OL97: Command Line for Creating a Pre-addressed E-mail Message

ID: Q172958

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 97

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use command line switches to create a new e-mail message that is pre-addressed (with the To field filled in automatically). You can do this in the following ways:

Using a desktop shortcut.
Using the Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar.
Using the Shell Command.

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 engineers 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

Using a Desktop Shortcut

To create a shortcut on the Windows desktop that automatically creates a new pre-addressed e-mail message, follow these steps:

1. Using the right mouse button, right-click a blank area of the Windows

   desktop and on the shortcut menu, point to New, and click Shortcut.

2. In the Command Line box, type the following:

   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Outlook.exe" /c ipm.note /m
   <full e-mail name>

   where <full e-mail name> is the complete e-mail address of the
   recipient, such as JohnDoe@msn.com

   NOTE: You may have to modify the path if you did not install Outlook to
   the default setup location.

3. Type a name for the shortcut, for example, Mail to John Doe.

4. Click Finish.

Using the Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar

To add a button to the Office Shortcut Bar to automatically create a new pre-addressed e-mail message, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Office Shortcut Bar and on the shortcut menu, click

   Customize.

2. On the Buttons tab, click to select the Microsoft Outlook button, and

   then click OK. The Office Shortcut Bar should now contain an Outlook
   button.

3. To add the command line switch to the Outlook button, follow these

   steps:

    a. Right-click the Microsoft Outlook button on the Office Shortcut Bar,
       and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

    b. Click the Shortcut tab.

    c. Click to position the insertion point at the end of the text in the
       Target box, type a space, and then type the following 

          / c ipm.note /m <full e-mail name>

        where <full e-mail name> is the complete e-mail address of the 
        recipient such as JohnDoe@msn.com.

4. Click OK.

The Outlook button on the Office Shortcut Bar will start Outlook if it is not already running, and create a new e-mail message to JohnDoe@msn.com.

Using the Shell Command

To automatically create a new pre-addressed Outlook e-mail message using the Shell command, follow these steps:

1. Start Word.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

3. In the Macro Name box type SendMail, and then click Create.

4. Type the following sample code in the Visual Basic for Applications

   editor:

      Shell "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Outlook.exe /c 
      ipm.note /m <full e-mail name>"

   where <full e-mail name> is the complete e-mail address of the 
   recipient such as JohnDoe@msn.com.

5. On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Word."

6. On the Tools menu in Word, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

7. In the Macro Name list, click to select SendMail, and then click Run.

   The SendMail macro should create a new e-mail message addressed to
   the recipient you chose in step 4.

If Outlook is running, the e-mail message opens quickly. If Outlook is not running, there is a delay while the Windows Messaging System starts in the background.

NOTE: Using the Shell command is very restrictive. You can better automate the contents of a new e-mail message with Visual Basic for Applications or VBScript.

REFERENCES

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q168095
   TITLE     : OL97: How to Automate Outlook from Another Program

   ARTICLE-ID: Q168022
   TITLE     : OL97: How to Set a Form's From Field Using VBScript

   ARTICLE-ID: Q170783
   TITLE     : OL97: Q&A: Questions about Customizing or Programming
               Outlook

For more information about Outlook command line switches, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q156982
   TITLE     : OL97: Additional Command-Line Switches for Microsoft Outlook

Or, click the Office Assistant, type "control starting Outlook," click Search, and then click to view "Control what happens when you start Outlook."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Outlook Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

Additional query words: parameter parameters argument arguments

Keywords          : kbdta 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 16, 1999