MAPI User Interface

MAPI provides a set of common dialog boxes that offer a consistent way for users to interact with messaging systems. Simple MAPI, CMC, and Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) Library client applications are presented with these dialog boxes automatically. MAPI client applications and service providers can use the MAPI dialog boxes or implement their own. Unless you have very customized needs, you should take advantage of the MAPI user interface. By doing so, you will save time and give users tools that are consistent across applications and messaging systems.

The MAPI user interface includes many different dialog boxes, some for session start-up, some for addressing, some for message composition. The message composition dialog boxes are used to create interpersonal messages; to create messages of other types, you can implement special dialog boxes, or forms, that can be provided by the originator of the message type. For information about implementing and displaying these special forms, see Developing MAPI Form Servers.