Compatibility Issue between OL 03 and 07

Question

I am using VBScript to create a default email signature pulling AD info. Below that I am using a table to stack our confidentiality notice and our social media links side by side to reduce the size of the signature.

In Outlook 2003, the signature looks exactly how I want it to look. However, in 2007 the text moves to the position directly after the icons we use for the social media and just continue on as if it is a normal paragraph.

If needed I can post the code.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Two things come to mind.

1. Use a template for the signature and just populate the variables in the template.
2. You are likely no setting the formatting correctly to lock the "flow" positioning.  That can cause different versions  to render differently.

I would start by trying to build two templates with named fields of fixed size.  Pick the template based on the version of Word you are using.

You should also post your issue in the Word VBA for Developers Forum.  Don't concentrate on VBScript.  Concentrate on how to do it using VBA.  Once you understand how it is done in VBA then translate it to VBScript.

Exchange 2007 and later have signature inclusion and generation on the server.  This should force compatibility as it uses CSS style sheets and HTML to generate very detailed signatures.

Other than that there is nothing we can do for you without seeing your script.

---

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Answer 2

Here is my current code. We are running Exchange 2003. This parses out exactly how I want it in OL 2003, but gets weird in Outlook 2007. 

On Error Resume Next
        set objSysInfo = CreateObject("ADSystemInfo")
        strUser = objSysInfo.UserName
        set objUser = GetObject("LDAP://" & strUser)
        strFName = objUser.FirstName
        strLName = objUser.LastName
 strDisplayName = objUser.displayName
        strDescription = objUser.description
        strCompany = objUser.company
        strOffice = objUser.physicalDeliveryOfficeName
        strAddress = objUser.streetAddress
        strState = objUser.St
        strCity = objUser.l
        strPostal = objUser.postalCode
        strPhone = objUser.telephoneNumber
        strFax = objUser.faxNumber
        strEmail = objUser.emailAddress
        strTitle = objUser.title
        strDepartment = objUsr.department
        strPo = objUser.postOfficeBox
        strHomePhone = objUser.homePhone
strIPPhone = objUser.IPPhone
        strWebpage = objUser.wWWHomePage
 'strImage = objWord.Pictures.Insert(path)
        objfile.write "<hr>"
        set objWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")
        set objDoc = objWord.Documents.Add()
        set objSelection = objWord.Selection
        set objEmailOptions = objWord.EmailOptions
        set objSignatureObject = objEmailOptions.EmailSignature
        set objSignatureEntries = objSignatureObject.EmailSignatureEntries
       
        'list of all known variables: Description, FirstName, LastName, DisplayName,
        'Company, streetAddress, St, l, postalCode, telephoneNumber, faxNumber, emailAddress,
        'department, title, initials, postofficebox, pager, mobile, homephone, ipphone, c, o, notes,
        'physicalDeliveryOfficeName, wWWHomePage       

'Display tagline
        objWord.Visible = false
        objSelection.Font.Name = "Calibri"
        objSelection.Font.Size = "12"
        objSelection.Font.Color = RGB (0,0,153)
        objSelection.Font.Bold = True
 objSelection.TypeParagraph()
 objSelection.TypeParagraph()
 objSelection.TypeText(strDisplayName)
        objSelection.Font.Name = "Calibri"
        objSelection.Font.Size = "9"
        objSelection.Font.Color = RGB (0,0,153)
        objSelection.Font.Bold = False
        objSelection.TypeParagraph()
 
        if not strTitle = "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(strTitle)
        end if
        objSelection.TypeParagraph()
        'picture
        objWord.Selection.InlineShapes.AddPicture("path")
 objSelection.TypeParagraph()
        'Company and Branch
        objSelection.Font.Size = "12"
 objSelection.Font.Color = RGB (0,0,153)
        objSelection.Font.Bold = True      
        if strCompany <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(strCompany)
        end if
        if strOffice <> "" or strCompany <> "" then
        objSelection.Font.Size = "9"
        objSelection.Font.Color = RGB (0,0,153)
        objSelection.Font.Bold = False
        objSelection.TypeText("  |  ")     
        end if
        'Address, PO, city, state, zip
        if strAddress <> "" then

        objSelection.TypeText(strAddress)
        objSelection.TypeText(", ")
        end if
        'if strAddress <> "" and strPO <> "" then
        'objSelection.TypeText(", ")
        'end if
        if strPo <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(strPo)
        end if
        if strPo <> "" and strCity <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(", ")
        end if
        if strCity <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(strCity)
        end if
        if strCity <> "" and strState <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(", ")
        end if
        if strState <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(strState)
        end if
        if strPostal <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText(" ")
        objSelection.TypeText(strPostal)
        end if
        if strAddress <> "" or strPo <> "" or strCity <> "" or strState <> "" or strPostal <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText("  |  ")
        end if
 'Phone, IPPhone, fax, email
        if strIPPhone <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText("p: ")
        objSelection.TypeText(strIPPhone)
        objSelection.TypeText("  |  ")
        end if
        if strFax <> "" then
        objSelection.TypeText("f: ")
        objSelection.TypeText(strFax)
        end if
        if strFax <> "" and strEmail <> "" then
        end if
        if not strEmail = "" then
        objSelection.TypeText("  |  ")
        objSelection.TypeText("e: ")
        objSelection.TypeText(strEmail)
        end if
        if strEmail<> "" and strWebpage <> "" then
        end if
        if not strWebpage = "" then
        objSelection.TypeText("  |  ")
        objSelection.TypeText(strWebpage)
        end if
        if strIPPhone <> "" or strHomePhone <> "" or strFax <> "" or strEmail <> "" or strwebPage <>"" then
        end if

 
 Const NUMBER_OF_ROWS = 1
 Const NUMBER_OF_COLUMNS = 2

 Set objRange = objSelection.Range

 objDoc.Tables.Add objRange, NUMBER_OF_ROWS, NUMBER_OF_COLUMNS

 Set objTable = objDoc.Tables(1)
 objTable.Columns.Item(1).SetWidth 400,0

 

 objTable.Cell(1, 1).Select
 objSelection.Font.Size = "8"
 objTable.Cell(1, 1).Range.Text = "Confidentiality Notice: This email and the documents accompanying it may contain certain confidential information. The information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of the email information is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this email or call in 800-678-0987. Thank you."
        'objSelection.TypeParagraph()
        'objSelection.TypeText("If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, or copying of this message or any attachments is strictly prohibited.")
 'objSelection.TypeParagraph()
        'objSelection.TypeText("If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the sender. Please delete all copies of this message and its attachments from your system. Thank you.")
 objTable.Cell(1, 2).Select
 objTable.Cell(1, 2).Range.Text = objWord.Selection.InlineShapes.AddPicture("path")
 objWord.Selection.InlineShapes.AddPicture("path")
 objWord.Selection.InlineShapes.AddPicture("path")
 objSelection.EndKey 6
 objSelection.TypeParagraph()
 'CRS
 objWord.Selection.InlineShapes.AddPicture("path")
 objSelection.Font.Size = "12" 
 objSelection.Font.Color = RGB (100,170,75)
        objSelection.TypeText("  Please print this email responsibly.")
       
 Set objSelection = objDoc.Range()
        objSignatureEntries.Add "MyDefaultSig", objSelection
        objSignatureObject.NewMessageSignature = "MyDefaultSig"
    
        objDoc.Saved = True
        objWord.Quit()

'wscript.echo "A new Signature has been applied on your Outlook program!"

Answer 3

I would definitely use a template and just assign the field variables.  Just open word and create a new document from the template then assign the fields and generate the signatures.  Two templates - one for each version.

Looking at the code it is highly likely that you are not locking down the flow.  Locking down a documents flow is very difficult if you have no template.  The document will be at the mercy of whatever is in "normal.dot". This is at the mercy of the user.  You would need to set all of the variables in the document to get there.   This is what a stock template does.

Post in Word VBA to see what they have to say about forcing the rendering in the two versions.

You could also do all positioning and sizing based on inches or meters and the two would be the same.

---

¯\_(ツ)_/¯