Developing Add-ins for Outloook 2003 with BCM

[sobolev]

Hello. I have a question. How I can create add-in, which create a new
folder, which is like the "business-contact" folder from BMC. I need
to display some contacts from SQL Server database in the separate
folder in the same way, as "business-contact" folder displays its own
contacts (from its own database).

I can create a new folder which is display contacts like standard
outlook folder of Contact type. But I cant find a way to create a new
"Business-Contact" folder. Is it can be done?

Thanks.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

The PST file used by BCM is provisioned by a MAPI store provider and the BCM
interface in Outlook is a COM addin. You would have to write a custom store
provider using Extended MAPI (C++ or Delphi only) to be able to replicate
what BCM is doing.

Writing a custom store provider is not a trivial task, it takes an extensive
knowledge of Extended MAPI.

 

[sobolev]

Thank you Ken for your answer.

May be you can suggest some other solution, how I can get contacts
from ERP system as Outlook contacts (not necessarily BCM contacts, at
least ordinary outlook contacts)

I can create it dynamically in some contact folder, but how I should
synchronize them with database later? I think that deleting and
creating them again every time not very good idea. Any suggestion?

Thanks!

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

There's no cut and dried method for that. Each system will store its data in
its own format and table organization. How that's organized is something
you'd have to investigate and decode, including any linked table
relationships. Basically reverse engineering. Each system might also use a
different database. BCM uses MSDE, some might use SQL Server or Access or
even Oracle or MySQL or whatever.

 

[sobolev]

I know how data is stored and I can get it through ADO.NET (data
stored in the SQL Server 2000)
All I want is to choose the best method for displaying it in the
Outlook Add-in.

Correct me if I'm not right:
I must create all contacts (which I get from ERP database) locally in
the some of outlook folders, as an outlook contacts items, if I dont
want get involved with Extended MAPI and creating custom store
provider, right?

Thanks

 

[Jason Coley]

Have a look at ADX extensions by Addin express, you can replace a whole
folder view with a panel made from Visual Studio/Delphi, this panel can have
your controls on it linking to the Data in SQL Server. Youu have to create
all the views etc yourself, bt this may do what you need?
www.add-in-express.com


Jason

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

That's correct.

 

[sobolev]

Thanks your for the answers.
I already thought about developing custom views of folder (it is
fairly simple through using Windows Forms User Controls and
registering them as ActiveX objects and using them in the HTML which
is displayed as webview folder). But in this case I can't get actually
database contacts AS outlook contacts, right?.
And I need develop custom solution for all tasks related to outlook
contact items, right?

How ADX extension will help in this case?

That's correct.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Optionshttp://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

I know how data is stored and I can get it through ADO.NET (data
stored in the SQL Server 2000)
All I want is to choose the best method for displaying it in the
Outlook Add-in.

Correct me if I'm not right:
I must create all contacts (which I get from ERP database) locally in
the some of outlook folders, as an outlook contacts items, if I dont
want get involved with Extended MAPI and creating custom store
provider, right?

Thanks- óËÒÙÔØ ÃÉÔÉÒÕÅÍÙÊ ÔÅËÓÔ -

- ðÏËÁÚÁÔØ ÃÉÔÉÒÕÅÍÙÊ ÔÅËÓÔ -

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

I don't use AddIn Express so I can't answer any questions about that.

If you place a grid control on your form you should be able to query the
database and show records from it in that grid control. I've done that many
times. However, that does not import the records into Outlook and does not
create Outlook items. It merely displays the database items in a grid that's
being displayed in Outlook.

If you want to import records from the database into Outlook you would have
to write code to do that. Anything else you want that isn't built into
Outlook can be coded, but you'd have to do that yourself also.

 

[sobolev]

Thank you Ken for answers. I think that I got it.

I don't use AddIn Express so I can't answer any questions about that.

If you place a grid control on your form you should be able to query the
database and show records from it in that grid control. I've done that many
times. However, that does not import the records into Outlook and does not
create Outlook items. It merely displays the database items in a grid that's
being displayed in Outlook.

If you want to import records from the database into Outlook you would have
to write code to do that. Anything else you want that isn't built into
Outlook can be coded, but you'd have to do that yourself also.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Optionshttp://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

Thanks your for the answers.
I already thought about developing custom views of folder (it is
fairly simple through using Windows Forms User Controls and
registering them as ActiveX objects and using them in the HTML which
is displayed as webview folder). But in this case I can't get actually
database contacts AS outlook contacts, right?.
And I need develop custom solution for all tasks related to outlook
contact items, right?

How ADX extension will help in this case?- óËÒÙÔØ ÃÉÔÉÒÕÅÍÙÊ ÔÅËÓÔ -

- ðÏËÁÚÁÔØ ÃÉÔÉÒÕÅÍÙÊ ÔÅËÓÔ -