Exporting to Outlook App

Overview of Outlook App Connector

Connectors within the Beefree App enable you to export your beautiful designs to your sending platforms. Beefree App offers a comprehensive array of connectors, which you can reference in our Using connectors in Beefree article. 

The Outlook App Connector allows you to download your Beefree email designs as OFT and EMLTPL files that you can then upload into your Outlook App. 

If you would like to export your Beefree design to Outlook Web, visit our Exporting to Outlook.com article to learn more. Otherwise, continue reading this article to learn more about how to download your design’s OFT and EMLTPL files.

Watch the following video tutorial, or continue reading this article to learn more about how to connect and export to the Outlook App connector within Beefree.

Prerequisites

Prior to getting started, ensure you have the following:

• Beefree App account
• Outlook App installed

How to Connect to Outlook App

You can take one of two methods to connect your Beefree account to your Outlook App. These methods are the following:

• Workspace settings
• Export Options

Workspace Settings

Take the following steps to connect to the Outlook App connector through your Workspace Settings:

1. Log in to your Beefree account.
2. Click on Settings located on the Top bar or Sidebar depending on your Appearance setup.
3. Click on the Connectors tab.
4. Locate the Outlook App connector within the list of connectors.
5. Click the Connect button for the Outlook App connector.

You will receive a confirmation message that you connected successfully to the Outlook App.

Export Options

Take the following steps to connect to the Outlook connector through your Export Options:

1. Log in to your Beefree account.
2. Navigate to your email design.
3. Enter your design.
4. Make and save any changes you’d like prior to exporting your design.
5. Click Export on the upper right-hand side of the screen.

A popup will appear with four options.

6. Select Push to your sending system.
7. A list of connectors will appear.
8. Click the Outlook App connector.

A message will appear asking if you would like to connect to the Outlook App.

9. Click Connect to continue 

You will receive a confirmation message that you connected successfully to the Outlook App.

How to Download Files

Once you connect to the Outlook App successfully, you can download an OFT or EMLTPL file for Windows or Mac depending on which device you have.

Take the following steps to download these files types:

1. Navigate to the email design you’d like to export.
2. Make and save any changes you’d like prior to exporting your design.
3. Select Push to your sending system.
4. Click the Outlook App connector.
5. You will be prompted to Download for Outlook App.
6. Select Download for Windows if you’d like an OFT file, or Download for macOS if you’d like an EMLTPL file.

You will receive a confirmation message that your downloaded template file is ready.

Upload File to Outlook App

Once your template file download completes, the Outlook App on your computer will automatically open with your template. 

You’ll notice the following metadata also exported with your design from Beefree to Outlook App: 

• Name of the email if you did not add a subject line.
• Email subject line if you did add that metadata to your Beefree design.
• Preheader and UTMs.

Outlook Rendering Considerations

Keep in mind that the more complex your design is, the more likely you are to experience rendering issues with Outlook. When using the Outlook App connector in Beefree, consider the following rendering behaviors:

GIF Rendering

• GIFs render with a play icon over the GIF in Outlook App.

Font Rendering

• Fonts do not match.

Reference the Font Stacks and Times New Roman to explore potential fixes if this rendering issue occurs.

Spacing Rendering

• Additional spaces in the layout.

Reference the Font Stacks and Times New Roman to explore potential fixes if this rendering issue occurs.

Icon Rendering

• Icon block elements stack on top of each other.
• Icon blocks with labels cannot be centered.

Reference the Email alignment issues in Outlook to explore potential fixes if this rendering issue occurs.

Background Image Rendering

• Mismatching background images.

Reference the CSS background images not supported to explore potential fixes if this rendering issue occurs.

Alignment Rendering

• An issue with elements centering in the email.
• Menu block is always centered.

Reference the Email alignment issues in Outlook to explore potential fixes if this rendering issue occurs.

Other Types of Rendering Considerations

• Links are underlined in Outlook App.
• Random lines in the email templates when those are not designed on Beefree.

Ensure you also familiarize yourself with the Outlook rendering behaviors detailed in the Notes section of our Exporting to Outlook.com article.

Additional Considerations

When using the Outlook App connector in Beefree, consider the following:

• The Update existing option is not available for the Outlook App connector.
• Rendering issues may occur. Familiarize yourself with our Outlook Rendering Considerations for Outlook App.
• The desktop version of your email design will also display on mobile devices.