Closed Bug 33712 Opened 24 years ago Closed 24 years ago

Don't escape "\nFrom" with ">" in HTML

Categories

(MailNews Core :: MIME, defect, P3)

Product:
MailNews Core
Component:
MIME
Type:
defect

Tracking

(Not tracked)

Status:
VERIFIED WONTFIX

People

(Reporter: BenB, Assigned: rhp)

References

Details

Reproduction, way 1:
1. Open the HTML composer
2. In the content widget, press return and enter "From all".
3. Send the msg to yourself
4. View the incoming msg

Reproduction, way 2:
1. Send youself a msg with the following HTML file attached:
<html><head><title>stupid sendmail</title></head><body>
From all
</body></html>
Important: "From all" must be at the beginning of a line.
2. View the incoming msg

Actual result:
You'll see
>From all

Expected result:
From all

Additional Comments:
I know, that is for some stupid UNIX mail programs (which use the mbox msg
database format). However, there's no need for ">", a space is completely
sufficient and invisible, if the HTML is displayed (as long as not in a <pre>
element).

BTW: Why is ">" used in plain text and not space?
*** Bug 33713 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 33714 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Sorry, but we use Berkley Mail Folder file format for mail folders. If you lose 
these characters, then it screws up the file parsing. Using spaces are 
dangerous. Spaces can get eaten/lost at times especially in HTML output and 
this totally horks up messages in this file format.

Before you get too upset, you should be happy we use this file format. For 
the other side of the fence, look at Outlook and try to get your email out of 
that product...all data is in proprietary binary files.

- rhp
Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 24 years ago
Resolution: --- → WONTFIX
What about using a comment pair?  <!-- --> or possibly some sort of empty HTML
tag (the latter being possibly dangerous)?
Sorry, but this is playing with fire. We've worked with this format since 
Navigator 2.0 and I'm not about to dork with it now for Beta 2.

- rhp
I think, mmastrac's suggestion (CCing him for the case he forgot that) is very
safe, but I also understand Rich's concerns. The risk is propably very low
(somewhere at 0,0001), but the possible danger is very high (data loss of
complete folders).

Rich, what about reopening and helpwanted/M20 with a note "not for 5.0" or
RESOLV/LATER?
I just don't think I want this touched...that's why its not on a help wanted 
list.

- rhp
For the record: I noticed, that Mozilla (build 2000-04-11 Linux) inserts a space
instead of a '>', if "From " at the beginning of a line in plain text is
detected.
mark verified to get this off my "to verify" list.
Status: RESOLVED → VERIFIED
Product: MailNews → Core
Product: Core → MailNews Core
You need to log in before you can comment on or make changes to this bug.