VBA Code for Opening Outlook if it is not already opened

[JGrots]

Hi,

I'm trying to have a command button that will open Microsoft Outlook. When I click the button I want Outlook to pop-up and be the front screen. The code I'm using opens Outlook but it Outlook was already open it will open a new window of Outlook and each time I click the command button, a new version of Outlook will open. If I click the button 5 times, then I will have 5 Outlook windows opened. What is the code so that only one window of Outlook is opened at once?

This is my code:

Private Sub Command20_Click()
On Error GoTo Err_Command20_Click

Dim stAppName As String


stAppName = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\OUTLOOK.EXE"
Call Shell(stAppName, 1)

End If

Exit_Command20_Click:
Exit Sub

Err_Command20_Click:
MsgBox Err.Description
Resume Exit_Command20_Click

End Sub

[Dal Jeanis]

Full code and explanations here -
http://www.databasejournal.com/featu...to-Outlook.htm

Simpler version here -
http://bytes.com/topic/access/answer...ss-send-mailto

Of course, it partly depends on what you're using Outlook for. If you are just trying to send an email, you could use DoCmd.SendObject instead.

[JGrots]

Dal,

I'm only trying to open one instance of Outlook. I tried the first part of the code in the databasejounal but I couldn't get it to open. Do you know of any code that is like: "If Outlook is opened, then maximize window. If Outlook is not opened, then Open it"? I just don't want multiple windows opened of Outlook

[Dal Jeanis]

This is adapted from that second link, assuming you don't want to close the copy of Outlook afterwards.

Make sure that you also have set a reference in Access to the Microsoft Outlook XX.X Object library (XX.X is 14.0 for 2010, substitute the proper reference library for the Outlook you are using.)

Private Sub Command14_Click()
  
Dim bStarted As Boolean
Dim oOutlookApp As Outlook.Application
Dim oItem As Outlook.MailItem
  
On Error Resume Next
  
'Get Outlook if it's running
Set oOutlookApp = GetObject(, "Outlook.Application")
If Err <> 0 Then
    'Outlook wasn't running, start it from code
    Set oOutlookApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
    bStarted = True
End If
  
'Create a new mailitem
Set oItem = oOutlookApp.CreateItem(olMailItem)
  
With oItem
    'Set the recipient for the new email
   .To = "personname@company.com"
  
   .Display
End With
  
'If bStarted Then
'    'If we started Outlook from code, then close it
'    oOutlookApp.Quit
'End If
  
'Clean up
Set oItem = Nothing
Set oOutlookApp = Nothing
  
End Sub

In the above code after setting .To, you can set any of the other properties of the new MailItem object (.CC, .Subject, .Body, etc)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ffice.11).aspx

[JGrots]

I tried your code but it doesn't work. Outlook won't open at all now.

[Dal Jeanis]

1) What version of Access and outlook are you running?
2) Make sure you added the reference to Outlook, not Office
3) What error are you getting, on what line?

[JGrots]

1) Access 2003 , Outlook 2010
2)Microsoft Outlook 14.0 Object Library

3) I'm getting no errors. When I click the button, nothing happens. It opens when I use this code:
stAppName = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\OUTLOOK.EXE"
Call Shell(stAppName, 1)

[Dal Jeanis]

Okay, 1) add "Option Explicit" at the top of the module it's in.
2) Comment out the "On Error Resume Next" and let it blow up so you get an error message.

[June7]

Is this of interest to you http://www.pbdr.com/vbtips/api/FindCloseAPI.htm

[Dal Jeanis]

Intersting. To use that code as is, you'd have to know the exact title of the window. At my work, the far left verbiage of the Outlook window title changes based on whether you're looking at your calendar or email or tasks, etc.

It could be adapted, but if we can't get the code I posted to work for him as is, then we'll probably have to find him a different strategy. I've seen about five of them in twenty minutes of googling. The one I posted seemed the cleanest, and tested out on my machine.

[June7]

And I see that window title is reflected in Task Manager. Guess code would have to check for each one.

I agree, the code you offer should work, always has for me regardless if Outlook is already open or closed, generates e-mail without opening multiple instances of Outlook. At least it does with Access 2007 at my office. I have done limited testing with 2010 on my home computer. Never tried with 2003.

[Dal Jeanis]

It appears that GetObject code is problematic in 2010 unless the Outlook is running in administrator mode:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/o...80000f8?page=1
http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualS...vs2005-dev-env

Although it's not even that simple - it looks like automating Outlook requires the calling program to be at the same level as the called program (admin vs normal user), at least in this report on Vista.
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...tlook-20072010