Running Custom forms on "foreign" PCs

[mganchrow]

We're running Outlook 2002 & 2003 on our desktops, using Exchange 2000
(?) for our email system.
I've put together a custom form in Outlook for various uses; it has
text fields, check boxes, etc. There's no code in the form (other than
that used to print the form), though I did use a Word template & code
(per something I found on Sue's site, I think) to allow meaningful
printing.

The form definition is NOT sent with the form, because we ran into "one
off" problems when trying to print the form when that button was
checked.

A couple of questions/issues we've run into:
1. Is there any way for users outside our organization/server to read
the custom form? I have Outlook loaded on my home PC, and have sent
myself the custom form, and have not been able to load it - all
messages load as "plain" messages. I've tried following the
instructions to load it via .FDM and .OFT, and - though the instruction
looked like they worked; the custom form is installed on my home PC
(running Outlook 2003) - the email messages still load as "regular"
messages.
Is it because I don't have the Corporate version of Outlook at home?

2. Is there any way that a user (again, outside our
organization/server) using Lotus Notes can read our custom forms? I saw
an answer from Sue that said "no," but the message was from 2001, so
I'm hoping something's changed since then.

3. Is there any reason our users' form cache gets corrupted (various
problems, but mostly thet custom form just looks like a regular
message) with some regularity? Clearing the cache usually resolves the
issue (sometimes I have to delete some of the .DAT files), but I can't
pinpoint a cause for the cache being corrupt.

TIA,
Mark

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

1. Is there any way for users outside our organization/server to read

the custom form?

"read" as in see your custom layout? Only if they have access to the form definition, either through a one-off or through the published form.

2. Is there any way that a user (again, outside our
organization/server) using Lotus Notes can read our custom forms?

The answer is still "no" and will always be no, I think it's safe to say.

3. Is there any reason our users' form cache gets corrupted (various
problems, but mostly thet custom form just looks like a regular
message) with some regularity?

Sure, but we don't necessarily know what they are. Forms cache problems can be very elusive to track down. You might try the ForceFormReload registry value documented in the MSKB.

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

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

 

[mganchrow]

Thanks for the reply - a follow-up/clarification question:

"read" as in see your custom layout? Only if they have access to the form definition, either through a one-off or through the published form.

Remember that I've tried doing this by installing the form definition
on my home PC, both via the .FDM method (installing via
Tools/Options/Advanced/Custom forms/Manage/Install to personal forms
library), and the .OFT (opening the .OFT then publishing it to my
personal forms library).
On my home PC, I can create a custom form with this definition, but I
can't read (yes, as in see the custom layout) the message in its custom
form.
What am I missing (and/or where can I look for more info)?
Mark

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Did you actually create a read layout on the custom form? A lot of people forget that they need to do that.

Are incoming messages arriving with the same message class as the published form?

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

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

 

[mganchrow]

Yes, the "read" form is created and works (inside our organization), as
evidenced by the fact that the Print button exists only for the reader,
and not the sender, of these custom forms.

Looks like the message class may be the issue: They're showing on my
home ("reader") PC as IPM.Note, but the class definition (on the
sending PC) is IPM.Note.Enoc. How can I fix this?

Also - follow up to the issue of Notes not being able to read a custom
form: As a workaround to that, given that I have a Word doc to do the
printing for this custom form, does it make sense to write a script to
populate & email that document for external (Notes) recipients? If so,
how would I handle attachments to the original email (probably PDFs
and/or .DOCs). Again - I don't need complete answers - if you point me
in the right direction, I'll be glad to try to do the legwork & figure
out the rest myself.

Thanks again.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Looks like the message class may be the issue: They're showing on my

home ("reader") PC as IPM.Note, but the class definition (on the
sending PC) is IPM.Note.Enoc. How can I fix this?

Make sure you are doing nothing to one-off the form. See http://www.outlookcode.com/d/formpub.htm#macro.

Also - follow up to the issue of Notes not being able to read a custom
form: As a workaround to that, given that I have a Word doc to do the
printing for this custom form, does it make sense to write a script to
populate & email that document for external (Notes) recipients?

Only if you can figure out how to adapt it to read data from the current message out of a Notes client. That's way beyond the scope of this discussion forum.

If so,
how would I handle attachments to the original email (probably PDFs
and/or .DOCs).

In Notes? I have no idea.

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

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