How to Create a PDF Showing Both HTML and Plain-Text Email Versions
Question details
The user wants to generate a single PDF document containing both the rendered HTML view and the raw plain-text alternative of a MIME multipart email.
- Product
- Outlook for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Archiving or exporting complete email records that require documenting both the formatted HTML view and the underlying plain-text message source.
- Observed behavior
- Outlook for Mac only prints or saves the selected rendered version (either HTML or plain text) to PDF, failing to automatically capture both MIME alternatives in a single export.
Ensure you have a PDF editor installed capable of merging files or inserting new pages, and that you know how to access the 'View Source' option in your email client.
Export Parts Separately and Merge into One PDF
Save the HTML view and the plain-text source as separate PDF files, then use a PDF editor to merge them into a single document.
Since email clients render only one MIME part at a time, the most reliable method is to isolate each view, save them individually, and combine them post-export.
Open the email in Outlook for Mac, go to File > Print, click the 'PDF' dropdown at the bottom, and select 'Save as PDF' to capture the standard HTML version.
Right-click the email in your message list and select 'View Source'. Locate the plain-text segment of the email and copy it to your clipboard.
Paste the copied plain text into a text editor (like TextEdit or Word), format it if necessary, and use the Print > Save as PDF method to create a second file.
Open your PDF editor, select the 'Combine Files' or 'Merge' tool, add both the HTML PDF and the plain-text PDF, and save them as a single combined document.
Add Plain-Text Source as a New Page in the PDF
Print the HTML email to a PDF, then insert a blank page and paste the plain-text source directly into the document using PDF editing tools.
Easily Merge HTML and Plain-Text PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive, built-in PDF toolkit that lets you seamlessly combine multiple PDF files, insert blank pages, and add text. You can easily merge your exported HTML email PDF and plain-text PDF into one cohesive document for free.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab from the main interface to access the PDF tools.
- 2. Select Merge PDF: Click on 'Merge PDF' from the top toolkit menu or the home dashboard.
- 3. Add Your Files: Click 'Add Files' and select both your exported HTML email PDF and the plain-text PDF.
- 4. Merge and Save: Arrange the page order to ensure the HTML version comes first, then click 'Merge' to create and save your combined PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Outlook automatically export both HTML and plain-text versions in one PDF?
No, Outlook only exports or prints the version that is currently rendered on your screen. You must extract and save the alternative MIME part manually.
How do I view the plain-text source of an email in Outlook for Mac?
You can right-click the email message in your inbox list and select 'View Source' to see the raw MIME content, which includes the plain-text alternative.
Will the email hyperlinks still work in the HTML PDF?
Yes, if you use the 'Save as PDF' function in the Mac print dialog or a dedicated PDF export tool, standard HTML hyperlinks are typically preserved in the resulting PDF.
Can I force Outlook to only display emails in plain text?
Yes, you can change your Outlook reading preferences to read all standard mail in plain text. This makes it easier to print the plain-text version, though you will still need to merge it manually with the HTML version later.
