Microsoft KB Archive/174476

= OL97: How to Use Variables with Find and Restrict Filters =

Article ID: 174476

Article Last Modified on 2/12/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q174476



SUMMARY
This article illustrates how to use a Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) variable as part of the filter string for the Find or Restrict methods in the Microsoft Outlook object model.



MORE INFORMATION
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The Find method can be used to return a single Outlook item that matches certain criteria. The Restrict method returns a subset of a collection of items that matches certain criteria. The criteria for both methods is specified in the same way, as illustrated in the example below.

The Vbaoutl.hlp Help file that documents the Outlook object model incorrectly states that you cannot use a variable as part of the filter for these two methods. The following VBScript code sample illustrates syntax that uses variables as part of the filter. ' Set the MyFldr object to the default Inbox. Set MyFldr = Item.Application.GetNameSpace("MAPI").GetDefaultFolder(6)

' MyVar is the subject of the mail message to search for. ' Change this to match a mail message in your Inbox. MyVar = "Please read!"

' This is the standard approach without using a variable. Set Itm = MyFldr.Items.Find("[Subject] = ""Please read!""")

' This approach uses Chr(34) to represent a quotation mark. Set Itm = MyFldr.Items.Find("[Subject] = " & Chr(34) & MyVar & Chr(34))

' This approach uses double quotation marks to represent a  ' quotation mark. Set Itm = MyFldr.Items.Find("[Subject] = """ & MyVar & """")

' Display the date/time the found mail message was created (just  ' for verification purposes). MsgBox Itm.CreationTime

