OL98: Getting Support for Developing Outlook-related Solutions

• Microsoft Outlook 98

SUMMARY

This article describes how you can get help from Microsoft Product Support for questions related to Microsoft Outlook and other Microsoft collaborative technologies. These solutions often involve different Microsoft products and you may not be sure which product or support offering to contact.

For more information about where to find information before speaking to a Microsoft Technical Support engineer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q180826 OL98: Resources for Custom Forms and Programming

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Outlook Support (Personal)

• Resources for finding information about Outlook solutions.



• How to access design mode for customizing a form.



• How to access the VBScript Editor.



• Using standard and user-defined fields, including the Message Class field.

Microsoft Office Developer Support for Outlook (Professional)

• How to create a folder-based form solution by using a "clean-sheet" example of creating a custom form, publishing it to a folder, and then setting the folder to use the form as the default form for the folder.



• Interpret and explain specific syntax, connectivity, functionality, and purpose of Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) and automation.



• Creating formula fields using the Expression Service.



• Provide an overview of different programming approaches you may be able to pursue to achieve a desired end result.



• Instruction on debugging tools, and explain basic concepts involving debugging code procedures.



• Pointing out reference material such as Help files, Microsoft Knowledge Base articles, and other on-line resources which may include sample Automation code.



• Advanced usability of folders as it relates to a solution, typically public folders, permissions, forms storage, and such.



• Questions regarding standard Outlook controls or controls available from the Office 97 Developer Edition (ODE).



• Verify and account for problems in Outlook as they relate to custom Outlook solutions.



• Limited advice on solution deployment questions.



• Basic use of Automation from Visual Basic or a Visual Basic for Applications-based program. Support for Automation from a third-party application is limited to questions directly related to Outlook.



• Helping install and use the Outlook sample forms and applications that are available for download at the Microsoft web site:




http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/downloadCatalog/dldoutlook.htm

• Specific questions concerning problems customizing the Outlook sample forms.

Microsoft Developer Support (Professional)

• Problems using the Outlook object model using Microsoft Visual Basic (VB) or Microsoft Visual C/C++ (VC) automation when the issue is directly related to using VB or VC. If you are using VB or VC to automate Outlook, with a general question regarding the Outlook object model, you can receive support through Office Developer Support for Outlook.



• Collaborative Data Objects (CDO), formerly referred to as Active Messaging (1.1) and OLE Messaging (1.0).



• Creating a custom action, which must be programmed in C, for the Inbox Assistant in Outlook.



• Issues related to non-Outlook forms, typically those created using the Exchange Forms Designer.



• Exchange/Outlook Client Extensions



• Exchange Development Kit (EDK)



• Simple MAPI



• Extended MAPI



• Directory API (DAPI)



• Common Messaging Calls (CMC)



• Exchange Administrator Extensions



• Microsoft Mail utilities usable in Exchange



• MAPI OCXs

Q183655 INFO: What is a Developer Support Messaging Issue?

Office Developer Consult Line (ODCL)

• If you do not have a programming background, the support offered would typically be a complete solution as long as there are no considerable outside variables that would affect the safe operation of the solution. If you will be using the solution in a unique or customized environment, you should obtain assistance from a dedicated consultant or Solution Provider who would be able to provide ongoing support as needed.
  
  For information about Solution Providers in your local area, contact the Microsoft Solution Provider Sales and Information line at (800)765-7768 in the US or (800)563-9048 in Canada. For information about support in other locations, contact a local Microsoft subsidiary.



• If you are an experienced programmer, the support offered would typically be advanced or more in-depth examples or forms that you can implement in your solution.

Microsoft Exchange Server (Professional Support)

• Questions related to installing or basic usage of the Exchange Form Designer.



• Questions that are directly related to public folders or the Microsoft Exchange Organizational Forms Library, such as how a folder is replicated across multiple Microsoft Exchange Servers.

REFERENCES

For more information about creating solutions with Microsoft Outlook 98, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q180826 OL98: Resources for Custom Forms and Programming

Q182349 OL98: Questions About Custom Forms and Outlook Solutions

Additional query words: OutSol OutSol98

Keywords          : kbpolicy 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo 

Last Reviewed: June 30, 1999