Microsoft Outlook Tools for Developing Applications

For folder creation and design, and for customizing forms, the Microsoft Outlook design environment enhances the design features offered previously with Microsoft Exchange Client. Microsoft Outlook provides tools to create and design folders, and to customize forms. These tools include Outlook Forms Designer, Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), and the Microsoft Visual Basic Expression Service.

Outlook Forms Designer Outlook Forms Designer is the integrated development environment provided within Microsoft Outlook. It is accessible from within any form in Microsoft Outlook by choosing Form from the Tools menu. Forms created using the Outlook Forms Designer can be published in folders and saved as .oft files.

Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript is built into Outlook Forms Designer, offering the designer the full capabilities of VBScript, a subset of Visual Basic for Applications. By using the Microsoft Outlook object model and VBScript, designers can add functionality to standard methods such as Open and Close, automatically create items and set properties on them, and add intelligence to forms so fields are automatically completed for the user.

Visual Basic Expression Service Visual Basic Expression Service is built into the Outlook Forms Designer environment, enabling designers to create validated, formula, and combination fields. For example, with Visual Basic Expression Service, the designer can create a formula field for a timecard form that automatically calculates the total number of hours worked in a week.