task getting stuck

[Joel Allen]

Outlook 2003 SP3

Hi,

I have a custom task form that has close to 400 fields. Every now and then,
a task will get stuck if too many fields have data entered in it. When I
open the form, I get a "Outlook cannot open the form.....etc....", and
basically it just won't open.

My work around is that I link the Outlook public folder to MS Access and
delete data in one of the task fields through a query. Once that is done, I
can open the task again!

Any idea why the task locks up and how I can prevent this problem?

Thanks for your help,
Joel

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

Outlook items cannot hold an infinite amount of data. The limit is 32kb, not
counting attachments and the item body. An item with 400 fields is very
likely to be way over that limit. The only permanent solution is to redesign
the form with fewer fields so that it holds less data.

 

[Joel Allen]

Thanks Sue. I have thousands of tasks, and the largest one is 14kb. Most
are around 2-3kb. Even with all fields entered, it doesn't come close to
32kb. What do you make of that? I have a lot of date fields, I wonder if
that is what trips it up.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

The limit also applies to the form design, which is stored as a hidden item.
I get nervous as the number of fields approaches 200. I can't imagine a form
with 400 fields being stable.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[Joel Allen]

Wow, my form alone is 1210.306 KB. What's the biggest user of size so that
I can start trimming it down? graphics, fields?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

I don't know of any work that's been done to quantify the different
contributions that graphics, field definitions, control properties, code,
etc. make to a custom form. A copy of Outlook Spy or MFCMapi.exe would give
you a better picture of the hidden form message and what it actually
contains.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54