PHP Extension

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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<?php

include("chilkat.php");

//  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.

$email = new CkEmail();
$email->put_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.
$email->AddHtmlAlternativeBody('<html><body><b>This is the HTML version.</b></body></html>');

print 'NumAlternatives = ' . $email->get_NumAlternatives() . "\n";

?>