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Is it possible to convert incoming emails sent in HTML format to plain-text in Exchange Server 2003?

Alternatively, is it possible to retrieve emails from Exchange Server as plain-text only?

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If your application is getting mail from a specific mailbox using POP3 or IMAP, you can configure the mailbox's POP3/IMAP settings so that Exchange serves plain text only, regardless of the format of messages in the mailbox.

I haven't worked on Exchange 2003 in quite a while, nor do I have access to a 2003 server, so I can't give you the exact place to look, but if you view the mailbox properties using AD Users & Computers on the Exchange server, it shouldn't be too hard to spot.

Update: after a bit of searching, I managed to find the location of the setting I was thinking of.

On your Exchange Server, open AD Users & Computers, it should be under Start/All Programs/Microsoft Exchange.

  • Find the relevant mailbox used by your application and open it's properties page.
  • Select the "Exchange Features" tab.
  • On the tab you should see a "Protocols" section (example).
  • If you click on IMAP4 and then Properties, you should be able to force plain text there.

I have done this in the the past with an app that polled a mailbox using POP3 so I know for a fact it works. I'm 99.9% sure the exact same option is available for IMAP4.

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  • Hi, I am connecting to IMAP and I have tried all the settings possible on the exchange server i.e. only allow plain text. However, It doesn't seem to work I am still getting HTML in the body.
    – James
    Aug 24, 2009 at 21:13
  • Ah ok I was doing this settings from the Exchange System Manager. I will give it a try, thanks!
    – James
    Aug 25, 2009 at 7:47
  • Hi I tried this and the body is still in HTML. Do I need to reboot the server before the changes take effect?
    – James
    Aug 25, 2009 at 11:36
  • I just did some research about that settings and I think that only restricts that account to sending emails as plain text, not converting them as they come in :(
    – James
    Aug 25, 2009 at 12:37
  • POP3 and IMAP are not related to sending mail, those settings are definitely for controlling the format/s for receiving mail. Nov 6, 2009 at 14:15
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http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrdevelopment/thread/4b8cb921-cef9-4662-b472-f6fbb141d408/

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  • Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference. Oct 23, 2013 at 14:46
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I decided to use the HtmlAgilityPack and manually parse the email body. I couldn't seem to find an exhange server solution.

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