I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill out but
that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it can be
recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is therefore
a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.

That depends on the application, which you've described in no great detail.
If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the default
read page?

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx


"JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill out but
> that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it can be
> recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is
> therefore
> a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.

The software that I'm trying to get the form into is called Helpstar - which
doesn't recognize what to do with the information if it in in a form. When I
did a little bit of testing, all I got was my email signature and nothing
from the form itself. Does that make sense? What other information can I
provide for you?

Thanks for the help!

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

> That depends on the application, which you've described in no great detail.
> If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the default
> read page?
>
> --
> Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> Author of
> Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
>
>
> "JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill out but
> > that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it can be
> > recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is
> > therefore
> > a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.
>
>
>

You've really provide no information at all so far other than that you're
creating a custom form. Maybe you could start at the beginning and tell us
what it looks like and what Helpstar needs to see in order to be able to use
the data.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx


"jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:02BA1407-99A0-4858-BCB1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> The software that I'm trying to get the form into is called Helpstar -
> which
> doesn't recognize what to do with the information if it in in a form.
> When I
> did a little bit of testing, all I got was my email signature and nothing
> from the form itself. Does that make sense? What other information can I
> provide for you?
>
> Thanks for the help!
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> That depends on the application, which you've described in no great
>> detail.
>> If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the
>> default
>> read page?
>>
>> "JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill out
>> > but
>> > that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it can
>> > be
>> > recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is
>> > therefore
>> > a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.

I am creating a custom form with fields such as username, phone number,
requestor, type of problem, computer name, and so on. In the Outlook form,
it shows up as the familiar "boxes" (white on a grey background) and is easy
to fill out. The form looks the same on both the compose and read pages.

It is my understanding that what needs to happen in order for Helpstar to
use it is that it needs to be in plain text - not formatted as an Outlook
form. The Helpstar system takes plain text emails and enters them as
computer service requests (CSRs). When I indicated that "all I got was my
email signature and nothing from the form itself"; the signature is shown in
plain text and that is all that showed up in Helpstar - not the information
that had been filled out on the form itself.

Thanks for your help and please let me know if there is other information
you need.


"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

> You've really provide no information at all so far other than that you're
> creating a custom form. Maybe you could start at the beginning and tell us
> what it looks like and what Helpstar needs to see in order to be able to use
> the data.
>
> --
> Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> Author of
> Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
>
>
> "jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:02BA1407-99A0-4858-BCB1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > The software that I'm trying to get the form into is called Helpstar -
> > which
> > doesn't recognize what to do with the information if it in in a form.
> > When I
> > did a little bit of testing, all I got was my email signature and nothing
> > from the form itself. Does that make sense? What other information can I
> > provide for you?
> >
> > Thanks for the help!
> >
> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
> >
> >> That depends on the application, which you've described in no great
> >> detail.
> >> If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the
> >> default
> >> read page?
> >>
> >> "JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> > I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill out
> >> > but
> >> > that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it can
> >> > be
> >> > recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is
> >> > therefore
> >> > a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.
>
>
>

What you'd want to do is have code behind the form take the information in
the boxes and generate a new message in plain text format -- not using a
cusotm form -- that contains the information in the format that Helpstar
wants to see. This isn't rocket science; it's grunt work. But the details
will depend on your Outlook version, which you also didn't mention.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx


"jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:855A3B0A-F57B-47EA-A600-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am creating a custom form with fields such as username, phone number,
> requestor, type of problem, computer name, and so on. In the Outlook
> form,
> it shows up as the familiar "boxes" (white on a grey background) and is
> easy
> to fill out. The form looks the same on both the compose and read pages.
>
> It is my understanding that what needs to happen in order for Helpstar to
> use it is that it needs to be in plain text - not formatted as an Outlook
> form. The Helpstar system takes plain text emails and enters them as
> computer service requests (CSRs). When I indicated that "all I got was my
> email signature and nothing from the form itself"; the signature is shown
> in
> plain text and that is all that showed up in Helpstar - not the
> information
> that had been filled out on the form itself.
>
> Thanks for your help and please let me know if there is other information
> you need.
>
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> You've really provide no information at all so far other than that you're
>> creating a custom form. Maybe you could start at the beginning and tell
>> us
>> what it looks like and what Helpstar needs to see in order to be able to
>> use
>> the data.
>>
>>
>> "jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:02BA1407-99A0-4858-BCB1-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > The software that I'm trying to get the form into is called Helpstar -
>> > which
>> > doesn't recognize what to do with the information if it in in a form.
>> > When I
>> > did a little bit of testing, all I got was my email signature and
>> > nothing
>> > from the form itself. Does that make sense? What other information
>> > can I
>> > provide for you?
>> >
>> > Thanks for the help!
>> >
>> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> That depends on the application, which you've described in no great
>> >> detail.
>> >> If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the
>> >> default
>> >> read page?
>> >>
>> >> "JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> >> news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> > I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill
>> >> > out
>> >> > but
>> >> > that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it
>> >> > can
>> >> > be
>> >> > recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is
>> >> > therefore
>> >> > a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.
>>
>>
>>

Sorry, I'm using Outlook 2003 on XP Pro.

Thanks for the information - I'm not necessarily a programmer but there are
a couple of others in our group that could perhaps come up with something or
show me how to do it.

Thanks again for your help.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

> What you'd want to do is have code behind the form take the information in
> the boxes and generate a new message in plain text format -- not using a
> cusotm form -- that contains the information in the format that Helpstar
> wants to see. This isn't rocket science; it's grunt work. But the details
> will depend on your Outlook version, which you also didn't mention.
>
> --
> Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> Author of
> Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
>
>
> "jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:855A3B0A-F57B-47EA-A600-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I am creating a custom form with fields such as username, phone number,
> > requestor, type of problem, computer name, and so on. In the Outlook
> > form,
> > it shows up as the familiar "boxes" (white on a grey background) and is
> > easy
> > to fill out. The form looks the same on both the compose and read pages.
> >
> > It is my understanding that what needs to happen in order for Helpstar to
> > use it is that it needs to be in plain text - not formatted as an Outlook
> > form. The Helpstar system takes plain text emails and enters them as
> > computer service requests (CSRs). When I indicated that "all I got was my
> > email signature and nothing from the form itself"; the signature is shown
> > in
> > plain text and that is all that showed up in Helpstar - not the
> > information
> > that had been filled out on the form itself.
> >
> > Thanks for your help and please let me know if there is other information
> > you need.
> >
> >
> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
> >
> >> You've really provide no information at all so far other than that you're
> >> creating a custom form. Maybe you could start at the beginning and tell
> >> us
> >> what it looks like and what Helpstar needs to see in order to be able to
> >> use
> >> the data.
> >>
> >>
> >> "jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> news:02BA1407-99A0-4858-BCB1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> > The software that I'm trying to get the form into is called Helpstar -
> >> > which
> >> > doesn't recognize what to do with the information if it in in a form.
> >> > When I
> >> > did a little bit of testing, all I got was my email signature and
> >> > nothing
> >> > from the form itself. Does that make sense? What other information
> >> > can I
> >> > provide for you?
> >> >
> >> > Thanks for the help!
> >> >
> >> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> That depends on the application, which you've described in no great
> >> >> detail.
> >> >> If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the
> >> >> default
> >> >> read page?
> >> >>
> >> >> "JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> >> news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >> > I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to fill
> >> >> > out
> >> >> > but
> >> >> > that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that it
> >> >> > can
> >> >> > be
> >> >> > recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page is
> >> >> > therefore
> >> >> > a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read page.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Great, then you can create a plain text message using code like this:

Function Item_Send()
Const olFormatPlain = 1
Const olDiscard = 1
Set objMsg = Application.CreateItem(0)
With objMsg
.BodyFormat = olFormatPlain
strBody = Item.UserProperties("property 1") & vbCrLf &
Item.UserProperties("property 2")
.Body = strBody
.To = "(E-Mail Removed)"
.Subject = Item.Subject
.Send
End With
Item_Send = False
Set objInsp = Item.GetInspector
objInsp.Close
End Function

strBody is the key: That's the variable you use to build a string for the
plain text message body, using the property values from the original item
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx


"jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:71507081-4608-46C9-840C-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Sorry, I'm using Outlook 2003 on XP Pro.
>
> Thanks for the information - I'm not necessarily a programmer but there
> are
> a couple of others in our group that could perhaps come up with something
> or
> show me how to do it.
>
> Thanks again for your help.
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> What you'd want to do is have code behind the form take the information
>> in
>> the boxes and generate a new message in plain text format -- not using a
>> cusotm form -- that contains the information in the format that Helpstar
>> wants to see. This isn't rocket science; it's grunt work. But the details
>> will depend on your Outlook version, which you also didn't mention.

>>
>> "jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:855A3B0A-F57B-47EA-A600-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I am creating a custom form with fields such as username, phone number,
>> > requestor, type of problem, computer name, and so on. In the Outlook
>> > form,
>> > it shows up as the familiar "boxes" (white on a grey background) and is
>> > easy
>> > to fill out. The form looks the same on both the compose and read
>> > pages.
>> >
>> > It is my understanding that what needs to happen in order for Helpstar
>> > to
>> > use it is that it needs to be in plain text - not formatted as an
>> > Outlook
>> > form. The Helpstar system takes plain text emails and enters them as
>> > computer service requests (CSRs). When I indicated that "all I got was
>> > my
>> > email signature and nothing from the form itself"; the signature is
>> > shown
>> > in
>> > plain text and that is all that showed up in Helpstar - not the
>> > information
>> > that had been filled out on the form itself.
>> >
>> > Thanks for your help and please let me know if there is other
>> > information
>> > you need.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> You've really provide no information at all so far other than that
>> >> you're
>> >> creating a custom form. Maybe you could start at the beginning and
>> >> tell
>> >> us
>> >> what it looks like and what Helpstar needs to see in order to be able
>> >> to
>> >> use
>> >> the data.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "jnisbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> >> news:02BA1407-99A0-4858-BCB1-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> > The software that I'm trying to get the form into is called
>> >> > Helpstar -
>> >> > which
>> >> > doesn't recognize what to do with the information if it in in a
>> >> > form.
>> >> > When I
>> >> > did a little bit of testing, all I got was my email signature and
>> >> > nothing
>> >> > from the form itself. Does that make sense? What other information
>> >> > can I
>> >> > provide for you?
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks for the help!
>> >> >
>> >> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> That depends on the application, which you've described in no great
>> >> >> detail.
>> >> >> If you're just sending a simple message, doesn't it look OK on the
>> >> >> default
>> >> >> read page?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "JN1sbet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:E8023F1D-9662-43C7-B642-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> >> > I'm trying to set up a form that is easy for the end users to
>> >> >> > fill
>> >> >> > out
>> >> >> > but
>> >> >> > that when sent, uses a "message" format (or plain text) so that
>> >> >> > it
>> >> >> > can
>> >> >> > be
>> >> >> > recognized by a third-party tracking software. The compose page
>> >> >> > is
>> >> >> > therefore
>> >> >> > a standard form but I'm not sure what I need to do to the read
>> >> >> > page.