How do I modify the Appointment or Meeting Invite Screens (Specifically Scheduling) in Outlook?

Question

Hi,

   I would like to add buttons and a form to the appointment/meeting invite screen in outlook.  Any ideas on how to do this?  I have a handle to the screen but I'm not sure how to start adding buttons within the form (not in the ribbon) and then a button to the ribbon with a form.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

JT

Answer 1

Hello JT,

There are some ways to add form and controls to Outlook inspector UI.

1. The first way is to creating FormRegion for the appointment message. See more in http://www.codeproject.com/KB/office/MyContacts.aspx.

2. The second way is to creating custom task pane for Outlook appointment inspector. Check, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb296010.aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb608590.aspx

You can also bing the key word, Form Region, Outlook, Custom task pane for more detailed documentation, sample and video.

 

Best regards,
Ji Zhou - MSFT
Microsoft Online Community Support

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Answer 2

Hi Ji,

   Thanks for the reply.  The info is great.  I have another question.  I'd like to hijack a ribbon button's command (i.e. scheduling), run the existing functionality of the ribbon button, and then run my functionality?  Also, is it possible to update the  scheduling pane's data (i.e. show someone as busy in different colors?

Thanks!!

JT

Answer 3

When you repurpose an existing ribbon button using a <command> node you can execute your handler first and then choose to cancel or go to the existing handler. There's no option to do the reverse, run the existing handler before your own handler.

 

The scheduling pane isn't exposed or modifiable. You'd need to replace it completely with your own form region page or custom form (form region is a better option, more robust).

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

 

 

"JT Dylan" <=?utf-8?B?SlQgRHlsYW4=?=> wrote in message news:a3335493-f5ac-4e27-a78a-724d9ae299fb...

Hi Ji,

   Thanks for the reply.  The info is great.  I have another question.  I'd like to hijack a ribbon button's command (i.e. scheduling), run the existing functionality of the ribbon button, and then run my functionality?  Also, is it possible to update the  scheduling pane's data (i.e. show someone as busy in different colors?

Thanks!!

JT

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Ken Slovak MVP - Outlook

Answer 4

Hi Ken,

I've created an adjoining form region for an appointment and it's showing up as expected.  My next question is how would i have it show up only on the scheduling assistant tab and not on the appointment tab which is the default.

Thanks for your answer - btw.  These forums are excellent and definitely help remove roadblocks.

Regards,

JT

Answer 5

As far as I know that you can't do with an adjoining region. It would be available at the bottom of the form no matter what tab was displayed.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

 

 

"JT Dylan" <=?utf-8?B?SlQgRHlsYW4=?=> wrote in message news:428dd8bf-ecf1-4355-8618-6e809c236835...

Hi Ken,

I've created an adjoining form region for an appointment and it's showing up as expected.  My next question is how would i have it show up only on the scheduling assistant tab and not on the appointment tab which is the default.

Thanks for your answer - btw.  These forums are excellent and definitely help remove roadblocks.

Regards,

JT

---

Ken Slovak MVP - Outlook

Answer 6

Hi,

I've setup the adjoining region for an Appointment and I have a simple buttong showing.  The region only display onthe Appointment form.  It doesn't show up on the Scheduling Assistant or Tracking forms.  Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

JT

Answer 7

Why would you expect it to show up on those forms? Your form region is for appointments. There are no form regions for the scheduling assistant or any tracking forms. Form regions can only be designed for Outlook items deriving from the "IPM" group of forms such as "IPM.Appointment" or "IPM.Note" and so on.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

 

 

"JT Dylan" <=?utf-8?B?SlQgRHlsYW4=?=> wrote in message news:ea788308-3a6d-4456-9f15-76f1a33b583b...

Hi,

I've setup the adjoining region for an Appointment and I have a simple buttong showing.  The region only display onthe Appointment form.  It doesn't show up on the Scheduling Assistant or Tracking forms.  Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

JT

---

Ken Slovak MVP - Outlook

Answer 8

Hi Ken,

For the work I'm doing I want to have a form region for the scheduling assistant tab, specifically.  Is there a way I can create a form region that shows up on the scheduling assistant tab?

Thanks,

JT

Answer 9

No, because that's just a dialog. Only Outlook form types (derived from an interpersonal message object or IPM) can host form regions.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Professional Programming Outlook 2007.
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options.
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm

 

 

"JT Dylan" <=?utf-8?B?SlQgRHlsYW4=?=> wrote in message news:eb4f0f0a-8b58-45d9-9887-bb5275f25905...

Hi Ken,

For the work I'm doing I want to have a form region for the scheduling assistant tab, specifically.  Is there a way I can create a form region that shows up on the scheduling assistant tab?

Thanks,

JT

---

Ken Slovak MVP - Outlook