Outlook blocked while composing new mail

[Fishter]

I've got Outlook 2007 getting mail from an Exchange Server.

When I have a word document, excel spreadsheet or adobe document open and
select the "Send by email" or "attach to email" option from within the
word/excel/adobe reader application I get a new email dialog with the
document attached.

However, I am now unable to use any other part of Outlook while that compose
window is open. I can't refer to any other emails, look up the calendar or
look up a contact.

As this affects more than one product (Word, Excel and Adobe I have tested
this with), I think this is a problem in Outlook somewhere.

Firstly, can anyone else confirm this behaviour?
Does anyone have a suggestion about how to fix it, or is this a bug in
Outlook?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

This behavior is by design. To avoid it, create the message first, then
attach the file. Another solution is to write a Word macro to do the same
thing -- save the file, create a new Outlook message, attach the file, and
display the message.

 

[Fishter]

I'm slightly stunned that this is a by design feature!

Why is it designed like this?

It's not following the same rules that other compose windows follow. Why
did the developers think it was a good thing to stop you using other parts of
Outlook while composing an email, and specifically just an email composed via
this route?

I really want to try and understand what the thought processes were behind
this deliberate decision to change the way the compose mail window works in
specific circumstances.

Fishter