EML files no longer opening as a draft e-mail to send

Question

Hi,

We have a hosted web based application which produces EML files using a template, and includes attachments. What normally happens is that this web application produces the EML file (so a plaintext MIME format message) and downloads that to the user via the browser. The user then opens this file, which is associated with Outlook and the message is opened as a draft e-mail. The user can then apply any changes, edits, etc and click SEND. This will then send from their Outlook client as a normal message. This is the intended behaviour and has worked since Outlook 2010. But as Outlook as progressed the functionality here has become more and more limited and appears to now, as of Version 2109 Build 16.0.14430.20256, be unusable.

What it does now is open up the EML file, but it's no longer a draft e-mail. It's handled as if it's a previously sent e-mail, and the user can only reply, or forward it. So the "Open as a Draft" functionality appears to have been removed.

So just wondering if anybody else has come across this and has any recommendations or solutions.

Thanks

-Ralph

Answer 1

Hi,

We have a hosted web based application which produces EML files using a template, and includes attachments. What normally happens is that this web application produces the EML file (so a plaintext MIME format message) and downloads that to the user via the browser. The user then opens this file, which is associated with Outlook and the message is opened as a draft e-mail. The user can then apply any changes, edits, etc and click SEND. This will then send from their Outlook client as a normal message. This is the intended behaviour and has worked since Outlook 2010. But as Outlook as progressed the functionality here has become more and more limited and appears to now, as of Version 2109 Build 16.0.14430.20256, be unusable.

What it does now is open up the EML file, but it's no longer a draft e-mail. It's handled as if it's a previously sent e-mail, and the user can only reply, or forward it. So the "Open as a Draft" functionality appears to have been removed.

So just wondering if anybody else has come across this and has any recommendations or solutions.

Thanks

-Ralph

It appears one now has to be a lot more explicit. The default mode isn't to open as a draft anymore. The following additional header entry **** will result in the above version opening the EML file as a Draft which resolves the issue:

X-Unsent: 1

Answer 2

Hello Ralph Taylor,

 

Thanks for your post in this community.

 

Regarding your issue, as you are using third party application, so kindly check with third party application support team if his application supported with updated Outlook 365 version?

 

Further apart from the Outlook Version 2109 Build 16.0.14430.20256, is this working before in any previous Outlook version? If yes, as a workaround you can revert back to the earlier Outlook version by follow the steps mention in How to revert to an earlier version of Office (microsoft.com).

 

Your time and co-operation will be highly appreciated and thank you so much for that. Stay safe and healthy.

 

Regards,

Ankita Vaidya

 

Hi Ankita Vaidya,
I faced the same issue with Outlook on macOS, I think the header "X-Unsent=1" is not used by Outlook for macOS, is there another way instead of X-Unsent=1" of macOS?

Answer 3

Dear Ankita Vaidya,

Many thanks for your reply. We are the supplier and support for our hosted application.

Yes this worked on Outlook 2010 to Outlook 2019 builds prior to Version 2109 Build 16.0.14430.20256. In these previous version the EML, by default, opened up as a new draft. After the above version they open up as a closed message (i.e. cannot be "sent" as not a draft)

Kind regards

-Ralph

Answer 4

Hello Ralph Taylor,

Thanks for your post in this community.

Regarding your issue, as you are using third party application, so kindly check with third party application support team if his application supported with updated Outlook 365 version?

Further apart from the Outlook Version 2109 Build 16.0.14430.20256, is this working before in any previous Outlook version? If yes, as a workaround you can revert back to the earlier Outlook version by follow the steps mention in How to revert to an earlier version of Office (microsoft.com).

Your time and co-operation will be highly appreciated and thank you so much for that. Stay safe and healthy.

Regards,

Ankita Vaidya