E-card

How to use?

About e-card

e-Card is a web-based application that allows you to create personalised animated greeting cards that can then be sent by email, using Microsoft Outlook or another email programme.

e-Card is a service created in-house by the European Parliament. Concept, design, content and animations (*) by the PUBLISHING Unit (Publishing Support and Visual Projects Unit) of the SOMA Directorate, DG ITEC. Technical support by the REUSOL Unit (Reusable Solutions Unit) of the BUSOL Directorate, DG ITEC.

(*) The animations are all based on e-card designs approved by the Quaestors.

 

 

How do I send an e-card?

Simply follow these few steps:

  1. Choose a card by selecting one of the animations.
  2. Select the language of the card and write your text. You’ll need to give your message a title and a description.
  3. Click on "Preview" to check the result.
  4. Once your card is ready, click on the “Download card” button. If your Internet browser shows you a warning saying that the file could harm your device, click on "Keep".
  5. Double-click the downloaded file to open it in Microsoft Outlook.
  6. Add the recipients and subject, and press "Send". That's it!
    Alternatively, you can click send it in HTML format, please see below the answer to the question What is the "Save as HTML" button for?

What will the people I send the card to actually see?

Most recipients will see the fully animated card upon receiving it, but Microsoft Outlook users will only see a static image. They will, however, be able to watch the animation by clicking on a link contained in the email.

Does e-card store my personal data?

The e-card application does not store your text, nor process any personal data. It only creates HTML content that can then be saved or sent using another software. The only items stored on EP servers are the animations, images and HTML templates used to create the e-cards.

I can't find the "Open your e-card in Microsoft Outlook" button anywhere – Where is it?

That button is only available on Windows 7 when using e-card in Internet Explorer and with Microsoft Outlook already running. It appears at the bottom of the "Write your e-card" screen, next to the "Preview", "Save as HTML" and "Open card in an email" buttons.

I clicked on "Open your e-card in Microsoft Outlook" and nothing happened – Where is the email?

Indeed, since e-card stays open on your desktop, sometimes it hides the newly created email. Please check the Windows bar at the bottom of your screen and switch to Microsoft Outlook to display the email window.

The e-card I prepared has opened in Microsoft Outlook as expected, but it displays a static image – Where is the animation I selected?

The recipient(s) will receive an ecard with a static image and a link to view the animated ecard online.

Can I use an alternate web browser instead of Internet Explorer?

If you use another web browser, or if you use Windows 10, the "Open your e-card in Microsoft Outlook" button will not be available. You will have to use the "Open card in an email" button instead.

What is the "Save as HTML" button for?

Once your e-card is ready, you can click on this button to save the card as a file with HTML format. You can then use this file to send the e-card using one of the following methods:

First method: attaching the e-card as text

  1. Create an empty email using your usual email programme.
  2. Attach the saved e-card HTML file to your empty email using the "Insert as text" option if available.
  3. Add a subject and the recipients, and send the message.

Second method: copying and pasting

  1. Create an empty email using your usual email programme.
  2. Open/display the saved e-card HTML file in a web browser.
  3. Select the whole e-card and copy it (e.g. on a PC: use Ctrl-A, then Ctrl-C).
  4. Paste it into your empty email (e.g. on a PC: use Ctrl-V).
  5. Add a subject and the recipients, and send the message.

I don't have Microsoft Outlook – How can I send an e-card?

You can click on the "Open card in an email" button, or on the "Save as HTML" button and use one of the methods described above.

How can I contact the e-card team?

You can reach us at ecard-webmaster@europarl.europa.eu