The aim of the prepared email facility is to open an email that has email-addresses and a message already to be sent. Just your name and address needs to be added.

To do this, the HTML Mailto command is used. This command has several conditions and limitations - if these aren't satisfied it may give you an error message, or in HTML's inimitable style, it may just ignore you. In addition, some software interprets the command differently.

We are very much aware of the major limitations on the Mailto command of -

• not exceeding 2,100 characters
• substituting special characters for hex characters.

Detailed below are some limitations to our facility that we couldn't avoid - but there are "work-arounds".

If none of these answer an issue that you have with the facility, then please email us and we will endeavour to resolve your issue.

A. Web-based email programs.

The prepared email facility does not work with web-based email programs - such as Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail.

That is, if your computer doesn't have an installed and functioning email software, such as Microsoft Outlook, you will need to cut & paste the message and the email address into a web-based email.

B. Older Versions of Outlook Express.

Full details are provided at the Microsoft Support website

You will need to use the other Mailto Link that's provided, and cut & paste the message into the email.

C. Multiple emails addresses rejected.

We occasionally have multiple Cc:'s in our prepared emails.

If the Cc: addresses are rejected, then it may be because you are using Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 - as they do not recognize a comma as an e-mail address separator. [Although this is the international standard.]

Full details are provided at the Microsoft Support website

You will need to replace the commas with semi-colons. Or better still, change the Email Options to "Allow comma as address separator".