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Design HTML Email Design Coding HTML Email Coding with Limited HTML

Paula Mourad
Paula Mourad
5,154 Points
Posted by Paula Mourad
Paula Mourad
5,154 Points

Getting Deeper in Code

Hi! Can someone explain a bit more what the syntax mean and why these values are not set in the CSS?

Example:

<td align="center" valign="top" id="bodyCell">

By reading I kind of guess what it means...but if someone could explain, that would be great! :)

Thanks!

Paula

3 Answers

Paula Mourad
Paula Mourad
5,154 Points
Paula Mourad
Paula Mourad
5,154 Points

Hi Kevin Korte ! Thank you so very much for the link!! I was able to follow it and I ended up with a great email! :) Thanks again! Paula

Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,149 Points
Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,149 Points

So align=center is probably self explanatory. This refers to horizontal spacing. valign is vertical align, and in this case top means the content is aligned to the top of the data cell. The options here are top, middle, bottom, and baseline. The id is just like any other id.

The reason this is inline is that inline CSS is the recommended way to apply css when using HTML email. Referencing an external CSS is unreliable. Many browser based email clients strip out the head and body tags of your HTML email.

So we're left with writing HTML email like its 1990.

Paula Mourad
Paula Mourad
5,154 Points
Paula Mourad
Paula Mourad
5,154 Points

Kevin Korte Thank you so very much! I've been following the HTML Email Design class, and yet I understand the basics of it, there are MANY things that I have no idea of. The course goes way too fast for those who are entering this world!

I appreciate your help and I will note this down. If you know of any site or video that explains this in a simpler way or in a more basic level, please let me know :)

Cheers! Paula

Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,149 Points
Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,149 Points

You're welcome.

HTML email sucks to write, no doubt about it.

This article does a pretty good job of walking you through a custom template http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/articles/build-an-html-email-template-from-scratch--webdesign-12770

Honestly, I like knowing how an HTML email is built, but for the most part, I use MailChimp's WYSIWYG email builder, which offers enough customization to create nice looking custom templates.

It's also a huge time saver for me, so I can focus on coding other things, instead of HTML email. :)