ACC: Using Automation to Add Appointments to Microsoft Outlook

ID: Q160502


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97


SUMMARY

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

This article shows you how to use Automation to create appointments in a Microsoft Access database and how to add them to the Microsoft Outlook calendar.

For information about using Automation to add an appointment to Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows 95, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q149078 ACC: How to Add Appointments to Schedule+ using OLE Automation
This article assumes that you are familiar with Visual Basic for Applications and with creating Microsoft Access applications using the programming tools provided with Microsoft Access. For more information about Visual Basic for Applications, please refer to your version of the "Building Applications with Microsoft Access" manual.


MORE INFORMATION

The following example demonstrates how to create a form and a table to enter and store appointment information in a Microsoft Access database, and provides a sample Visual Basic for Applications procedure that uses Automation to add your appointments to Microsoft Outlook.

  1. Start Microsoft Access and create a new database called Appt.mdb.


  2. Create the following new table in Design view:
    
          Table: tblAppointments
          --------------------------
          Field Name: Appt
             Data Type: Text
             Field Size: 50
             Required: Yes
          Field Name: ApptDate
             Data Type: Date/Time
             Format: Short Date
             Required: Yes
          Field Name: ApptTime
             Data Type: Date/Time
             Format: Medium Time
             Required: Yes
          Field Name: ApptLength
             Data Type: Number
             Field Size: Long Integer
             Default Value: 15
             Required: Yes
          Field Name: ApptNotes
             Data Type: Memo
          Field Name: ApptLocation
             Data Type: Text
             Field Size: 50
          Field Name: ApptReminder
             Data Type: Yes/No
          Field Name: ReminderMinutes
             Data Type: Number
             Field Size: Long Integer
             Default Value: 15
          Field Name: AddedToOutlook
             Data Type: Yes/No
    
          Table Properties: tblAppointments
          ---------------------------------
          PrimaryKey: ApptDate;ApptTime 
    NOTE: In this example, the primary key in the appointment table is the appointment date and time. You can remove or alter the primary key if you want to be able to add multiple appointments for the same date and time.


  3. Create a reference to the Microsoft Outlook 8.0 Object Library. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. Create a new module.


    2. On the Tools menu, click References.


    3. Click Microsoft Outlook 8.0 Object Library in the Available References box. If that reference does not appear, click Browse to locate the Msoutl8.olb file, which is installed by default in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office folder.


    4. Click OK in the Reference dialog box.


    5. Close the module without saving it.




  4. Use the AutoForm: Columnar Form Wizard to create a new form based on the tblAppointments table. Save the form as frmAppointments.


  5. Open the form in Design view and change the following properties:
    
          Form: frmAppointments
          -------------------------
          Caption: Appointment Form
    
          Form Header:
             Height: .5"
          Check Box: AddedToOutlook
             Enabled: No 


  6. Add a command button to the Form Header section, and set the following properties:
    
          Command Button:
             Name: AddAppt
             Caption: Send to Outlook
             OnClick: [Event Procedure] 


  7. Set the OnClick property of the command button to the following event procedure:
    
          Private Sub AddAppt_Click()
             On Error GoTo AddAppt_Err
             ' Save record first to be sure required fields are filled.
             DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdSaveRecord
             ' Exit the procedure if appointment has been added to Outlook.
             If Me!AddedToOutlook = True Then
                MsgBox "This appointment already added to Microsoft Outlook"
                Exit Sub
             ' Add a new appointment.
             Else
                Dim outobj As Outlook.Application
                Dim outappt As Outlook.AppointmentItem
                Set outobj = CreateObject("outlook.application")
                Set outappt = outobj.CreateItem(olAppointmentItem)
                With outappt
                   .Start = Me!ApptDate & " " & Me!ApptTime
                   .Duration = Me!ApptLength
                   .Subject = Me!Appt
                   If Not IsNull(Me!ApptNotes) Then .Body = Me!ApptNotes
                   If Not IsNull(Me!ApptLocation) Then .Location = _
                      Me!ApptLocation
                   If Me!ApptReminder Then
                      .ReminderMinutesBeforeStart = Me!ReminderMinutes
                      .ReminderSet = True
                   End If
                   .Save
                End With
             End If
             ' Release the Outlook object variable.
             Set outobj = Nothing
             ' Set the AddedToOutlook flag, save the record, display a message.
             Me!AddedToOutlook = True
             DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdSaveRecord
             MsgBox "Appointment Added!"
          Exit Sub
          AddAppt_Err:
             MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & vbCrLf & Err.Description
             Exit Sub
          End Sub 


  8. Save the form and open it in Form view. Add an appointment record, and then click the Send To Outlook button. Be sure you only enter minutes, not hours and minutes, in the ApptLength field.


  9. Start Microsoft Outlook and click Calendar on the Go menu to view the appointments you added.


Additional query words: integrate meeting OLE OutSol OutSol97

Keywords : kbinterop IntpOlea
Version : WINDOWS:7.0,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: November 11, 1999
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