HTML flaw when emailing batch invoices from QuickBooks
This may come off sounding like a QuickBooks question, but I believe the problem is more likely to do with Thunderbird.
I recently started using QuickBooks Pro 2015 (Desktop version) to prepare invoices for my small business. I plan to email batch invoices via Thunderbird in the near future, but I've been running into an annoying problem while testing the batch email feature.
Here's how it goes:
Thunderbird is running one email account from zoho.com using pop/smtp. QuickBooks is properly configured to use Thunderbird as a MAPI client (I believe I'm stating that correctly...?) From Quickbooks I'll use the Send Forms window to email two test messages to two other email addresses I own. (Both messages have attached .pdf invoices.) When I click SEND NOW, there's a confirmation dialog, and I click CONTINUE to send the messages. Thunderbird then pops up a warning message saying another program is attempting to send mail. (No problem.) I click OK, and a few seconds later both messages appear in my Sent folder. When I open them, all I see is my cover letter in plain text mixed with a mess of HTML code. And that exactly what comes through on recipient end as well. The .pdf file that's attached is fully intact though.
If I email each message by itself in QuickBooks, WITHOUT using the batch feature, then it goes through with no problem. The HTML formatting is correctly displayed for the recipient and myself. Was wondering if this is an issue that anyone else has run into when using Thunderbird for MAPI?
Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated! I've been working on this all day and no luck so far.
---Joe
Modified by OneMowTime
All Replies (6)
before you do anything in batch mode, click on the two blue monitors in the bottom Left of the screen and take Thunderbird offline. Other have had all sorts of difficulties you have not got to yet with to many SMTP connections. Although your might be running into an anti virus scanning and cleaning issue.
Could you email me one of these defective devils, just so I can see if I can work out where the HTML goes wrong. That might provide a clue to the cause.
email unicorn dot consulting at gmail dot com
Matt said
before you do anything in batch mode, click on the two blue monitors in the bottom Left of the screen and take Thunderbird offline.
I tried taking Tbird offline before sending a batch, and still have the same issue. Message in the Outbox is all HTML code. I'm forwarding you a copy of the message right now.
One other thing I should mention -- Tbird never opens any Write Message windows when sending a QuickBooks batch. I only get one when I email an invoice signally, and it displays the HTML correctly. Just thought I'd mention that.
I am having the same experience and am looking for an answer either that it is fixed or suggesting a work around.
Thanks.
Well, All I can say is someone recently posted a link to the intuit site showing a statement by them that Thunberbid did not have the capability to do this in batch mode. But as they say nothing at all about how they generate their emails or what that bland statement means. There is no was to even start guessing what they are on about. They have always been secret squirrels, nothing has changed.
The link http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Articles/SLN90945
Matt said
The link http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Articles/SLN90945
Hmmmm. So finally Intuit admits that batch emailing doesn't work in Thunderbird! The first paragraph even says outright that "Thunderbird is currently not supported for use with QuickBooks." Yet Thunderbird is listed as a compatible email client in the settings menu in QuickBooks 2015.
Based on my personal experience, I don't see any other compatibility issues with QuickBooks and Thunderbird except batch emailing.
Thanks for taking the time to check into this issue, Matt. Let us know if you find out anything more!
As a customer, perhaps you could seek a further explanation from them on exactly what is it that Thunderbird does not support.
I am guessing it is something to do with MAPI (a deprecated Microsoft Technology) but seriously I can not even check to see if enhancement bugs have been filed because I have no idea what enhancement is required! It is really hard to follow through.
You might also point out to them hat Thunderbird is open source and there is nothing stopping them from creating a patch to fix the issue for all their customers. Just as softmaker office is doing http://www.softmaker.com/english/ofwtb_en.htm.
Modified by Matt