Linking in Access to a specific Outlook email

[Rick Schneider]

Does anyone know of anyway to create a hyperlink (in a hyperlink field
obviously) to a specific item in Outlook, like an email? This would seem to
be a pretty fundamental capability, but I cannot find anything that works.

I am using Outlook 2010, Access 2010 (beta, obviously) and Windows 7. If
you have a way to do this for 2007 versions it might work for 2010, so
answers for those versions would be welcome.

Thanks for any help. This has been very frustrating area.

Rick

 

[David C. Holley]

Access can find and display any item in Outlook, however cannot be done
using a hyperlink. The VBA code has to search through the folders to locate
the item AND there is no built in reference number that can be used to
uniquely identify the item. The EntryId property can change if the item is
moved to another folder and thus is not reliable. However, you can create a
custom user property and then assign a unique value to that which is later
use to retreive the item. You're best bet at this point is ask for help from
a dedicated Outlook newsgroup. While you are using Access, you are actually
automating Outlook and need their expertise.

 

[Rick Schneider]

David,

Thanks for the reply. I don't use folders, so that is not and issue. If
the EntryID provides what I need, that's fine. I just don't know how to
obtain it, and use it in a hyperlink.

This is what I found:

Apparently in Outlook 2007 MS did not provide the ability to link to
specific Outlook items from other office documents (which you could in
earlier versions). You can enable this by
changing the registry - see "Outlook 2007 and the Missing Outlook://
Protocol" - See http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2009/up090528.htm#2. I
performed these changes, and used Linker from Team Scope (a free utility that
grabs the unique ID of the item - see
http://www.teamscope.com/otherpro/utilities.asp#linker) to create the
hyperlink, but I get the following error: "Cannot display the selected
folder or item" from Outlook.

I really don't want to create a special id in Outlook, because it is more
steps, and I still don't know how to link it in access, unless you create a
linked table to it, and I want the original email to open, not view it in
Access.

Anyhow, if this does not ring a bell, or you have any thoughts, just let me
know. I will post on Utter Access.

I figure there must be a way, because OneNote allows you to do this for
appointments at least.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[microsoft]

David,

Thanks for the reply. I don't use folders, so that is not and issue. If
the EntryID provides what I need, that's fine. I just don't know how to
obtain it, and use it in a hyperlink.

Every item in Outlook exists within a Outlook Folder. DO NOT build any
functionality that relies on the EntryId as it WILL change if the item is
moved. Its is *not* reliable and it is *not* synomomous with a Primary Key.
Consider yourself so warned.

 

[Rick Schneider]

Thank you for your reply. I am warned, and understand.

But can you tell me if it is possible to open a specific outlook item from
access? I know you can do this, at least for appointments, from OneNote. If
there is no way, please let me know. I have spent a lot of time on this and
still have no answer, and would like to stop looking if it is not possible.
Using Outlook and Access
2007/2010. I am also using Microsoft's Exchange Online service.

Thanks!

Rick