Access and handle Outlook Express objects:
Explorer, Inspector, folder, item in C#, VB.NET, C++

Add-in Express™
for Outlook® Express and Microsoft® .net

Unified Outlook Express Objects overview

Notwithstanding the fact that Add-in Express for Outlook Express is almost completely based on using Windows API and COM, you will never be faced with low-level programming. Add-in Express hides its internal complex architecture and implementation and publishes very simple and easy-to-understand objects, components and designers. Keeping the traditions of simple and intuitive public interfaces of Add-in Express .NET, Add-in Express for Outlook Express introduces Unified Outlook Express Objects, a set of classes for accessing and handling Outlook Express objects.

The Unified Outlook Express Objects is part of Add-in Express that allows you to get access to the Application object as an entry point to Outlook Express. Below you will find a brief description of all objects included in the Unified Outlook Express Objects as well as their methods, properties and events. Having just a quick look at the list below, you will make sure that the Unified Outlook Express Objects is a sub-set of the "main" Outlook Object Model. And this means that doing programming for Outlook Express you can rely on your long-term experience with "main" Outlook development.

Object and members

Comments

Application

GetDefaultFolder

Returns a Folder object that represents the default folder of the requested type (DeletedItems, Inbox, SentMail, Outbox, Drafts).

GetFolderFromID

Returns a Folder object identified by the specified entry ID.

CreateMessage

Creates a new message.

ActiveExplorer

Returns an Explorer object that represents the main Outlook Express (Explorer) window.

ActiveInspector

Returns an Inspector object that represents the topmost message (Inspector) window.

Inspectors

Returns an Inspectors collection object that contains the Inspector objects representing all open message (Inspector) windows.

Folders

Returns a Folders collection that represents all folders contained in the Local Folders folder.

Explorer

Activate

Activates the Explorer window.

CurrentFolder

Returns or sets a Folder object that represents the current folder displayed in the main Outlook Express (Explorer) window.

Selection

Returns a Selection object consisting of one or more items selected in the main Outlook Express (Explorer) window.

MenuBar

Returns a MenuBar object that represents the main Outlook Express menu.

Toolbars

Returns a Toolbars collection consisting of all custom toolbars added to the main Outlook Express (Explorer) window.

FolderSwitch

Occurs when the user switches to a new folder.

SelectionChange

Occurs when the user switches to a different item in the main Outlook Express (Explorer) window.

Inspectors

Item

Returns an Inspector object specified by its index.

NewInspector

Occurs whenever a new message (Inspector) window is opened.

Inspector

Activate

Activates the Inspector window.

Close

Closes the Inspector window.

Send

Sends the current item of the Inspector window.

CurrentItem

Returns an Item object contained by the Inspector window.

MenuBar

Returns a MenuBar object that represents the menu bar of the Inspector window.

Toolbars

Returns a Toolbars collection consisting of all custom toolbars added to the Inspector window.

Type

Returns the type of the Inspector window (MailRead or MailCompose).

InspectorClose

Occurs when the user closes the Inspector window.

InspectorSend

Occurs when the user clicks on the Send button on the Inspector window.

Folders

Add

Adds a new folder.

Remove

Removes the specified folder.

Item

Returns a Folder object specified by its index.

FolderAdd

Occurs when a folder is added to the collection.

FolderChange

Occurs when a folder in the collection is changed.

FolderRemove

Occurs when a folder in the collection is removed.

Folder

Delete

Deletes the specified folder.

Display

Displays the folder in the main Outlook Express (Explorer) window.

MoveTo

Moves a folder to the specified destination folder.

GetItemFromID

Returns an Item object identified by the specified entry ID.

ReleaseOEObject

Releases all references to the Folder object.

EntryID

Returns a number representing the unique Entry ID of the folder.

FolderPath

Returns a String that indicates the path of the folder.

Items

Returns an Items collection that contains the Item objects representing all messages in the folder.

Name

Returns or sets the display name of the folder.

Type

Returns the type of the folder (DeletedItems, Inbox, SentMail, Outbox, Drafts).

UnreadItemCount

Returns the number of unread items in the folder.

Items

Remove

Removes the specified Item from the collection.

Add

Creates a new item in the Items collection.

Item

Returns an Item object specified by its index.

ItemAdd

Occurs when an item is added to the collection.

ItemChange

Occurs when an item is changed in the collection.

ItemRemove

Occurs when an item is removed from the collection.

Item

Send

Sends the Item object.

Body

Returns or sets a String representing the text body of the item.

BodyLength

Returns the length of the body.

CC

Returns or sets a String representing the display list of carbon copy names for the Item object.

HTMLBody

Returns or sets a String representing the HTML body of the Item.

Subject

Returns or sets the subject of the Item.

To

Returns or sets a semicolon-delimited String list of display names for the To recipients for the Item.

MailItem

CopyTo

Copies the MailItem object to the destination folder.

Delete

Deletes the MailItem object from the Items collection.

Display

Displays the MailItem object in a new message (Inspector) window.

MoveTo

Moves the MailItem object to the destination folder.

ReleaseOEObject

Releases all references to the MailItem object.

Save

Saves the MailItem object.

SaveAs

Saves the MailItem object in the specified file.

Send

Sends the MailItem object.

Attachments

Returns an Attachments collection that contains all attachments of the MailItem object.

BCC

Returns a String representing the display list of blind carbon copy names for the MailItem object.

Body

Returns or sets a String representing the text body of the MailItem.

BodyFormat

Returns the format of the MailItem body ().

BodyLength

Returns the length of the MailItem body.

CC

Returns a String representing the display list of carbon copy names for the MailItem object.

CreationTime

Returns or sets a Date indicating the creation time for the MailItem object.

EntryID

Returns a number representing the unique Entry ID of the MailItem object.

From

Returns a String representing the From field of the MailItem object.

HTMLBody

Returns or sets a String representing the HTML body of the MailItem.

InternetHeaders

Returns a String representing the Internet headers of the MailItem object.

Priority

Returns a number representing the priority of the MailItem object.

ReceivedTime

Returns or sets a Date indicating the date and time at which the MailItem was received.

Recipients

Returns a Recipients collection that contains all recipients of the MailItem object.

SentOn

Returns or sets a Date indicating the date and time on which the MailItem was sent.

Size

Returns the size (in bytes) of the MailItem.

Subject

Returns or sets a String representing the subject of the MailItem.

To

Returns a semicolon-delimited String list of display names for the To recipients of the MailItem.

Unread

Returns or sets a Boolean value that is True if the MailItem has not been opened.

Attachments

Remove

Removes the specified Attachment from the collection.

Add

Creates a new attachment in the Attachments collection.

Item

Returns an Attachment object specified by its index.

Attachment

Delete

Deletes the Attachment object.

SaveAsFile

Saves the Attachment to the specified path.

FileName

Returns a String representing the file name of the Attachment.

Recipients

Remove

Removes the specified Recipient from the collection.

Add

Creates a new recipient in the Recipients collection.

Item

Returns a Recipient object specified by its index.

Recipient

Delete

Deletes the Recipient object.

Address

Returns a String representing the e-mail address of the Recipient.

Name

Returns the name of the Recipient.

Type

Returns the type of the Recipient.

Selection

Item

Returns an Item object specified by its index.