Outlook 2007 Forms - Rollout Issues/Pitfalls

[dch3]

What sort of issues should I be aware of when rolling out Custom Outlook 2007
Forms in an environment where some users are on 2003 and other are on 2007?
I'm assuming that the forms *WONT* work with 2003 users, but what sort of
errors will they see and can they cause any issues for the 2007 forms by
trying to use them?

Is it best to just wait until 2007 is completely rolled-out before
publishing the forms?

David H

 

[dch3]

OK - Let me ask a bigger question - Will a form designed in Outlook 2003 work
with Outlook 2007? and the next - Is it correct that in Outlook 2007 there
are two different things - Customized Forms and Form Regions and that they
are not the same?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

In general, a form designed for one version of Outlook will work with
another. The biggest issues I've seen are when a complex form works well in
an earlier version but not in a later version. In those cases, the culprit
usually is that the form is just too big -- has too many custom properties or
formulas.

Another potential issue is that code or formulas on an Outlook 2007 form
might use properties that are not exposed in the Outlook 2003 object model.

I would go ahead and test whether your form created with Outlook 2007 will
work with Outlook 2003 as well.

Legacy custom forms and form regions are definitely two different approaches
to customizing the UI of individual items. Form regions do not work on
Outlook 2003 or earlier versions.

 

[dch3]

So most likely the 2003 form will work in 2007 apart from just the minor
nuances with moving up a version?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Most likely, yes. The only way to know for sure, of course, is to test it.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook Programming: Jumpstart
for Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[dch3]

So where can I get a good explanation with images of Form Regions? The
initial information that I read made it sound as if they were replacing
Custom Forms. I haven't personally up/g to 2007 and my organization is
several months away (hopefully longer as I utter detest the DYVORAK RIBBON.)

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

I've posted links to walkthroughs and other form region resources at
http://www.outlookcode.com/news.aspx?id=22