VBA to create email that Outlook can later open...

[CedarTree]

Hello. Looking to write out an email in VBA into a MSG or EML file without using Outlook. The Server I'm using has Access/Excel, etc. but not Outlook. Can I just write out for example an HTML file that meets the Outlook header requirements, etc. and then, from another computer, open it within Outlook? Thanks!

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Look into CDO (Collaborative Data Objects) that can send a message without using Outlook.

Collaboration Data Objects - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Use CDO to send email from VBScript or VBA through Office 365

Sample code showing how to use CDO to relay through the Office 365 SMTP server with either VBScript or Office VBA using SSL encryption.

www.tachytelic.net

Sending Emails from Access with VBA and CDO

An extensive article describing how to send emails from within an Access application with VBA and the CDO Library.

codekabinett.com

Not so sure about whether CDO can create a message file without sending it. CDO also doesn't receive messages (It isn't a mail client) so you can't get away with sending it to yourself to create the message file.

Generally, it appears that you need to download some code utility to actually create a .MSG file from VBA without going through Outlook. Search the web for "Create Message File Without Outlook" and you will see lots of options. I found a dozen very quickly.

 

[theDBguy]

I am thinking you should be able to create any file using the Open statement as long as you know the proper header to put in it. So, I guess the question is, where can we find the file header for Outlook?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Don't know if this helps or hurts, but here are specs for MSG files with a second layer of specification. With enough persistence you might be able to figure this one out.


MSG file:

Microsoft Outlook Item (MSG)

Format Description for MSG -- The Microsoft Outlook Item (MSG) file format is used to format a Message object, such as an email message, an appointment, a contact, a task, etc., for storage in the file system.

www.loc.gov

CFB_3 format: (referenced in MSG file)

Microsoft Compound File Binary File Format, Version 3

Format Description for CFB_3 -- The Microsoft Compound File Binary File Format (CFB) file format is used for storing storage objects and stream objects in a hierarchical structure within a single file.

www.loc.gov

 

[Gasman]

And EML

EML - EMail Message

Learn about EML file format and APIs that can create and open EML files.

docs.fileformat.com