asked on

Using Lotus Notes/MS Outlook and MAPI Control To Send Emails

I am trying to create a Visual Basic program which will send emails using either Lotus Notes or Outlook. The application must be able to handle both email applications within itself (ie Not one program for Lotus Notes and another for Outlook).
We are able to launch Lotus Notes and enter the "body" text but am unable to enter the "To:" or "CC:" fields. We are also unable to Send the email and we are unable to close Lotus Notes. However, when Lotus Notes launches, it prompts the user for the password. I want to pass the password from the VB program to Lotus Notes.

I am using the 'Microsoft MAPI Controls 6.0" component.

Here is the Logon code I currently have:

Private Function LogOn() As Boolean
On Error GoTo eh
' If a session is already started,
' exit sub.
If mapSess.NewSession Then
MsgBox "Session already established"
GoTo ex
End If
If txtUserName.Text = "" Then
MsgBox "You must provide a User Name"
GoTo ex
End If
If txtPassword.Text = "" Then
MsgBox "You must provide a Password"
GoTo ex
End If
With mapSess
' Set DownLoadMail to False to prevent immediate download.
.DownLoadMail = False
.LogonUI = False ' Use the underlying email system's logon UI.
.UserName = txtUserName.Text
.Password = txtPassword.Text
.SignOn ' Signon method.
' Set NewSession to True and set0
' variable flag to true
.NewSession = True
mblnNewSession = .NewSession
mapMess.SessionID = .SessionID ' You must set this before continuing.
End With
LogOn = True
ex:
Exit Function
eh:
If Err.Number = 32003 Then
MsgBox "Canceled Login"
LogOn = False
Else
MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & ": " & Err.Description
End If
Resume ex
End Function
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my logoff code:

Private Sub LogOff()
On Error GoTo eh
' Logoff the MapSessions control.
With mapSess
.SignOff ' Close the session.
.NewSession = False ' Flag for new session.
mblnNewSession = .NewSession ' Reset flag.
End With
ex:
Exit Sub
eh:
MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & ": " & Err.Description
Resume ex
End Sub
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And here is the code I am using to send the message:

Private Sub SendMessage()
On Error GoTo eh
Dim strMessage As String
Dim strRecip1 As String
Dim strRecip2 As String
If Text1.Text = "" Then
MsgBox "You must provide a primary recipient"
GoTo ex
Else
strRecip1 = Text1.Text
End If
If Text2.Text <> "" Then
strRecip2 = Text2.Text
End If
strMessage = "Message Sent " & Now
mapMess.Compose
mapMess.RecipIndex = 0
mapMess.RecipType = 1
mapMess.RecipAddress = strRecip1
' mapMess.ResolveName
If strRecip2 <> "" Then
mapMess.RecipIndex = 1
mapMess.RecipType = 1
mapMess.RecipAddress = strRecip2
' mapMess.ResolveName
End If
mapMess.MsgSubject = "PeopleSoft Background Check Email Test"
mapMess.MsgNoteText = strMessage
mapMess.Send False
ex:
Exit Sub
eh:
MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & ": " & Err.Description
Resume ex
End Sub

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

thman

I currently don't have Lotus Notes environment to do any test about that. I'll be very interested in doing that once I get a chance.

However, are you sure there is also a copy of notes.ini in the windows directory other than users' data directory? When you access Lotus Notes through application outside of Lotus Notes, it sometimes requires to check notes.ini in windows directory.

Is it okay with your application to send email through Notes API? I mean whether it's okay or not for you to write two different programs in one application to handle Lotus Notes and outlook.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

TimCottee

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kevink34

ASKER

Thanks for the info!

TimCottee, The code is great! I am able to use it to send but there are two minor issues.
1. Where I work, they require a user id and password when you open a session of Lotus Notes. I am unable to determine how to get those variables into Notes. I do not want the users to have to enter their user id and password.
2. I am unable to close the object. When the email is sent, Notes is still open and I would like to close it.

As always, any help is really appreciated!

