Thursday, February 26, 2009

Outlook Forms Step By Step Index

As of 7/2009 Currently looking for a new job so I may not be as responsive as normal to comments.

  1. Determine Process
  2. Start Form
  3. Placing Text Fields
  4. Date Field
  5. Currency Field
  6. Frames / Radials / Checks
  7. Select Recipients
  8. Save / Test / Fix
  9. Read and Reply Forms
  10. Installing On Exchange
  11. Data Verification
  12. Access Forms From Webpage
  13. Completed Check Request
  14. Stand Alone Form
  15. Collecting Data
  16. Update Existing Forms

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am trying to pass information from the form to a SharePoint calendar. All information is passing as desired except for the check-boxes. I have a field called "Operations" with a value if Y/N. Default value in SP is N. when I click the field on the form to set the value to Y - it dosn't update the field when moved to SP.

Jimmy said...

I am not up on Sharepoint. I would start at outlookcode.com and see what you can find there.

Anonymous said...

I followed your instructions up to step 8 - where I saved onto my documents directory. I closed down outlook and would now like to retrieve this form to finish the rest of the steps. How would I be able to retrieve this form? I clicked on it in my documents, and a message popped up saying 'the custom form could not be opened. Outlook will use an outlook form instead'.

Jimmy said...

In Outlook go to Tools - Form - Design a Form - User Templates in File System - Browse to the correct folder and open it.

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to submit the form in its design mode but when I click on submit to manager for approval, a window pops up saying that 'A field on this form requires a value'. What should I do?

Jimmy said...

You have to figure out which field is not filled out. If you just check the box for "a value is required for this field" you get this generic message. Not very helpful, that is why I suggest using formulas to validate. You can then enter your own descriptive error message.

Anonymous said...

I have followed all your steps to create and publish the form. But when I run it and click not-approved, all the information does not get copied to the not-approved form. I have published the forms into the personal forms library and test it by sending it to myself. And also have tried checking and unchecking the "send form definition with item" field. But the info still doesn't follow the form. Please advise

Jimmy said...

As long as the same field names exist on both forms the data should transfer over to the reply form.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I've uploaded the form onto outlook and it seems that the message part of the form is attaching my personal email signature. My personal signature is also appearing on the forms that our staff are submitting in outlook as well. Can you please advise how I can get rid of this signature? Thanks

Jimmy said...

To get the signature out of your form:
1. Disable your signature
2. enbable the message tab on the form
3. Run the form
4. Delete the signature
5. From File Menu do Save-As to .oft file
6. Republish the form using the .oft file.

Anonymous said...

Great information on Outlook Forms. I'm composing a form taht needs to be sent outside the Exchange organisation.
When I use the form and I look at it all I see is the address fields and subject?

Jimmy said...

Read this
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=66

Gord said...

You really shouldn't put links on your page that prevent users from click the back button, especially with a tutorial. Not very professional.

Unknown said...

We’ve design a custom outlook form based on our requirement. We’ve added from, to, time, custom drop down and text area for detail message. Our problem is we are not able to receive any of those text fields when we receive emails using this form. All we get is the detail message. But we need those text fields other then details message. Any points/suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jimmy said...

adeel,

Need more information to help you. Are you using a seperate read form? If so make sure the fields are there as well as on the compose form. Are you using the message field as the the detailed message field or a custom text field?

Unknown said...

Jimmy thank you for your quick reply. Please help me understand what you mean by separate read & compose forms? I didn’t understand it. I don’t see any of those forms.

KnightFire420 said...

The problem that Adeel and I are both having is that the fields we create in the form when sending the email do not so up.

Example a drop-down list that when a user chooses something and then sends the email whole message is blank. We also have textfields for date start and due date and neither of those show up on the email either.

Thanks,

Jimmy said...

Read my post http://qvlweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/outlook-forms-9-read-and-reply-forms.html

Anonymous said...

Is this code base available for download ? I am looking for same forms with minor changes

Jimmy said...

Send me an email and I will send you the oft files.
My email address is on the blog

Anonymous said...

I have created a form and published it. When the person receives the form there are two tabs the message tab and page number tab. Is there a way to have the form appear as the message in the message field. I have command buttons and a logo that I would like included as well.

Jimmy said...

You could move the message field and the forms fields to the same page.

Debbie Werbeloff said...

hello Jimmy

Hope you're still there :)
We have been happily using forms created according to your instructions, with great success. Now we are upgrading to Office 2010 and the forms don't work. The first form opens fine but does not have the tabs for approval. AS far as I can see everything is created, set up and published in the organization library fine. Any ideas what has to be done in 2010 to get the forms working?

Thanks
Debbie

Debbie Werbeloff said...

hello Jimmy

Hope you're still there :)
We have been happily using forms created according to your instructions, with great success. Now we are upgrading to Office 2010 and the forms don't work. The first form opens fine but does not have the tabs for approval. AS far as I can see everything is created, set up and published in the organization library fine. Any ideas what has to be done in 2010 to get the forms working?

Thanks
Debbie

KCH said...

Hi Jimmy,

I am so glad I have stumbled upon your guide. I think I can actually attempt to create my own form.

I have a couple of things of which I am trying to streamline.

1. Setting up new vendors
2. Credit Card Request (Your example of Check request should do it)
3. Expenses

For:

1. The company would complete an excel form and send it in. We then transfer the information into our accounting system. Can this also work with external vendors who may not necessarily use Outlook?

3. Can we use this form to create an expense claim to send it tho their manager to approve with the receipts scans attached?

thanks!