Scan to pdf is converting to winmail.dat. How do you keep it a pdf

[Jerry3211]

scanning a document to create a pdf to email out.  The pdf document sends as a pdf but converts to a winmail.dat when received by recipient.  How to fix to arrive as pdf

[Dragon-Fur]

@Jerry3211 

Wow.  I don't know.

I have actually see this, though, from the "recipient" side.

It happened a couple of years ago when I was selling a house - one of the assistants (just the one) was sending PDF updates for a particular part of the process and all the files were coming in as "winmail.dat" files - the PDF structure was lost in the sending of the file.

What to do?

I'm not sure.  The assistant didn't have any idea what was happening.

I decided to deal with the content on my side and let it go.

I was selling a house - what was happening in the assistant's mail was just not the point.  Smiling.

Workaround - Have the recipient fix the file

The recipient should download the attached file to his / her computer.

Open the folder in which the file was saved.

Look for Filename "winmail.dat" (might have a number in the file name after more than one of these weird files are saved)

Right-Click on the file

Open Properties

Open tab General

Remove the weird name "winmail.dat" (or whatever) and enter a filename.PDF

What to name the file?

The actual file name (the intended filename) is likely in that email - have the recipient look at the names of the attachments.

Yes, lots of work.

It does solve the immediate problem, however.

Once the file is renamed with the proper PDF suffix, it will open normally.

What else (on your side)?

Try a different browser to send to data.

Check the PDF file before you send it.

Send the file to yourself (or a friend) and check the format.

Use a different software to scan the content.

Send again (to yourself) and check.

Send to a friend and check.

What else?

Try a different mailer - that is, try a different email program.

As I recall, the assistant might have been using Outlook.  ? 

Sorry that I don't really have the "solution" for your side - I was on the recipient end of the problem.

I quickly decided to deal with the files and move on.

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