Richie_Simonetti

I can solve your problem with Lotus , but not with both.
To solve with Lotus only, see this:

www.angelfire.com/realm/vb-shared/index.html

kevink34

ASKER

Richie,
Thanks for the info but I am unable to get the zip file. Angelfire does not allow it?!?!?!?!?!

Richie_Simonetti

Yeah!, sometimes yes and sometimes not!! >(
I will post entire code here: Wich version of Notes do you use?
4.x or 5.x

Richie_Simonetti

Here we start:
'code to frmInit

VERSION 5.00
Begin VB.Form frmInit
BorderStyle = 4 'Fixed ToolWindow
Caption = "Choose an option"
ClientHeight = 1515
ClientLeft = 45
ClientTop = 285
ClientWidth = 2985
LinkTopic = "Form1"
MaxButton = 0 'False
MinButton = 0 'False
ScaleHeight = 1515
ScaleWidth = 2985
ShowInTaskbar = 0 'False
StartUpPosition = 3 'Windows Default
Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
Caption = "&Cancel"
Height = 315
Index = 1
Left = 1680
TabIndex = 4
Top = 1080
Width = 1215
End
Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
Caption = "&OK"
Height = 315
Index = 0
Left = 1680
TabIndex = 3
Top = 660
Width = 1215
End
Begin VB.OptionButton Option1
Caption = "COM (Lotus 5.x)"
Height = 495
Index = 1
Left = 60
TabIndex = 1
Top = 1020
Width = 1575
End
Begin VB.OptionButton Option1
Caption = "OLE (Lotus 4.x)"
Height = 495
Index = 0
Left = 60
TabIndex = 0
Top = 480
Width = 1575
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
Caption = "Please, choose an option to work with:"
Height = 315
Left = 120
TabIndex = 2
Top = 120
Width = 2775
WordWrap = -1 'True
End
End
Attribute VB_Name = "frmInit"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False
Option Explicit

Private Sub Command1_Click(Index As Integer)
Select Case Index
Case 0
If Option1(0).Value Then
frmNotesOLE.Show
ElseIf Option1(1).Value Then
frmNotesCOM.Show
End If
End Select

Unload Me
End Sub

Richie_Simonetti

'Code to frmNotesCOM

VERSION 5.00
Object = "{F9043C88-F6F2-101A-A3C9-08002B2F49FB}#1.2#0"; "COMDLG32.OCX"
Begin VB.Form frmNotesCOM
BorderStyle = 1 'Fixed Single
Caption = "Notes by COM"
ClientHeight = 5070
ClientLeft = 45
ClientTop = 330
ClientWidth = 6270
Icon = "frmNotesCOM.frx":0000
LinkTopic = "Form1"
MaxButton = 0 'False
MinButton = 0 'False
ScaleHeight = 5070
ScaleWidth = 6270
StartUpPosition = 3 'Windows Default
Begin MSComDlg.CommonDialog CDlg
Left = 300
Top = 2340
_ExtentX = 847
_ExtentY = 847
_Version = 393216
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 1635
Index = 3
Left = 960
MultiLine = -1 'True
ScrollBars = 2 'Vertical
TabIndex = 7
Top = 1440
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.Frame Frame1
Caption = "Compose:"
Height = 5055
Left = 0
TabIndex = 0
Top = 0
Width = 6255
Begin VB.ListBox lstFiles
Height = 1815
Left = 960
TabIndex = 12
Top = 3120
Width = 3435
End
Begin VB.CommandButton cmdSend
Caption = "&Send"
Height = 315
Left = 4440
TabIndex = 11
Top = 4620
Width = 1695
End
Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
Caption = "Attach All in Folder"
Height = 315
Index = 1
Left = 4440
TabIndex = 10
Top = 3480
Width = 1695
End
Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
Caption = "Attach one file"
Height = 315
Index = 0
Left = 4440
TabIndex = 9
Top = 3120
Width = 1695
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 315
Index = 2
Left = 960
TabIndex = 6
Top = 1080
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 315
Index = 1
Left = 960
TabIndex = 4
Top = 660
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 315
Index = 0
Left = 960
TabIndex = 2
Top = 240
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "Message:"
Height = 195
Index = 3
Left = 180
TabIndex = 8
Top = 1560
Width = 690
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "Subject:"
Height = 195
Index = 2
Left = 180
TabIndex = 5
Top = 1140
Width = 585
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "cc:"
Height = 195
Index = 1
Left = 180
TabIndex = 3
Top = 720
Width = 225
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "To:"
Height = 195
Index = 0
Left = 180
TabIndex = 1
Top = 300
Width = 240
End
End
End
Attribute VB_Name = "frmNotesCOM"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False
Option Explicit
Dim COMSess As Domino.NotesSession
Dim COMDB As Domino.NotesDatabase
Dim FilePath As String

