How to resolve newline character when sending an email using SMTP

Question

string strTheBody = @"First Name: " + tbFirst.Text + "\nLast Name: " + tbLast.Text + "\nAddress 1: " + tbAdd1.Text + "\nAddress 2: " + tbAdd2.Text + "";
strTheBody += @"\nCity: " + tbCity.Text + "\nState: " + ddlTechState.SelectedValue + "\nZip Code: " + tbZip.Text + "\nDOB: " + tbDOB.Text + "\nEmail Address: " + tbEmail.Text + "";
strTheBody += @"\nLast Doctor visited: " + ddlTechProvider.SelectedValue + "\nIssue: " + ddlTechIssues.SelectedValue + "\n\nComments: " + HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(tbComments.Text) + "";

MailMessage mmSendEmail = new MailMessage();
mmSendEmail.To.Add("myemail@myweb.com");
mmSendEmail.From = new MailAddress(tbEmail.Text);
mmSendEmail.Subject = "Contacting about " + ddlTechIssues.SelectedValue;
mmSendEmail.Body = strTheBody;

SmtpClient scSend = new SmtpClient("mysmtp.myisp.com");
scSend.Send(mmSendEmail);

Sends the email like this:

First Name: first
Last Name: last
Address 1: my address 1
Address 2: \nCity: some city
State: NV
Zip Code: 90320
DOB: 08/08/2013
Email Address: myemail@email.com\nLast Doctor visited: 0
Issue: Result

Comments: This is a comment

How can I resolve the issue with the \n being displayed if the value is empty and when there is an email address.

They are displayed because you write them with verbatim string literal as `@"\nCity`. What do you mean by _resolve_ exactly? Can you please be more specific? — Soner Gönül, Apr 14 '15 at 13:07

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

2

@ symbol means to read that string literally, and don't interpret control characters

https://stackoverflow.com/a/3312007/3087342

I suggest using StringBuilder instead, will remove these type of errors and makes your code generally a lot more readable - in terms of formatting the email anyway.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

Community

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answered Apr 14 '15 at 13:10

horHAY

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Removed the `@` and it solved the problem. I will use StringBuilder as you mentioned because you are right, it is easier and more readeable. Thanks. – SearchForKnowledge Apr 14 '15 at 13:13
accept it answered @SearchForKnowledge bcoz #horHAY got the missing point. :) – A_Sk Apr 14 '15 at 13:16
I understand. I will when SO allows me to :) – SearchForKnowledge Apr 14 '15 at 13:18

How to resolve newline character when sending an email using SMTP

1 Answers1