another dumb question about contact forms

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

KVSmith59 - 14 Jul 2006 05:38 GMT

Either you can't do this, you have program it using scripts or macros (which
I have no clue how to use), or it's an easy fix that I havent been able to
figure out yet.

I'm experimenting and have created a new contacts list which I've named
"Claims DB". The list uses a form with custom fields. One of the fields is
"Company". This field will hold the names of my clients. My "client"
contact cards are located in another contacts folder called "clients". I'd
like to be able to set up a drop down list in the Claims DB using my custom
form. This list will point to my clients information in the "clients"
contact folder. Basically I want to be able to select a name from that list
and have it auto fill the Company, address, phone, fax, etc fields in my
custom form in the Claims DB folder. Make sense? Is it possible to do this,
and if so, what are the steps? I really need step by step instructions if
possible.

thanks!

Kevin

Reply to this Message

Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 14 Jul 2006 12:32 GMT

This can be done, but it requires writing VBScript code behind the form to:

1) Fill the list when the form opens.

2) Respond to the user's selection, look up the selected contact, and populate the fields with the values from that contact.

It's not a simple task that step-by-step instructions can be provided for, especially if you're going to understand and be able to maintain the code. On the other hand, it's not hard either, if you're willing to learn how to write VBScript code for Outlook. The article at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/archive/en-us/dnarout98/html/
oloutevnts.asp is old but still relevant as a brief introduction.

FYI, there is a newsgroup specifically for Outlook forms issues "down the hall" at microsoft.public.outlook.program_forms or, via web interface, at http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public
.outlook.program_forms

Signature

Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

> Either you can't do this, you have program it using scripts or macros (which
> I have no clue how to use), or it's an easy fix that I havent been able to
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Kevin

Reply to this Message

KVSmith59 - 14 Jul 2006 19:15 GMT

Thanks for your help! Now it's a question of finding the time to teach
myself :)

> This can be done, but it requires writing VBScript code behind the form to:
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> >
> > Kevin

Reply to this Message