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
Dim Doc As NotesDocument
Dim NItem As NotesItem

'Creates new document/message
Set Doc = COMDB.CreateDocument
With Doc
' Creates Rich body item and adds all headers
Set NItem = Doc.CreateRichTextItem("BODY")
.AppendItemValue "Form", "memo"
.AppendItemValue "SendTo", Text1(0).Text
.AppendItemValue "CopyTo", Text1(1).Text
.AppendItemValue "Subject", Text1(2).Text
.AppendItemValue "BODY", Text1(3).Text

' Check is there is some files to attach to message
' if so, attaches them.
If lstFiles.ListIndex <> -1 Then
Dim obj As Object
Dim i As Integer, UpperLstCount As Integer
UpperLstCount = lstFiles.ListCount
For i = 0 To UpperLstCount - 1
lstFiles.Selected(i) = True
Set obj = NItem.EmbedObject(EMBED_ATTACHMENT, "", lstFiles.Text)
Next i
End If
.Send False
End With

End Sub

Private Sub Command1_Click(Index As Integer)
lstFiles.Clear
Select Case Index
Case 0
With CDlg
.ShowOpen
If .FileName <> "" Then
lstFiles.AddItem .FileName
lstFiles.Selected(0) = True
End If
End With

Case 1
Dim strFiles As String
FilePath = BrwFolder
If FilePath <> "" Then
strFiles = Dir$(FilePath & "*.*", vbArchive)
Do While strFiles <> ""
lstFiles.AddItem FilePath & strFiles
'.Visible = True
strFiles = Dir$()
Loop
lstFiles.Selected(0) = True
End If
End Select
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
' Creates new Notes session object and prompt user to
' enter servername, password and database mail.
' Prompt for password can be override if you pass password value
' as parameter of initialize method.
' This could be stored on registry/ini file to ask the
' user only the first time.
' I used inputbox for easy, you could add a form to get all
' values.
Set COMSess = New Domino.NotesSession

COMSess.Initialize InputBox$("Please enter Database password.", "Enter Password")
Set COMDB = COMSess.GetDatabase(InputBox$("Please enter Domino server name here.", "Server name", "FRE-AR-BA-H01"), _
InputBox$("Please enter Domino database name here.", "Enter database name", "\mail\7\ARBA0137.nsf"), _
False)
With COMDB
If Not .IsOpen Then
MsgBox "Unable to open Notes session.", vbCritical, "Init Error"
Set COMDB = Nothing
Set COMSess = Nothing
Exit Sub
End If
End With
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
On Error Resume Next
' set objects variables to nothing
' and close session.
Set COMDB = Nothing
Set COMSess = Nothing
End
End Sub

