OL98: Resources for Custom Forms and Programming

ID: Q180826

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 98

SUMMARY

This article describes where to find information on customizing Microsoft Outlook 98 forms and creating solutions with Outlook.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook supports custom forms, an object model, and Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript). Information on how to automate and customize Outlook to meet your needs is available from several sources. This article discusses the following resources:

Outlook Forms and Visual Basic Help Files

The Outlook Object Model

The VBScript Web Site

The Outlook Developer Forum Web Site

Newsgroups

Microsoft Press Books

Microsoft Support Options

Solution Providers

NOTE: Because the Microsoft Web site is constantly updated, the site addresses in this article may change without notice. If this occurs, link to the Microsoft home page at the following address and search for your topic:

http://www.microsoft.com/

Outlook Forms and Visual Basic Help Files

Outlook provides two related Help files, Olform.hlp and Vbaoutl.hlp. To install these files, you must first install Outlook and then run Setup to install the additional development tools.

For more information about installing these help files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q183220 OL98: How to Install Visual Basic Help

To access these Help files after they're installed, on the Help menu click Contents And Index. The Help files will be shown towards the bottom of the Contents page as "Outlook Customization and Forms" and "Microsoft Outlook Visual Basic Reference."

If you use these files frequently, consider creating a shortcut to Olform.hlp and placing it on your desktop or Start menu. When you directly open Olform.hlp, the Contents page will include the Visual Basic Reference topics.

The Outlook Object Model

Chapter 5 of the "Microsoft Office 97/Visual Basic Programmer's Guide" provides an overview of the Outlook object model, working with Outlook folders, items, and events, and using automation and VBScript. While not written specifically for Outlook 98, most of the features of the object model have remained the same, except for features added in Outlook 98. The Programmer's Guide is included with the Microsoft Office 97, Developer's Edition. The Office 97/Visual Basic Programmer's Guide is available at:

http://www.microsoft.com/OfficeDev/Articles/Opg/

The VBScript Web Site

The Microsoft Scripting web site provides frequently asked questions, sample code, and free downloads for people using the VBScript language. The VBScript Web site is available at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/

The Outlook Developer Forum Web Site

The Microsoft Outlook Developer Forum provides technical information, resources, sample code, and tips for those creating Outlook automation and form solutions. The Outlook Developer Forum is available at:

http://www.microsoft.com/OutlookDev/

The Microsoft Developer Network Library

If you are developing enterprise-level solutions that involve Microsoft Exchange, you should consult various Exchange and Messaging documentation that is available at the Microsoft Developer Network Library site:

http://premium.microsoft.com/msdn/library/default.htm

Newsgroups

Peer-to-peer newsgroups are available to help you interact with other Outlook users. You can use any newsreader software to access these newsgroups. The Microsoft news server name is msnews.microsoft.com. Information about all Microsoft newsgroups is available at:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/news

The following Outlook newsgroups focus on solution-related issues:

Programming Forms: microsoft.public.outlook.program_forms

Add-ins and Utilities: microsoft.public.outlook.addin_utility

Microsoft Press Books

Microsoft publishes many books for Office programmers, but Outlook developers should consider "Building Applications with Microsoft Outlook 98" (ISBN 1-57231-718-3), by Microsoft Press. This book is available at major book sellers. The previous version for Outlook 97 is out of print.

For information on offerings by Microsoft Press, consult the Microsoft Press web site at:

http://mspress.microsoft.com

or call Microsoft Press at (800)MSPRESS

Microsoft Support Options

Microsoft provides a complete range of support options for Outlook customers.

For more information about where to get direct support for developing solutions with Microsoft Outlook 98, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q185243 OL98: Getting Support for Developing Outlook-related Solutions

Solution Providers

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.

REFERENCES

For more information about common questions related to creating solutions with Outlook 98, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q182349 OL98: Questions About Custom Forms and Outlook Solutions

Additional query words: OutSol OutSol98 Vbaoutl.hlp

Keywords : kbdtacode
Version : WINDOWS:98
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo