Reply with attachment macro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Matt
  • Start date Start date
M

Matt

hello,

I would like a one click button that replies to a message with a template
that includes an attachment. It seems that a macro will be necessary, but I
don't know how to build the code. Alternatively the reply macro could
insert a particular signature and attach a particular file rather than use a
template.

I tried creating a rule that sends a template to messges in a cetain
category, but changing the category of the message after it's recieved seems
to make the rule unreliable.

Any suggestions would be great, including those on how to get started
writing macros for myself.

Thanks in advance,
Matt
 
The macro below will do something close to what you want. Note though that
this isn't a "true" reply - the original message text is not handled as per
Outlook's message reply settings. You'll have to code that stuff yourself,
as you cannot reply with a template as you would create an e-mail from a
template.

For more resources on coding macros, see:

Visual Basic and VBA Coding in Microsoft Outlook:
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/vb.htm

Sub ReplyWithTemplate()
Dim objReply As Outlook.MailItem
Dim objMsg As Outlook.MailItem

If ActiveInspector Is Nothing Then
'No open e-mail message to respond to!
Exit Sub
End If

If ActiveInspector.CurrentItem.Class <> olMail Then
'Only reply to e-mail items
Exit Sub
End If

Set objMsg = ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
Set objReply = Application.CreateItemFromTemplate("C:\Documents and
Settings\webadmin\Desktop\Test.oft")

objReply.To = objMsg.SenderEmailAddress
objReply.Subject = "RE: " & objMsg.Subject
objReply.Display

Set objReply = Nothing
Set objMsg = Nothing
End Sub
 
Hi Eric,

That's a great start for me. Thanks. I see what you mean. It starts a new
message, which is why my signature is in it. The signature is at the top
rather than at the bottom. Otherwise it works perfectly from what I can
tell.

In my first post I mentioned:
"Alternatively the reply macro could insert a particular signature and
attach a particular file rather than use a template."

So that action would be reply > insert signature > attach file. Maybe that
would be more appropriate.

I appreciate your help,
Matt
 
Hi Eric,

2 other things I just noticed. It would be nice for the macro to work from
the main OLK window rather than having to actually open the message. The
other is that because it's not a reply it doesn't include the senders
message. You already know that, I just realized. So it seams as though the
alternative method will end up being more appropriate.

I realize you don't work for me. If you were able to pop that out quickly
that would be great. If not I hope you have a great day because you've
already done me a great deed.

Thanks again,
Matt
 
Heh - I know I don't work for you because you don't pay me anything! :-)
Anyway, it is not a problem - I love doing this stuff.

Below is everything you need. This approach bypasses the need for an .oft
file. All you need to change is the name of the attachment that is being
auto-inserted into the reply, and the name of the signature as it appears in
the Insert -> Signature menu.

The first two procedures differ so that you map the first one to a toolbar
in the Outlook window, and the other to a toolbar in an e-mail window.

Rock and roll!

Option Explicit
Public Declare Function GetUserName Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "GetUserNameA" _
(ByVal lpBuffer As String, nSize As Long) As Long

Sub ReplyWithTemplateFromOutlook()
If ActiveExplorer.Selection.Count = 0 Or ActiveExplorer.Selection.Count
1 Then
Click to expand...
'No selected e-mail message to respond to, or too many selected -
should only select one
Exit Sub
End If

If ActiveExplorer.Selection.Item(1).Class <> olMail Then
'Only reply to e-mail items
Exit Sub
End If

ReplyToCurrentMessage ActiveExplorer.Selection.Item(1)
End Sub


Sub ReplyWithTemplateFromEmail()

If ActiveInspector Is Nothing Then
'No open e-mail message to respond to!
Exit Sub
End If

If ActiveInspector.CurrentItem.Class <> olMail Then
'Only reply to e-mail items
Exit Sub
End If

ReplyToCurrentMessage ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
End Sub

Private Sub ReplyToCurrentMessage(MessageToReply As Outlook.MailItem)
Dim objReply As Outlook.MailItem
Dim strSignatureText As String

Set objReply = MessageToReply.Reply

'Insert a particular signature by calling function with the name of the
signature from the Insert -> Signature menu
strSignatureText = GetSignatureTextByName("webadmin")

'Insert signature at the beginning of reply body text
'If signatures are already automatically inserted, this will insert a
second signature!!! no way around this
objReply.Body = strSignatureText & vbCrLf & objReply.Body

'Auto insert the file you want attached
objReply.Attachments.Add "C:\Temp\test.txt", OlAttachmentType.olByValue
objReply.Display
Set objReply = Nothing
End Sub

Function GetSignatureTextByName(SignatureName As String) As String

Dim objFS As New Scripting.FileSystemObject, objTS As Scripting.TextStream
Dim objF As Scripting.Folder, strSysDrive As String
Dim strUserName As String
Dim strExtension As String

Set objF = objFS.GetSpecialFolder(0)
strSysDrive = Left(objF, 1)
strUserName = FindUserName
Set objTS = objFS.OpenTextFile(strSysDrive & ":\Documents and Settings\"
& strUserName & "\Application Data\Microsoft\Signatures\" & SignatureName _
& ".txt", ForReading, False, TristateFalse)
If objTS Is Nothing Then Exit Function
GetSignatureTextByName = objTS.ReadAll
objTS.Close
Set objTS = Nothing
Set objFS = Nothing
Set objF = Nothing
End Function

Public Function FindUserName() As String

Dim strBuffer As String
Dim lngSize As Long

strBuffer = String(100, " ")
lngSize = Len(strBuffer)

If GetUserName(strBuffer, lngSize) = 1 Then
FindUserName = Left(strBuffer, lngSize)
Else
Exit Function
End If

'ELIMINATES NULL CHARACTERS
FindUserName = Replace(FindUserName, Chr(0), "")
End Function

--
Eric Legault - B.A, MCP, MCSD, Outlook MVP
Try Picture Attachments Wizard for Outlook! http://tinyurl.com/ckytm
Job: http://www.imaginets.com
Blog: http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault/
 
WOW! Thanks. I didn't actually expect you to do that. I already ordered a
book to try and get a hold of VBA for outlook and the macro stuff. I'll
give it a wirl on Monday and let you know how things go.

Thanks again!!
Matt
 
Hi Eric,

I just got around to giving the macro a try. I'm bumping into this problem.
"The macros in this project are disabled. Please refer to the online help
or ducumentation of the host application to determine how to enable macros."

I've reduced macro security to low. self signed the macro, but continue to
get the same message. So if you know a quick solution that be great,
otherwise I'll post an update when I figure it out.

Thanks,
Matt
 
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