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Q173582: HOWTO: Using OLE Automation to Display Outlook from VFP

Article: Q173582
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b,6.0,97,97sp1,97sp2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbvfp kbvfp300 kbvfp300b kbvfp600
Last Modified: 18-JUN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

You may want to display Microsoft Outlook from Visual FoxPro to allow users to
read or send messages or to open other folders in Outlook. This article
demonstrates how to do this.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The Outlook object provides the functionality to control data stored in the
Outlook folders, but there is limited functionality to manipulate Outlook
itself. Since you probably want to interact with the data stored in Outlook, you
need to create a reference to the Messaging Application Programming Interface
(MAPI) folders where Outlook stores all of its information. Do this by setting a
variable to the "Namespace" object.

The following code creates and displays an instance of Outlook. Visual FoxPro for
Windows pauses execution as long as the user has the Outlook application on top
using the GetActivewindow API function call. If the Visual FoxPro application
window is brought on top, then the code forces Outlook to close:

     oOutlookObj = CREATEOBJECT("Outlook.Application")
     oNamespace = oOutlookObj.GetNamespace("MAPI")
     oFolder = oNamespace.GetDefaultfolder(6)   && See below for other values
     oFolder.Display

     * Code to pause FoxPro while Outlook window is on top
     IF NOT 'FOXTOOLS' $ SET('LIBRARY')
        SET LIBRARY TO SYS(2004)+"FoxTools"
     ENDIF
     FoxWind = MAINHWND()
     GetActive=RegFn('GetActiveWindow','','I') && Determine if FoxPro is
                                               && on top
     DO WHILE .T.    && Keep looping until the ActiveWindow = FoxWind
        IF FoxWind = CallFn(GetActive)
           EXIT
        ENDIF
     ENDDO
     SET LIBRARY TO

     oOutlookObj.Quit

The GetDefaultfolder method has several values that open different folders in
Outlook. The list below provides the default folder values.

  Folder Name      Value
  ----------------------
  Deleted Items      3
  Outbox             4
  Sent Items         5
  Inbox              6
  Calendar           9
  Contacts          10
  Journal           11
  Notes             12
  Tasks             13

(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Dean Christopher, Microsoft Corporation


REFERENCES
==========

Microsoft Outlook Visual Basic Help

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbvfp kbvfp300 kbvfp300b kbvfp600 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300 kbVFP300b kbVFP600
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b,6.0,97,97sp1,97sp2
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

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