recipient of message form gets blank message

[Nick]

I have created a message form in Outlook, using Tool, Forms, Design Form. I
have saved the message form to Personal Forms Library. I am able to select
the form to send, however, when I send a message using the form the recipient
receives only a blank message...the fields of the form are missing.

Please advise.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Did you forget to click the Edit Read Page button and create a read layout to match the compose layout?

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

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

 

[Nick]

Sue,

Thanks for the post.

Got that far, but when I send the email template and then fill in fields,
then reply, then the format is lost again.

I am trying to create a request form where I can specify certain information
that should be provided in an email request.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Reply? You didn't mention that before. A reply uses the default Outlook message form unless you specify a particular published form for the Reply action on the (Actions) page of the custom form. That reply form, of course, must be published to the Organizational Forms library or each user's Personal Forms library.

Alternatively, save the preaddressed form as an .oft file and email it as an attachment that the recipient can open and fill out.

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

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

 

[Nick]

Sue,

Thanks for the post.

Ok, I got that far...the Edit Read Page is same as Compose layout. However,
when a recipient reads message, and replies, the reply message doesn't
contain the form..its lost.

 

[Nick]

Thanks Sue.

I think I understand, the reply message requires a separate form. A
workaround could be to forward the message I think. The attachment idea
probably won't work for this scenario because the end users wants the
information right in the body.

The fields of the form are for providing guidance to the person who is
filling out the request form. Essentially, I want a user to be able to open
an outlook message, select a template (fields appear in body), then user
completes the fields and sends the message to a particular email address.
This way we ensure the recipient has all the necessary info to process the
request.

Is there a better way to approach this problem, than by using message form?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

A lot depends on the mail environment -- Exchange or Internet? If Exchange, can you publish to the Organizational Forms library?
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

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

 

[~KO]

Hey Nick, I am in no way a pro, but in my tinkering around I found that if I
reply the form is lost, but if I 'Forward' the email, it stays intact.
forgive me if that is not what you are trying to do.

Sue,

Thanks for the post.

Ok, I got that far...the Edit Read Page is same as Compose layout. However,
when a recipient reads message, and replies, the reply message doesn't
contain the form..its lost.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

I just tried doing this with a form I created in Outlook 2003 and it gave me
an error message saying the form could not be found.