PC Forms: Text Not Aligned in Mail 2.1 Client

• Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer, version 1.0, running with Microsoft Mail for Windows, version 2.1

SYMPTOMS

When you view a message created using version 1.0 of Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer with version 2.1 of Microsoft Mail for Windows, the text may not align properly and may display unreadable ("garbage") characters.

CAUSE

This problem is caused by the way Mail 2.1 clients interpret tab characters.

Because the Mail 2.1 clients cannot unpackage the data attached to a custom form, they receive the message in text format. If the text-formatted version of the message contains tabs (for example, the Phone form), the message can display misaligned and may include some garbage characters. The following is a summary of how tabs are displayed in each of the Mail 2.1 clients:

   Client      How tabs are displayed
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   MS-DOS      Tabs are displayed as small diamonds and down arrows.

   MAC         Tabs appear as small squares.

   PM          Tabs are displayed as underscores.

   Windows     Tabs appear as small black boxes.

RESOLUTION

Upgrade the client software to Microsoft Mail for Windows version 3.0 or later. Tabs are handled more consistently in versions 3.0 and later of Microsoft Mail.