Problem with Outlook 2007 forms

[nahm]

When I try to design a new Contact form based on the IPM.Contact form from
the Standards Forms Library the design looks nothing at all like the form
used when creating a new Contact in Outlook 2007, e.g. the fields are in a
different location, the picture place holder is missing, etc. It most of all
resembles the Contact form used in Outlook 2000.
As a matter of fact, I thought that was the problem since I did an upgrade
from Outlook 2000 to Outlook 2007. But when I tried to install Office 2007 on
a clean machine (Vista RC1) I experienced the exact same thing.
Shouldn't it be possible to base a new design on an existing one, and
inherit the look and feel from that?
Where should I look for the Outlook 2007 forms?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

This is normal, expected behavior, the same as in Outlook 2003. If you want to be able to design a contact form that looks like the Outlook 2007 contact form, you need to be using the form regions feature.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

That's it when you customize the contact form. It's the same in Outlook
2003, the form looks like the Outlook 2000 form and doesn't show the picture
control.

 

[nahm]

Thanks for the replies.
One question though: How do I use the forms regions feature to obtain a
replica of the Outlook 2007 contact form, that I can use as the basis for a
new contact form?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

"Obtain" is not the right word. A form region starts with a completely blank page. You would need to add the controls (the new themed ones for Outlook) to duplicate the layout you see on the unmodified standard form page and scope it as a replace region. Not a trivial task. I don't know anyone who has put in the time to see if that's possible. Maybe you'll be the first!

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers