OL98: Programmatically-Created Attachment Loses Icon

ID: Q198026

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Outlook 98

SYMPTOMS

Using Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) or Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications code, you can attach one Microsoft Outlook item to another.

If you send a mail message with such an attachment, the person who receives the message may not be able to see the icon for the attachment. The attached item however, is intact and functions correctly.

CAUSE

This problem is a result of how you write the code for the item attachment. Using an object variable results in the problem described in the "Symptoms" section.

RESOLUTION

When attaching the second item to the first, use the ActiveInspector.CurrentItem object to reference the attached item. For an example of how to resolve this problem, see the "Corrected Code" section later in this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft Support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

Corrected Code

If you repeat the steps below but follow the comment instructions to use:

    ItemToSend.Attachments.Add Application.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem, 4

      instead of

    ItemToSend.Attachments.Add Item, 4

Steps to Reproduce the Problem

1. Create a new mail message.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Forms, and then click Design This Form.

3. Drag to resize the message control, creating enough space for a

   CommandButton.

   CommandButton to the form.

   code in the Script Editor.

   NOTE: In the seventh line of the following code, be sure to change the
   placeholder to your e-mail name.

   Sub CommandButton1_Click()
   ' Saves the current mail item in the Inbox.
   Item.Save
   ' Create a new mail message.
   Set ItemToSend = Application.CreateItem(0)
   ' Change following line to your e-mail name to send message.
   ItemToSend.To = "<enter your e-mail here>"
   ItemToSend.Subject = "test"
   ' The following line results in a blank icon for attachment.
   ' 4 is the olAttachmentType constant olByValue to create a link.
   ItemToSend.Attachments.Add Item, 4
   ' The following line will preserve the icon in the sent message
   ' if you substitute it for the line above.
   'ItemToSend.Attachments.Add Application.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem, 4
   ItemToSend.Send
   End Sub

7. On the Form menu, click Run This Form.

8. Click CommandButton1 to run the VBScript code.

You should receive a new message in your Inbox that contains the blank attachment icon. If you click the upper-left portion of the message area, you will see the bounding outline for the icon.

REFERENCES

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q180826
   TITLE     : OL98: Resources for Custom Forms and Programming

   ARTICLE-ID: Q182349
   TITLE     : OL98: Questions About Custom Forms and Outlook Solutions

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBS 
Version           : WINDOWS:98
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999