Child-Neuro E-Mail List for Child Neurologists

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Comparing the digest and mime-digest formats

Digest

The default setting for this list is the "digest" format.   All messages posted on a given day are sent out at midnight (Eastern time) as a composite, single message. 

• Advantage: there is just a single message to read. 
• Disadvantages: it is sometimes difficult to tell where one message begins and another ends, particular if a reply quotes from prior messages. Also, HTML formatting is lost and, with some email readers, HTMLcode is left embedded in the message, making it very difficult to read.

Mime-Digest

All the mailings for the day come as a single index message with each individual posting at an attachment. 

• Advantages: this format is sometimes easier to read. Individual messages are clearly delineated. HTML formatting may be preserved (depending on your email reader), and the embedded HTML is generally hidden. It is also easier to respond to a particular message on the list rather than responding to the entire digest.
• Disadvantage: you have to click on each individual attachment to read it.

Here is how Digest might look (note loss of HTML formatting):

and another:

Here is how Mime-Digest might look:

and when you open the attachment, this opens (note preservation of the HTML formatting):

and other example: