Classic ASP

Add an HTML Alternative Body to an Email

Demonstrates the Chilkat Email.AddHtmlAlternativeBody method, which adds an HTML alternative body. Combined with a plain-text body, it produces a multipart/alternative email that offers both representations of the same content. This example sets a plain-text body, adds an HTML alternative, and prints the resulting alternative count.

Background: A well-formed HTML email usually ships two versions of the body: a rich HTML version and a plain-text fallback, wrapped in a multipart/alternative container. The receiving client displays whichever it prefers — modern clients show the HTML, while text-only clients (or spam filters and accessibility tools) use the plain text. Providing both improves deliverability and ensures every recipient can read the message.

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Classic ASP

<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body>
<%
'  Demonstrates the AddHtmlAlternativeBody method, which adds an HTML alternative body to
'  the email.  Combined with a plain-text body, this produces a multipart/alternative
'  email that offers both representations.

set email = Server.CreateObject("Chilkat.Email")
email.Subject = "Plain-text and HTML alternatives"

'  Start with a plain-text body.
email.SetTextBody "This is the plain-text version of the message.","text/plain"

'  Add an HTML alternative, creating a multipart/alternative email.
success = email.AddHtmlAlternativeBody("<html><body><b>This is the HTML version.</b></body></html>")

Response.Write "<pre>" & Server.HTMLEncode( "NumAlternatives = " & email.NumAlternatives) & "</pre>"

%>
</body>
</html>