Outlook Task Email Format

[Kulgan]

Hi All

I understand that Outlook (even the latest version) does not support
VTODO. Is there any type of file that I can send to an Outlook user
that they will be able to import into their task list? I have a web
application that needs to do this. Users may not have Exchange Server
so I can't directly integrate with a server.

Any thoughts?

Kulgan.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

I think you can send tasks over the Internet just fine. They'll go as rich
text message (if I remember correctly) and only Outlook will understand them
but since you're sending to an Outlook user you should be OK.

 

[Kulgan]

Hi

Just to be clear, my web app is going to create the tasks, not another
Outlook user. Is it possible to create the email messages for tasks in
a web application (in this instance ASP.NET 1.1)?

Kulgan.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

The only way to create an Outlook task from a web application would be to use client-side Outlook automation code against the user's own copy of Outlook, and that would probably fail due to ActiveX security restrictions on the Internet zone.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Kulgan]

Thanks for the info. It doesn't look like I will be able to accomplish
my goal with Outlook. The web app user is setting up a task for someone
else somewhere else in the world, so Outlook automation is right out.
This is a bit of a glaring hole in Outlook to be honest! I find it
strange that I can create iCalendar items but not Tasks in the same
way. Maybe in the next version...?

<whinge>

This is turning into a real Microsoft theme for me:

a) Done some Reporting Services work where I had to work hard
because the required (basic) features are not available until the next
version
b) Using ASP.NET and doing unnecessary work because vital features
(esp. Master Pages) are not available until v2.0
c) Now Outlook doesn't let you email tasks in from other apps (from
my web searches, I am not the only poor developer with this problem)

</whinge>

Kulgan.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

I've been asking for VTODO support for close to five years now.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

I wonder if there's a need for a tool that would accept a vToDo and turn it
into an Outlook task locally.

I've been asking for VTODO support for close to five years now.

 

[Kulgan]

It's a nice idea!

Kulgan.