Setting Default Message Form

[spencergb]

I am using Outlook 2003 with an Exchange Server.

I have tried to follow the normal route for setting a form as the default
form to be used in that folder but I have not been able to set the custom
form I designed as the form that is always used for new messages.

I followed the instructions on this link
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm but was not able to restrict
the forms that are utilized by my inbox. The "forms" tab in the Inbox
properties dialog box does not allow me to select the options under the
heading "allow these forms in this folder". Also, when I try to select the
custom form under the "general" tab, I am not able to select the custom
message form in the box labeled "when posting to this folder, use:".
Instead, I receive a message that says "you cannot create an item of this
type in this folder". As such, I have followed the advise that seems to be
repeated on this board, but I am still not able to select my custom message
form as the form to be used or to limit the forms that are utilized in either
my Inbox or Contacts folders.

Please help.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

If you have Outlook 2000 or later, you can make a registry change to
substitute your custom form for the default form. This is the method you
need to use to set a default message form. See
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm#changedefault . Note that it
doesn't work completely for message forms in Outlook 2003.

 

[spencergb]

Sue,

If I cannot change the registry for message forms, how can I at least make a
message folder create new messages on a custom form using the "when posting
to this folder" route? As it currently stands, the only two options when I
go this route are "IPM.Post" and "Form...". When I select Form and then a
custom form I designed and then click OK, a window pops up that says "you
cannot create an item of that type".

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You can't. Messages are designed to be sent not posted.

I didn't say you can't change the registry for message forms, only that the
registry change doesn't work completely.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers