Extracting emails to Word

[Trent SC]

I need to extract the information from a large number of emails into a
single file - ideally a Word document - so that each email shows the header
information. When I try to copy and paste, I only get the message body, and
I'd be grateful if anyone could suggest either a means to extract this data,
and ideally whether there's a means to automate the process (there's over
300 emails).

Many thanks.

TrentSC

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

For what you are trying to do, code seems your best option.

Try looking over http://www.outlookcode.com for any examples of what you
need to do or try posting in microsoft.public.outlook.programs_vba.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Trent SC asked:

| I need to extract the information from a large number of emails into a
| single file - ideally a Word document - so that each email shows the
| header information. When I try to copy and paste, I only get the
| message body, and I'd be grateful if anyone could suggest either a
| means to extract this data, and ideally whether there's a means to
| automate the process (there's over 300 emails).
|
| Many thanks.
|
| TrentSC

 

[Patrick Reed]

What is it you are trying to accomplish with this file containing all the
messages? If the outputted document isn't something that needs to be changed
(more for record or archive), you could select all the messages (provided
they are in a single location, you could Ctrl+A or Shift-Click to select
them all) and print them to an XPS file. If you're using Windows Vista, I
believe the Microsoft XPS Document Writer is already a printer option. If
you're using Windows XP, you can install the free MS XPS Essentials Pack to
get that option.

Print the collection of messages selected to this XPS Document Writer and
you'll get a single XPS file with all the messages paginated, much like a
PDF document, including the message header info.

Again, this isn't a file that can really be changed (it looks and acts much
like a PDF), so if that is necessary for what you're trying to do, this
whole thing is moot. Also, not a very elegant solution if this will be a
recurring task. If you have MS OneNote, you can use that for a similar
solution, however the pages come over as image files, so once again, you
can't really change them.

 

[Trent SC]

Thanks for the suggestion (and yes I am using XP - Pro, SP3).

I've tried printing the contents to XPS Document Writer, but my aim is to
amalgamate all the emails into a single file rather than individually, and
when I try it, my machine tries to create one document for each email.

Is there a way around this?

Cheers.

 

[Patrick Reed]

Odd.

What version of Outlook are you using?

What specifically are the steps you're performing to print?

 

[Trent SC]

I'm running Outlook 2003 (11.8217.8221) SP3

The process I'm trying is as follows:
1. Highlight one-line summaries of emails
2. Right-click and select Print
3. Select printer - Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
4. Select Memo Style
5. Click OK
6. Select file name to save and location, click OK

This gives me one mdi file for each email, which is not what I want to
achieve. Rather, I want to create a single document (ideally Word) which
contains all the emails.

Am I doing something crashingly stupid?

 

[Patrick Reed]

From the main Outlook Window, select Tools | Options... | Mail Format.
Change "Compose in this message format" to Rich Text (I'm guessing it's
currently set to HTML). Select OK and try your steps again. It should give
you a single file.

 

[Trent SC]

Bingo!

Many thanks, Patrick. I knew there was a setting somewhere, and your advice
hit the spot.

Much appreciated.