've just sent you a PM.
I've also had another thought, are the problematic mails coming from the same sender or different ones?

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:04:56 GMT

Got your PM thanks, I was in a hurry and forgot to edit.
No they do not come from the same person, it can be business or private. The curious thing is that I could receive 3 emails from the same person one will have " This is multi........." and the 2nd and 3rd does not.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:12:34 GMT

Found how to delete previous PDF, thanks.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:24:07 GMT

An other "This is............." This is from a business in the UK.

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

MJN — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:04:21 GMT

It would be helpful if you could post the headers of one of your 'problem' e-mails, as well as the body. You can do this in OE when a message is open by hitting CTRL-F3 to bring the message source window up, CTRL-A to select all then CTRL-C and CTRL-V to copy and paste. You may wish to edit the headers to remove any references to particular e-mail addresses.
MIME is a method by which e-mails with 'rich' content (formatted text, attachments, etc) can be sent over a standard SMTP transport. The message is packaged up into parts with these parts referenced by the e-mail headers. Those clients that can understand MIME (which includes OE) should be able to rebuild the message and, optionally, show either a plain text version of formatted rendering of the message.
If the headers are for some reason getting corrupt then the client will be unaware of the 'special meaning' of the MIME body parts and simple display the entire message body in all its gory. Header corruption come be down to the scanning hence the request to show these headers to see if they are still syntactically correct.
Mathew

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

prichardson — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:22:25 GMT

Indeed,
Can you confirm if below the "This is a multipart message in MIME format.", the next portion always has "------- Start of text attachment -------"?
If so, this is something to do with the processing between our servers and your client, but most probably the client side. I've never seen OE do this on its own, so would suggest it is the Anti-Virus/Spam product.
Do you have any such message you can presently see on our Webmail service that shows and can be forwarded normally?
If so, I'd like to get a look at that message in webmail, so I can capture some information from it, and then compare this with what OE shows for the same portions if that is OK?

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:11:14 GMT

Hi Mathew and P Richardson,
Can you confirm if below the "This is a multipart message in MIME format.", the next portion always has "------- Start of text attachment -------"?
Please see attached email I received recently from a company I have ordered from and yes it does as you say.
Also to day I received the other email from a friend of mine but as you see this has other characters in the header/footer and does not mention any thing about Mime format.
Is this the info you need or do I need to send you something else?
Thanks for looking at the problem.
John

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

MJN — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:56:38 GMT

It's the headers that would be more useful - it is these that the client will be advised of the MIME format and act accordingly.
Mathew

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:00:35 GMT

Hi Mathew,
I have carried out your instructions with the use of the Ctrl key and attached a few headers.
I think your other question was can I see this problem when viewing the email in WEBMAIL, no I do not. The email in webmail is perfect, if it is then opened on my PC or laptop in OE6 it may have the Mime problem. As I said before not all emails have this problem. Only a small number. I can receive 3 emails from the same person, one will have the problem and the other two will be clear.
Thanks for your patients.
John

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

MJN — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:06:49 GMT

John,
Sorry to be a pain, but any chance you could paste the headers into a .txt file in Notepad (or similar)? The use of PDFs could be masking the problem, for example there is a line break in the MIME header of the 'MIME Silver' e-mail but this could well have been introduced during the construction of the PDF and not be present in the original headers:

Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----
=_NextPart_e17f01813855aec47aa72e07498a223e"

Copying and pasting directly into a text file ought to minimise risk of these sort of errors being introduced. Ensure that the e-mail body is always posted too (i.e. not just the headers)
Mathew

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:33:19 GMT

Hi Mathew,
I have tried to upload the files in TXT format but your system will not allow TXT files.
I like your Cat feeder project.
John

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

MJN — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:35:43 GMT

Ah, okay.
You could just post the headers and body into code brackets - just hit the # button above the message composition window and paste your stuff in between,
By the way, it's not my system!
Mathew

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

Bigjohn — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:59:18 GMT

Hi Mathew,
I have tried but failed so I am pasteing MIME message straight into this.
John
Return-path: <xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Envelope-to: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@metronet.co.uk
Delivery-date: Wed, 16 May 2012 10:24:45 +0100
Received: from [212.159.8.109] (helo=avasin05.plus.net)
by inmx11.plus.net with esmtp (PlusNet MXCore v2.00) id 1SUaTN-0001fC-LS
for johnpaine@metronet.co.uk; Wed, 16 May 2012 10:24:45 +0100
Received: from ntlemo-2.lemo.ch ([195.65.209.3])
by avasin05.plus.net with Plusnet Cloudmark Gateway
id AZQj1j00204wWR701ZQlcR; Wed, 16 May 2012 10:24:45 +0100
X-CM-Score: 0.00
X-CNFS-Analysis: v=2.0 cv=BrcfMPr5 c=1 sm=1 a=IMnEA3uiQMn3U6wpzo+Nww==:17
a=B45q0ac6xH4A:10 a=nSjWgATbAAAA:8 a=BkN7WlOJAAAA:8 a=ukI5ug4OAAAA:8
a=BqPNhrB-05118_XI_6AA:9 a=XXBtl2gvvqlaInkbbpwA:7 a=CjuIK1q_8ugA:10
a=zGFk5OhhjM4A:10 a=1TAW2aCR2o8A:10 a=B5r4-yftWKAA:10 a=c7b37s7GTZ_oOxgO:21
a=DNc7UehOmu54tHNz:21 a=gE8tFUlrAAAA:8 a=bQEaMyaYAAAA:8
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a=IMnEA3uiQMn3U6wpzo+Nww==:117
In-Reply-To: <9AEFF58095CA4D2FBEE6CDD356DA533D@dell8400>
References: <9AEFF58095CA4D2FBEE6CDD356DA533D@dell8400>
To: "xxxxxxxxxxx" <xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@metronet.co.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-KeepSent: 8C7710E6:42524E8E-80257A00:0033A74F;
type=4; name=$KeepSent
X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 8.5.3 September 15, 2011
From: "xxxxxxxxxxx@lemo.com" <xxxxxxxxxxxx@lemo.com>
Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 10:24:42 +0100
X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on NTLemo-2/CH/LEMO(Release 8.5.3|September 15, 2011) at
05/16/2012 11:24:44 AM,
Serialize complete at 05/16/2012 11:24:44 AM
Content-Type: multipart/alternative
X-PN-Virus-Filtered: by PlusNet MXCore (v5.00)
Subject: Re: Quotation - pgm050312x
X-Mailer: iolo System Shield 10.8.4.29
This is a multipart message in MIME format.

------- Start of text attachment -------
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline
Hi John
Thank you for your email, we will endeavour to reduce the leadtime as =
much=20
as possible
Kind Regards
x

From: "xxxxxxxxxxxx" <xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@metronet.co.uk>
To: <xxxxxxxxxxxx@lemo.com>,=20
Date: 16/05/2012 10:20
Subject: Re: Quotation - pgm050312x

Hello xxxxxxxxx,
=20
My accounts department confirm you should receive payment in your bank=
by=20
Friday this week.
=20
Do you think the 6 week delivery may be shorter?
=20
Best regards.
=20
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am using the Free version of SPAMfighter.
SPAMfighter has removed 331 of my spam emails to date.
Do you have a slow PC? Try free scan!=20
------- End of text attachment -------

------- Start of text attachment -------
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline
Hi John
 
 Thank you for your email, we wi=
ll endeavour
to reduce the leadtime as much as possible
 
 Kind Regards
 
 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
x

<a href=3Dwww.lemo.co.uk>www=
=2Elemo.co.uk</a> 

 
<a href=3Dhttp://xpseries.lemo.com/xpseries></a><a href=3Dhttp:=
//intra.lemo.ch/catalog/ROW/UK_English/Leaflet_HD_Z_link.pdf></a>
 
 
 
 From:   &n=
bsp;  
 "xxxxxxxxxxx"=
<xxxxxxxxxxxxx@metronet.co.uk>
 To:   &nbs=
p;  
 <xxxxxxxxxl@lemo.com&gt=
;,

 Date:   &n=
bsp;  
 16/05/2012 10:20</font=
>
 Subject:  =
 
   Re: Quotation
- pgm050312x
 
<hr noshade>
 
 
 Hello xxxxxxxxx,
  
 My accounts department confirm you s=
hould
receive payment in your bank by Friday this week.
  
 Do you think the 6 week delivery may=
be shorter?
  
 Best regards.
  
 John
 

<hr>I am using the Free version of <a href=3Dhtt=
p://www.spamfighter.com/len>SPAMfighter=
</a>. 
SPAMfighter has removed 331 of my spam emails to date. 
 
Do you have a <a href=3D"http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfigh=
ter?cid=3Dsigen">slow
PC?</a> Try free scan! 
 
------- End of text attachment -------

Re: "This is a multi-part message in MIME format"

prichardson — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:12:00 GMT

Thanks,
The way I see it here, MIME Silver.pdf & More MIME today email.pdf should display normally in OE.
The other two are meant to display in OE inline (within the preview pane) in the way you describe they should not be.
Can you confirm this is the case?
If so, the problem is the sender. Both problem messages were generated and sent by Lotus Notes which is quite probably breaking the messages. The two that I feel show normally were generate by two methods other than Lotus Notes.
If this is not the case, we need further examples again.