Article ID: 167138
Article Last Modified on 8/27/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Outlook 97 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q167138
SUMMARY
This article provides general information about using Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) with Microsoft Outlook 97.
MORE INFORMATION
This article discusses the following topics:
- Overview
- VBScript Version History
- How to Determine Your Version of VBScript
- How to Obtain VBScript Version 3.0 and Its Documentation
- How to Debug VBScript Programming Code
- Deploying VBScript with an Outlook Solution
Overview
VBScript is the programming language that you use to create custom form solutions with Outlook 97. Microsoft Internet Explorer also uses VBScript to create custom HTML page solutions.
VBScript is a subset of the commands available in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications in Office 97, which in turn is a subset of the commands available in Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0.
In Outlook, VBScript is stored within Outlook items, such as a contact, mail message, or appointment. There is no global repository for VBScript code in Outlook as there is with other Office applications. All programming from within Outlook involves creating a custom form. You can also automate Outlook from another Visual Basic or Microsoft Office application by using the object model of Outlook; however, the object model is heavily based on Outlook items and folders.
Outlook's implementation of VBScript is by design and there are no current plans to implement Visual Basic for Applications within Outlook. VBScript is Microsoft's programming environment for all "enterprise" (or "distributed") solutions, mainly for two reasons:
- Because VBScript code is interpreted and not compiled, Outlook items are relatively small (in terms of bytes). This means they consume less corporate and Internet server resources and also result in faster performance.
- VBScript is designed to be a secure programming environment. It lacks various commands that can be potentially damaging if used in a malicious manner. This added security is critical in enterprise solutions.
VBScript Version History
Version Availability Notes
------- -------------------------- ---------------------------------
1.0 Included with Outlook
versions 8.0 - 8.04
2.0 No longer available for The self-installing executable
Download. Included with filename was Scr20en.exe. Added
with Internet Information features included arrays, the
Server (IIS) 2.0. For Each...Next structure, and
GetObject/CreateObject commands.
3.0 Installed by Internet See the following Web site for
Explorer 4.0 all current information:
http://www.microsoft.com
/scripting/vbscript
3.1 Installed by Internet
Explorer 4.1
3.1a Download only http://www.microsoft.com/
/scripting/vbscript
How to Determine Your Version of VBScript
To determine which version of VBScript you have, follow these steps:
- On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
- In the Named box, type vbscript.dll, and then click Find Now.
- Using the right mouse button, click the Vbscript.dll file name in the Name list, and on the shortcut menu, click Properties.
Click the Version tab and note the "File version" information.
VBScript DLL version File Date File Size --------------------------------------------------- 1.0 1.0.0.806 (varies) 206,848 bytes 2.0 2.0.0.1125 (varies) 252,232 bytes 3.0 3.0.0.2026 9/18/97 327,952 bytes 3.1 3.1.0.2124 11/18/97 328,976 bytes 3.1a 3.1.0.2430 12/30/97 328,976 bytes
How to Obtain VBScript 3.x and Its Documentation
VBScript 3.x is installed as part of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x, which is available from the Microsoft Web site at the following address:
Documentation for VBScript 3.x is available from the following address:
How to Debug VBScript Programming Code
Outlook 97 provides no built-in debugging tools for troubleshooting programming problems. However, you can get debugging functionality by using the VBScript debugger which is commonly used with Internet Explorer.
Free, unsupported beta versions of debuggers are available on the Microsoft Web site at the following address:
For VBScript version 1.0 or 2.0, use the debugger for Internet Explorer 3.x. For VBScript versions 3.x, use the debugger for Internet Explorer 4.0.
To access the debugger from Outlook, place a Stop statement in your VBScript code. When the VBScript code runs and reaches the Stop statement, the debugger starts, and you can then step through your code in the debugger or use the debugger's Immediate or Command window to view the contents of variables ("? <Variablename>" is the syntax). Note that you cannot edit the VBScript code within the debugger.
Deploying VBScript with an Outlook Solution
If an Outlook solution uses any commands specific to VBScript version 2.0 or 3.x, you must install the updated version of VBScript on all of the computers that will use the solution.
Outlook primarily uses Vbscript.dll, but the complete set of scripting DLLs also include Jscript.dll, and Scrrun.dll.
REFERENCES
For more information about creating solutions with Microsoft Outlook 97, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
166368 OL97: How to Get Help Programming with Outlook
170783OL97: Q&A: Questions about Customizing or Programming Outlook
Additional query words: OutSol OutSol97
Keywords: kbhowto kbprogramming KB167138
