Fix Publisher Hyperlinks Breaking When Forwarded in Outlook
Question details
The user needs to prevent hyperlinks in a Microsoft Publisher newsletter from breaking or disappearing when the email is forwarded to others via Outlook.
- Product
- Microsoft Publisher, Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Forwarding an HTML email newsletter generated by Microsoft Publisher using the Outlook email client.
- Observed behavior
- Hyperlinks work perfectly for the original recipients, but when the email is forwarded, Outlook converts portions of the Publisher-generated HTML into flat images, removing the clickable links.
Verify that your Outlook email format settings are configured to compose messages in HTML rather than Plain Text or Rich Text before attempting to send or forward newsletters.
Send Directly as HTML with Custom Text Boxes
Avoid the forwarding process entirely by sending the newsletter directly to all intended recipients, adding any personal notes within the Publisher file itself.
Because Outlook's rendering engine often converts complex HTML from Publisher into flat images when a message is forwarded, the most reliable workaround is to send the original HTML directly to every contact.
To accommodate personal messages that you would normally type in a forwarded email, you can integrate a dedicated text box into your layout.
Open your newsletter in Microsoft Publisher. Insert a Text Box at the top of your document layout to hold any personal messages or greetings for your contacts.
Type your personalized note into the new text box. You can modify this text box for different distribution lists before sending.
Click 'File', select 'Share', and choose 'Send Current Page' or 'Send as HTML'. Input your recipient list directly rather than sending it to yourself and forwarding it.
Distribute the Newsletter as a PDF Attachment
Convert the Publisher document to a PDF and send it as an attachment to guarantee that all layouts and hyperlinks remain perfectly preserved across all email clients.
Create Flawless Newsletters and Documents with WPS Office
If formatting conflicts between Publisher and Outlook are slowing you down, try WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for creating stunning documents and exporting them to universally readable formats.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Create your document: Open WPS Writer to design your newsletter or document, easily inserting text, images, and working hyperlinks.
- 3. Export and Share: Use the built-in 'Export to PDF' tool to preserve all formatting and links, ensuring your file displays perfectly in any email client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Outlook convert my Publisher HTML to images?
When forwarding emails, Outlook's rendering engine often simplifies complex HTML elements (like layered layouts from Publisher) by flattening them into images. This ensures the visual layout doesn't break, but it unfortunately removes the underlying interactive hyperlink data.
Can I embed a Publisher newsletter directly into the Outlook email body and keep links upon forwarding?
While you can send a Publisher newsletter directly to the body of an email as HTML (which keeps links for the first recipient), there is no native setting to prevent Outlook from stripping those links if that recipient subsequently decides to forward the email.
Will saving the Publisher file as a PDF keep the content visible in the email body?
No. Standard email clients do not support true embedding of interactive PDFs directly in the reading pane body. The PDF will appear as an attachment or an image preview, requiring the recipient to click and open it to access the links.
How can I add a personal note if I shouldn't forward the email?
Before you use the 'Send as HTML' feature in Publisher, edit the document itself to include a dedicated text box at the top of your layout. You can update this box with your personal message for each contact or mailing list.
