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No. What if I need to share tabular data? An annotated image with discussion straight after it? Equations? People will have you make everything an attachment b

No. What if I need to share tabular data? An annotated image with discussion straight after it? Equations? People will have you make everything an attachment but that is much worse in terms of context switching. Absorbing new information is easier when the image is inline with text. Especially after it's been forwarded three times. We NEED formatted email, whether in the guise of a word document or HTML.

Jiocus 3y ago
Tabular data isn't hard, | Type | Host/Name | Value/Points to | | ----- | ------------- | ------------------------------- | | CNAME | s1._domainkey | s1._domainkey.example.com | | CNAME | s2._domainkey | s2._domainkey.example.com | | TXT | _dmarc | v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s | Even .csv formatted stuff fares OK in plaintext. But I agree with you on context and having data visible right there in the email. It's often the case that people forgo using email as the functional communication technology it is and settles with attachments only and the canned byline. I want to see full markdown, mermaid and the like in email.
- notRobot 3y ago
  1. Tabular data in ASCII like that is really bad for accessibility 2. It looks terrible on mobile: https://i.imgur.io/ovzaJDG_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium https://i.imgur.io/ovzaJDG_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&f...
  - Jiocus 3y ago
    You both have a point, but this formatting issue is because HN doesn't use `overflow: scroll` for pre/code snippets. Edit: Realized arguing for CSS properties defeats my point on plaintext. You are right, plaintext is problematic.
- Dudeman112 3y ago
  I'm on mobile. The tabular data did not work, obviously Ironic
- eviks 3y ago
  Except it is hard, even your simplistic example fails - I can't read it on one of the most popular devices - mobile phones Also, it's awful for any serious editing Also, add a bit of *formatting* in the cells, and all your plain readability stemming from tabular alignment is gone
zx8080 3y ago
> NEED formatted email Probably, NO. For business things to share some table data use ascii preformatted tables. They look nice and clean! Reference an image attached like [1] or [image-name.jpg] (see attached). Or just attach pdf if needs to pass slides. What we don't need is a formatted marketing crap!
- notRobot 3y ago
  ASCII tables are really bad for accessibility, screen readers aren't able to read them well at all.
denton-scratch 3y ago
> We NEED formatted email Don't agree. Some people WANT formatted email (marketers). If you want tight control of layout, send me a PDF - that's what it's for.

Jiocus 3y ago

Tabular data isn't hard, | Type | Host/Name | Value/Points to | | ----- | ------------- | ------------------------------- | | CNAME | s1._domainkey | s1._domainkey.example.com | | CNAME | s2._domainkey | s2._domainkey.example.com | | TXT | _dmarc | v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s | Even .csv formatted stuff fares OK in plaintext. But I agree with you on context and having data visible right there in the email. It's often the case that people forgo using email as the functional communication technology it is and settles with attachments only and the canned byline. I want to see full markdown, mermaid and the like in email.

notRobot 3y ago
1. Tabular data in ASCII like that is really bad for accessibility 2. It looks terrible on mobile: https://i.imgur.io/ovzaJDG_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium https://i.imgur.io/ovzaJDG_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&f...
- Jiocus 3y ago
  You both have a point, but this formatting issue is because HN doesn't use `overflow: scroll` for pre/code snippets. Edit: Realized arguing for CSS properties defeats my point on plaintext. You are right, plaintext is problematic.
Dudeman112 3y ago
I'm on mobile. The tabular data did not work, obviously Ironic
eviks 3y ago
Except it is hard, even your simplistic example fails - I can't read it on one of the most popular devices - mobile phones Also, it's awful for any serious editing Also, add a bit of *formatting* in the cells, and all your plain readability stemming from tabular alignment is gone

zx8080 3y ago

> NEED formatted email Probably, NO. For business things to share some table data use ascii preformatted tables. They look nice and clean! Reference an image attached like [1] or [image-name.jpg] (see attached). Or just attach pdf if needs to pass slides. What we don't need is a formatted marketing crap!

notRobot 3y ago
ASCII tables are really bad for accessibility, screen readers aren't able to read them well at all.

denton-scratch 3y ago

> We NEED formatted email Don't agree. Some people WANT formatted email (marketers). If you want tight control of layout, send me a PDF - that's what it's for.