Different mail rendering Outlook vs Gmail

[ScaonE]

Dear all,

I'm trying to use Microsoft365R + blastula to send emails. The goal is to have nice Outlook integration + R Markdown document for a richer email.

When testing, the blastula::render_email() displays fine in RStudio viewer pane:

Viewer

Then, when sending with Microsoft365R send() method, the resulting mail looks as exepected in the Outlook inbox, but is kinda ugly in Gmail (e.g. css defined elements aren't working): (I don't know in advance to whom I'll have to send these kind of emails, thus I have to test with a few widely used mail services)

Outlook

Gmail

=> Any tips on how to fix this?

Here is what I tried without success:

In the create_email() method options, set content_type = "text".

Here is what I read about Gmail which might explain stuff:

• Gmail clips emails exceeding a file size of 102KB.

• From the emayili doc:

Note: Gmail doesn’t like the Bootstrap CSS. If you want your styling to work on Gmail you should set include_css = c("rmd", "highlight").

=> Is there an equivalent of include_css = "rmd" in blastula?

Code for reproducibility:

template.Rmd

---
title: "Report"
output:
  blastula::blastula_email
--- 

```{r, include = FALSE}
library(knitr)
library(showtext)
font_add_google("Montserrat")

h2 {
  font-size: 20px;
  font-family: "Montserrat";
  text-align: left;
  color: #ff0000;
}

.contact {
  font-family: "Montserrat";
  font-size: 12px;
  color: #ff0000;
  padding-left: 10px;
  border-left: 1px solid #ff0000;
  margin-left: 100px;
  text-align: left;
}

## My title

Dear all,

My text *toto*

```{r, echo = FALSE, out.width = 80, fig.align='right', out.extra='style="float: left; position: relative; top: 30px"'}
knitr::include_graphics("https://www.datanovia.com/en/wp-content/uploads/dn-tutorials/r-tutorial/images/boxplot-icon-sticker.png")

<p class = "contact">
Contact:  
**Organisation**<br>
  toto<br>
  FRANCE<br>
  <br>
  [email protected]<br>
</p>

main.R

library(Microsoft365R)
library(blastula)

outlook <- get_business_outlook()

blast_mail <- render_email("template.Rmd")

btoc_mail <-
  outlook$create_email(
    body = blast_mail,
    content_type = "html",
    subject = "Your custom mail",
    to = "[email protected]",
    cc = "[email protected]",
    send_now = FALSE
  )

btoc_mail$send()

[datawookie]

Hi @ScaonE, although it's possible to work with {blastula} and {emayili} on the same project, I don't believe that this is ideal. I'd suggest choosing one package or the other. With regards to CSS in Gmail, this is a well known issue. I am having some success with styling HTML messages in {emayili} and I'm sure that it should be possible in {blastula} too (but I'm not sure how). Thanks, Andrew.

[ScaonE]

Hi @ScaonE, although it's possible to work with {blastula} and {emayili} on the same project, I don't believe that this is ideal.

I do agree, I only used blastula up to now. I was only quoting a part of emayili documentation which refers to Gmail & potential CSS issues.

With regards to CSS in Gmail, this is a well known issue. I am having some success with styling HTML messages in {emayili}

I glad to hear it. Any minimal reproducible exemple available ?

Thanks for you reply btw

[rich-iannone]

Sorry for the late reply, I don't think it's possible to successfully combine Microsoft365R with blastula (it was never tested to work together). I'd would try composing the message and sending it entirely with blastula.