Forms, Schedule+, and gateways are applications that can be integrated into client and server applications. The following topics discuss application development ideas.
You can use Microsoft Exchange Forms Designer to create simple forms that are tightly integrated with the Microsoft Exchange Client through MAPIFORM.VBX and MSRICHED.VBX. The Forms Designer produces 16-bit Visual Basic 4.0 forms on both 16-bit and 32-bit platforms.
You can also use C or C++ to develop custom forms. These forms typically perform better than those developed using Visual Basic because you can use callback functions, have read/write access to the MAPI directory, and write 16-bit or 32-bit code. There is also client integration.
Forms can be manually installed by choosing the Forms Manager dialog box in the Microsoft Exchange Client. Forms will be automatically downloaded to the Forms directory at the client if the version is different. You can specify other forms to download by adding to the [Files] section of the .CFG file.
It may be necessary to create custom setup code for some types of client extensions or applications that must be installed. You can design a setup program that users run before using the application. You can also create a self-installing form that installs itself, runs, then deletes itself when it is invoked.
The Microsoft Exchange Server SDK provides helper routines to facilitate setting up a server application. Alternately, MAPI calls can be made to install a form. For more information, see INSTFORM: Installing a Sample Form
You can replace the Forms Manager with a custom application. (Note: Only one instance of Forms Manager can exist on any computer at one time.) MAPI or Visual C++ can be used to design a custom Forms Manager. See the Microsoft Exchange Server Application Designer’s Guide for more information.
It is possible for an application to manipulate all Schedule+ objects, which include:
Automation (formerly known as OLE Automation), Visual Basic, and Visual C++ can be used to control Schedule+ objects. See Customizing Schedule+ Menus and Programmable Objects.
Workflow applications are commonly used to manipulate Schedule+ objects. You can use Schedule+ objects to route a form based on the available times for each user. The routing can be tied to Schedule+ free/busy times. See the Microsoft Schedule+ Programmer’s Reference.
You can write a gateway application to a foreign mail system. The Microsoft Exchange Server SDK provides a sample gateway that can be used or modified. See Sample Gateway and Applications.