Some tips to keep in mind when programming in Outlook:   Return to List

a) Every item in Outlook uses a particular form to display its data. [You cannot
            build a form from scratch - you must always start with one of the built-in
            forms or an existing Outlook item.] However, this is not a major handicap,
            since you can hide the default pages and display only custom pages that
            you yourself create.

b) A good programming technique is to create the form and underlying code using
            VBA (along with the VBE) - then convert the code to VBScript.

c) Whether you use VBA or VBScript somewhat depends on the task you're trying to perform:
     1) Make something happen in response to something the user does with an Outlook
                        item (modify an Outlook form with VBScript)
     2) Write a macro that can be run from the Outlook toolbar (write a routine in VBA)
     3) Make something happen when the user starts Outlook, switches to a different
                        folder, or performs other actions that don't involve a particular Outlook
                        item (write a routine in VBA)
     4) Display status information as the User performs various Outlook tasks (create
                        a form in VBA with a routine to show the status information)
     5) Show additional information on an Outlook form (modify the Outlook form)
NOTE!! -- You cannot use VBA to put programming behind an Outlook form and distribute
                        it to others! The programming language behind Outlook messages and other
                        forms is VBScript; however, you can use Outlook's VBA environment to write
                        and test the code you want to use in scripts, then convert the VBA to VBScript.

d) Outlook pages with captions shown in parentheses are hidden.

e) You can save a form in 3 ways:
     1) As an item in an Outlook folder [not the recommended method - to easy to
                        delete and misplace]
     2) An an Outlook template file anywhere on your computer
     3) Choose File | Save As | Save As Type (choose Outlook template (*.oft)) then
                        provide a filename and location.

f) As a published Outlook form, either in a forms library or in a particular folder

g) There are 3 types of forms libraries available -
     1) Personal forms - A library of forms stored in your Personal folders or Exchange
                        Server mailbox.
     2) Organization forms - A library of forms stored on the Exchange Server for
                        group use. You need permission from the Exchange Server Administrator to
                        publish to this library.
     3) Folder forms - A library of forms associated with a particular folder, either
                        in your mailbox or Personal Folders or in a public folder on the
                        Exchange Server. You must have folder owner permission to publish to a
                        public folder.
NOTE!! -- Publishing a form is the only way that a form with code behind it will appear
        without the Enable Macros message popping up every time.

h) Remember that forms have properties - in addition to the more typical properties
            associated with controls.