Assigning shortcut keys, getting selected text and distributing macros in Outlook

[Amir]

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to do the following 3 actions using VBA / VB in
Outlook:
(I'm using Office 2000 Proffessional)

1. Assign a shortcut key to a macro in Outlook.

In Word I would have used something like:

Dim kbNew As KeyBinding
Set kbNew = KeyBindings.Add(KeyCategory:=wdKeyCategoryCommand, _
Command:="MyMacroName", KeyCode:=BuildKeyCode(wdKeyControl,
wdKeyAlt, wdKeyA))

But how can I do that in Outlook?

2. Getting the current selected text. I mean the text which I select with
the mouse in the preview of the current mail. In Word I would have used:
Selection
to get the current selected text. What is the equivalent in Outlook for the
current selected text in the active mail message preview?

3. How can I distribute macros in Outlook? In Word I would have put the .dot
template in the users' C:\Documents and Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup Directory, so that the template was loaded each
time Word starts. In Outlook, there are no templates, so how can I
distribute the macros to other users?

I know VBA and a bit of VB.

Kind Regards,
Amir.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

1. You can't. You would have to assign the macro to a button you add to a
toolbar or menu.

2. You can't. Selected text in the preview pane is not accessible to your
code.

3. Distributing macros is done by distributing the entire VBAProject.OTM
file, which wipes out any macros the user already has, since you must
overwrite their existing file.

The best way to do what you want for distribution is to write a COM addin.
It's more code but more easily distributable and maintainable.

See http://www.outlookcode.com/d/comaddins.htm for information about COM
addins.

See http://www.outlookcode.com/d/distributevba.htm for information about
distributing VBA code.

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=252426 for information about how to
call a macro from a toolbar button you create.

 

[Amir]

OK, I understand.

Thanks Slovak.

1. You can't. You would have to assign the macro to a button you add to a
toolbar or menu.

2. You can't. Selected text in the preview pane is not accessible to your
code.

3. Distributing macros is done by distributing the entire VBAProject.OTM
file, which wipes out any macros the user already has, since you must
overwrite their existing file.

The best way to do what you want for distribution is to write a COM addin.
It's more code but more easily distributable and maintainable.

See http://www.outlookcode.com/d/comaddins.htm for information about COM
addins.

See http://www.outlookcode.com/d/distributevba.htm for information about
distributing VBA code.

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=252426 for information about how to
call a macro from a toolbar button you create.