How do I view EML email documents in ContractHero?

The screenshots in this article show the German interface. The English label is given first, with the German label in square brackets.


When you add contract correspondence to a contract as an email file (.eml format), ContractHero displays it directly in the document area as a preview — you see the subject, sender, date and message text without having to open the file separately in Outlook or another email client.


Your benefit


Contract negotiations, side agreements and important clarifications often happen by email. If those emails belong to a contract, you also need them directly in your contract management — not as an external file that nobody wants to open:


  • Contract history in one place. Emails, PDFs and amendments sit together with the contract rather than scattered across several systems.
  • Fast access during an audit. Auditors can see immediately what was negotiated on a contract — without having to open somebody else's email account.
  • Smooth hand-over. External advisers or auditors can read the email chain without having to open .eml files themselves.


How it works


1. Save the email as an .eml file


In Outlook: select the email → File → Save as [Datei → Speichern unter] → format Outlook Message Format (.msg) [Outlook-Nachrichtenformat (.msg)] or HTML/EML. Other mail clients (Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Gmail export) usually offer a similar function. For the preview in ContractHero, the .eml format is the most reliable.


2. Upload the file to ContractHero


Open the contract.





Open the Documents [Dokumente] area on the right → “+ Add document” [„+ Dokument hinzufügen“] → select the file or drag and drop it into the area.


3. The preview is created automatically


The .eml file appears in the document list with the format label EML. Click the document and you will see the preview with:


  • the email's subject
  • sender and recipient
  • date and time
  • the message text in reading mode


This means you and your team can view the email directly, without downloading it and opening it in an external program.


Typical use cases


  • Documenting negotiation emails relating to the main contract — who agreed to what, and when?
  • Clarification emails with the counterparty — clarifications that are not in the contract itself.
  • Filing incoming confirmations (e.g. from an insurer or bank) with the contract as evidence.
  • Termination emails and the confirmations of their receipt — important for deadlines and later audits.
  • Hand-overs when responsibilities change — the successor sees the full communication, not just the final documents.


Frequently asked questions


Which mail formats are supported?
The reliable preview works with .eml files — the standard email format. Other formats (e.g. .msg from Outlook) can differ in file structure and may first have to be converted to .eml.


Are the email's attachments displayed as well?
The preview shows the message text. Depending on the file structure, attachments can be included in the download — the preview itself does not show them inline.


Is the email searchable in full text?
Yes — if your organisation has enabled full-text search (OCR) [Volltextsuche (OCR)], the content of .eml documents is also taken into account in the index (see Related articles, on full-text search).


Can the AI contract analysis extract data from .eml emails?
The AI analysis is optimised for contract documents. .eml emails serve primarily for documentation and evidence, not for automatic data extraction.


Are the emails stored in a data-protection-compliant way?
As soon as you upload an .eml file to a contract, the same visibility logic applies as for all other contract documents: anyone who is allowed to see the contract also sees the attached emails. Where content is sensitive, make sure the contract permissions are set accordingly.


Can I file .eml files automatically from the Outlook import?
The Outlook import saves the contract PDF attached to the email in the new contract. If you also want to archive the email itself, upload the .eml separately as a document (see Related articles, on the Outlook import).


What happens to images or graphics in the mail body?
Inline images are displayed in the preview as far as possible. With complex HTML emails (e.g. newsletters with elaborate layouts) the layout can differ — but the body text remains readable.


How large can an .eml file be?
The same size limits apply as for other documents (currently 256 MB per file). With very large email threads, loading the preview can take a few seconds.


Good to know


  • .eml is an open standard. Unlike .msg (proprietary to Outlook), .eml is a documented, cross-platform standard. For archiving and compliance purposes, .eml is therefore the more robust choice.
  • Check for personal data before uploading. Emails often contain personal data (signatures, private phone numbers). Before making them visible to a wide group of readers, plan in a quick visual check.
  • Clear naming saves you searching later. “Negotiation_Clause-5_2026-03.eml” is more helpful than “RE: FW: FW: Contract.eml”. You and your colleagues will find the email thread again more quickly.
  • Documented in the activity [Aktivität]. The upload appears in the contract's change log [Änderungsprotokoll] — who added which email, and when, can be traced.
  • For legally relevant emails: add a PDF as well. If the email needs to stand up in court, we recommend also saving a PDF print-out of it — that is universally readable, even when no mail client is to hand.


Not using this feature yet, or would you like to make more of it?


Your Account Manager will show you how to integrate .eml documents sensibly into your contract workflow — 15 minutes is usually enough. Get in touch with us via the web chat or by email to support@contracthero.com.



  • Importing contracts into ContractHero via Outlook email
  • How can contracts be uploaded by email?

Updated on: 08/26/2026

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