Microsoft KB Archive/208527

= OL2000: Common Outlook Object Model Limitations =

Article ID: 208527

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q208527





SUMMARY
This article describes known limitations you may encounter with the Microsoft Outlook object model. The following topics are covered:


 * Overview
 * Changing Option Settings
 * Changing Folder Properties
 * Changing View Attributes
 * Posting a File to a Folder
 * Changing the Mouse Pointer to an Hourglass
 * Changing Outlook Bar Icons
 * Changing the Status Bar



Overview
Unlike other Microsoft Office programs which have "full" object models, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, the Outlook object model primarily focuses on items and the folders in which they are contained. This means that while you can manipulate items, forms, and certain aspects of folders, many of the commands or settings that are available through the user interface are not available when programming. The Outlook object model does not parallel the Outlook user interface.

NOTE: You may be able to work around some of these object model limitations by using the CommandBars collection to execute menu or toolbar commands.

IMPORTANT: The scope of this article is limited to using Visual Basic-based programming technologies with the Outlook object model, and may not take into account possible solutions using the Collaborative Data Objects object model or other Microsoft Exchange-related programming technologies. For more information about these technologies, please consult information provided by the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/

Changing Option Settings
There is no way to programmatically change many of the program-level settings in Outlook, since they are not exposed by the object model. Examples are any of the settings in the Options dialog box on the Tools menu.

Changing Folder Properties
You cannot change many options or properties related to folders. This includes AutoArchive settings, permissions settings, synchronization settings, and the default form for a folder.

Changing View Attributes
While the Outlook object model now allows you to programmatically change views using the Explorer.CurrentView property, you cannot change specific settings of a view itself. For additional information about this limitation, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

262294 OL2000: Cannot Programmatically Create or Modify Views

Posting a File to a Folder
There is no way to post a file system-based file to a folder using the Outlook object model. Word and Excel do support a Post method if you want to post a Word document or Excel workbook, but the method does not have an argument that allows you to programmatically specify the folder. The Post method instead displays a window so the user can select the folder.

A potential workaround to allow a file to be directly posted to a folder can be found at the following non-Microsoft Web site:

http://www.outlookexchange.com/articles/home/jayharlow07.asp

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Changing the Mouse Pointer to an Hourglass
You cannot control the appearance of the mouse pointer using the Outlook object model. If you are writing code within Outlook that takes some time to process, you cannot directly force Outlook to display an hourglass pointer if Outlook does not do so automatically.

Changing Outlook Bar Icons
It is not possible to programmatically change the icons that are associated with a shortcut on the Outlook Bar. The default icon for the shortcut is always be used.

Changing the Status Bar
There is no way to change the status bar text in Microsoft Outlook. The status bar is not exposed as it is in other Microsoft Office object models.

