KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q275504: XCON: Extra Space Is Inserted in Long Subject Lines

Article: Q275504
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): BoS2000
Last Modified: 28-JAN-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.0, 5.5 
- Microsoft Outlook 2000 
- Microsoft Outlook 98 
- Microsoft Outlook 97 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

If a message is sent from an Exchange Server client that uses the Exchange
Transport as its primary method of delivery, and that message contains a subject
field that is longer than 65 characters and contains least one space in those 65
characters, when the message is processed by the Internet Mail Service, a space
may be added to the message in the 65th character, and another space is inserted
every 73 characters after that space. Because of this, the subject field may
contain words that are broken. For example, if you send a message with the
following subject:

  Thank you for using our product. We sincerely hope that our product exceeds
  all of your expectations.

The message is received at the destination with the following subject line:

  Thank you for using our product. We sincerely hope that our prod uct exceeds
  all of your expectations.

A space is added between the letter "d" and the letter "u" in the word "product."
If this message is replied to repeatedly, the breaks become more numerous and
more apparent because a reply is generally preceded by "Re:", which changes the
location of the 65th character.

CAUSE
=====

This issue occurs only when an e-mail message passes from the message transfer
agent (MTA) to the Internet Mail Service for submittal to a remote Internet
host. If the message is sent within a site, the MTA handles the message without
any breaks in the subject field. If the message is sent directly through Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to the Internet Mail Service, the message also
arrives without any breaks.

This issue occurs when the MTA passes the message to the Internet Mail Service.
The MTA creates a file in the Exchsrvr\Imcdata\Out folder. The file is a text
file that contains the e-mail message. Because of the way that the MTA creates
this file (for the use of the Internet Mail Service), the subject field is
automatically wrapped to a new line after the first 65 characters, and then
wrapped again every 73 characters after that.

MORE INFORMATION
================

This issue does not occur if the Outlook client is running in Internet Mail Only
(IMO) mode. For information about changing the mail services mode of your
Outlook client, see the "About changing e-mail configurations" Outlook Help
topic.

Additional query words: long insert characters fragmented sbs IMS

======================================================================
Keywords          : BoS2000 
Technology        : kbOutlookSearch kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2 kbOutlook2000Search kbOutlook97Search kbOutlook98Search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : :5.0,5.5
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.