[Outlook] Add folder to favorites

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[Outlook] Add folder to favorites
 
Mykhaylo Boreyko


Guest


Hello.

I'm developing Outlook 2007/2010 add-in.
And I need to create custom folders when add-in is initializing and add them to favorites group.
I've created custom folders, but I dont know how to add them to favorites.

I use AddToPFFavorites method on added folder, but it throws exception "The operation failed. An object could not be found".

Is there another method to add folder to favorites?
Posted 16 Oct, 2012 09:04:13 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18817
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Hello Mykhaylo,

Can you please post some code or send it to the support email address (see readme.txt)? In the latter case, please make sure that your email contains a link to this topic.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 16 Oct, 2012 10:59:32 Top
Mykhaylo Boreyko


Guest


Here is code for adding folder 

function CreateFolder(): MAPIFolder;
var
    sentFolder: MAPIFolder;
begin
    sentFolder := OutlookApp.GetNamespace('MAPI').GetDefaultFolder(olFolderSentMail);
    result := sentFolder.Folders.Add('Custom', EmptyParam);
    
    if Assigned(result) then
        result.AddToPFFavorites(); // <<--- exception throws here.
end;
Posted 16 Oct, 2012 12:25:26 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18817
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Hi Mykhaylo,

I'd suggest checking if AddToPFFavorites() works for an existing folder. If it works, try to use a timer to call AddToPFFavorites after a small delay. Also check if navigating to the newly creating folder (set Explorer.CurrentFolder) before calling AddToPFFavorites() helps.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 17 Oct, 2012 06:36:43 Top
Mykhaylo Boreyko


Guest


I have already tried calling this function on existing folder. Without luck. Same exception is thrown.

Maybe this function is not for this purpose?
From MDSN about AddToPFFavorites method:
"Adds a Microsoft Exchange public folder to the public folder's Favorites folder."

But my custom folder is not Microsoft Exchange public folder, maybe this is the reason of error.
Posted 17 Oct, 2012 06:56:46 Top
Mykhaylo Boreyko


Guest


Outlook 2010 has button "Show in Favorites" in "Folder" ribbon group for this purpose.

Is there some way or extension to outlook to see what this button does?
Posted 17 Oct, 2012 07:18:30 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18817
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Please see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff865603.aspx.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 17 Oct, 2012 11:16:44 Top
Mykhaylo Boreyko


Guest


Thank you for link. It was helpful.
As result, my final method to add folder to favorites is 

procedure TProcessingController.AddSentEBoxFolderToFavorites(folder: MAPIFolder);
const
    // OlNavigationModuleType Enumeration
    olModuleMail = 0;
    // OlGroupType Enumeration
    olFavoriteFoldersGroup = 4;
var
    outlookApp: OleVariant;
    navPane,
    mainModule,
    favGroup: Variant;
begin
    if not Assigned(folder) then
        exit;

    try
        outlookApp := CreateOleObject('Outlook.Application');
        navPane := outlookApp.ActiveExplorer.NavigationPane;
        mainModule := navPane.Modules
                      .GetNavigationModule(olModuleMail);
        favGroup := mainModule.NavigationGroups
                    .GetDefaultNavigationGroup(olFavoriteFoldersGroup);

        favGroup.NavigationFolders.Add(folder);
    except
        on E:Exception do
        begin
            // error handling
        end;
    end;

    favGroup := Unassigned;
    mainModule := Unassigned;
    navPane := Unassigned;
    outlookApp := Unassigned;
end;


Is it good enough? Or maybe there is better implementation?
Posted 18 Oct, 2012 02:13:36 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18817
 Joined: 2006-05-11
Mykhaylo Boreyko writes:
outlookApp := CreateOleObject('Outlook.Application');


This call is excessive in an add-in. Besides, it creates an "unsafe" Outlook.Application object. If you use it to access protected properties or methods (such as address fields or MailItem.Send) Outlook may fire a security warning. The recommended way is to use the "safe" Outlook.Application object accessible via OutlookApp property of the add-in module.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 18 Oct, 2012 02:41:20 Top