OL97: VBScript Cannot Access Characters in the Body Property

• Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

When you use Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), you cannot programmatically insert information into the body of an Outlook item without completely replacing the body.

CAUSE

The Outlook object model provides only one property for this part of the item, the Body property. The Body property enables you to programmatically create and delete the body text, but it does not enable you to insert or modify information that is in the middle of the body.

For example, you may have a mail item with the following text in the body:

   -------------------------------
   Thank you for using:


   We appreciate your business.
   -------------------------------

   Item.Body = "This is new text"    This example would completely replace
                                     the existing text with the new text.

   Item.Body = ""                    This example would completely delete
                                     the text.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

   Sub Item_Open()
   ' Dimension X to hold the return of the InStr function.
   Dim X
   ' Get the location of the second carriage return.
   X = Instr(Instr(1,Item.Body,Chr(13),1)+1,Item.Body,Chr(13),1)
   ' Get the text from the beginning of the body to the second carriage
   ' return.
   TempA = Left(Item.Body, X)
   ' Get the rest of the text.
   TempB = Mid(Item.Body, X + 1, Len(Item.Body))
   ' Create new text.
   NewText = "Gadget Company" + Chr(13)
   ' Insert new Body which includes new text.
   Item.Body = TempA + NewText + TempB
   End Sub

REFERENCES

   Article-ID: Q166368
   Title     : OL97: How to Get Help Programming with Outlook

   Article-ID: Q170783
   Title     : OL97: Q&A: Questions about Customizing or
               Programming Outlook