Richie_Simonetti

'Code to frmNotesOLE

VERSION 5.00
Object = "{F9043C88-F6F2-101A-A3C9-08002B2F49FB}#1.2#0"; "COMDLG32.OCX"
Begin VB.Form frmNotesOLE
BorderStyle = 1 'Fixed Single
Caption = "Notes by OLE"
ClientHeight = 5070
ClientLeft = 45
ClientTop = 330
ClientWidth = 6270
Icon = "frmNotesOLE.frx":0000
LinkTopic = "Form1"
MaxButton = 0 'False
MinButton = 0 'False
ScaleHeight = 5070
ScaleWidth = 6270
StartUpPosition = 3 'Windows Default
Begin MSComDlg.CommonDialog CDlg
Left = 300
Top = 2340
_ExtentX = 847
_ExtentY = 847
_Version = 393216
DefaultExt = "*.*"
DialogTitle = "Attach file"
FileName = "*.*"
Filter = "*.*"
InitDir = "curdir"
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 1635
Index = 3
Left = 960
MultiLine = -1 'True
ScrollBars = 2 'Vertical
TabIndex = 7
Top = 1440
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.Frame Frame1
Caption = "Compose:"
Height = 5055
Left = 0
TabIndex = 0
Top = 0
Width = 6255
Begin VB.ListBox lstFiles
Height = 1815
Left = 960
TabIndex = 12
Top = 3120
Width = 3435
End
Begin VB.CommandButton cmdSend
Caption = "&Send"
Height = 315
Left = 4440
TabIndex = 11
Top = 4620
Width = 1695
End
Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
Caption = "Attach All in Folder"
Height = 315
Index = 1
Left = 4440
TabIndex = 10
Top = 3480
Width = 1695
End
Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
Caption = "Attach one file"
Height = 315
Index = 0
Left = 4440
TabIndex = 9
Top = 3120
Width = 1695
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 315
Index = 2
Left = 960
TabIndex = 6
Top = 1080
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 315
Index = 1
Left = 960
TabIndex = 4
Top = 660
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.TextBox Text1
Height = 315
Index = 0
Left = 960
TabIndex = 2
Top = 240
Width = 5175
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "Message:"
Height = 195
Index = 3
Left = 180
TabIndex = 8
Top = 1560
Width = 690
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "Subject:"
Height = 195
Index = 2
Left = 180
TabIndex = 5
Top = 1140
Width = 585
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "cc:"
Height = 195
Index = 1
Left = 180
TabIndex = 3
Top = 720
Width = 225
End
Begin VB.Label Label1
AutoSize = -1 'True
BackStyle = 0 'Transparent
Caption = "To:"
Height = 195
Index = 0
Left = 180
TabIndex = 1
Top = 300
Width = 240
End
End
End
Attribute VB_Name = "frmNotesOLE"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False
Option Explicit
' OLE is late binding....
Dim OLESess As Object
Dim OLEDB As Object
Dim FilePath As String

' API calls to close notes window since it doesn't closes
' itself when finish.
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
Const EMBED_ATTACHMENT = 1454
' Creates a new document/message.
Dim Doc As Object
Dim NItem As Object
Set Doc = OLEDB.CreateDocument
With Doc
' creates body of message and populates headers
Set NItem = Doc.CreateRichTextItem("BODY")
.Form = "Memo"
.subject = Text1(2).Text
.sendto = Text1(0).Text
.copyto = Text1(1).Text
.body = Text1(3).Text
.postdate = Date
' if there is files to attach, it does
If lstFiles.ListIndex <> -1 Then
Dim i As Integer, UpperLstCount As Integer
UpperLstCount = lstFiles.ListCount
For i = 0 To UpperLstCount - 1
lstFiles.Selected(i) = True
Call NItem.EmbedObject(EMBED_ATTACHMENT, "", lstFiles.Text)
Next i
End If
.Send False
End With
End Sub

Private Sub Command1_Click(Index As Integer)
Select Case Index
Case 0
With CDlg
.ShowOpen
If .FileName <> "" Then
lstFiles.AddItem .FileName
lstFiles.Selected(0) = True
End If
End With

Case 1
Dim strFiles As String
FilePath = BrwFolder
If FilePath <> "" Then
strFiles = Dir$(FilePath & "*.*", vbArchive)
Do While strFiles <> ""
lstFiles.AddItem strFiles
'.Visible = True
strFiles = Dir$()
Loop
lstFiles.Selected(0) = True
End If
End Select
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
' Creates new Notes session object and prompt user to
' password and uses default database mail.
' Prompt for password cannot be override.
Set OLESess = CreateObject("Notes.Notessession")
Set OLEDB = OLESess.GetDatabase("", "")

With OLEDB
.OPENMAIL
If Not .IsOpen Then
MsgBox "Unable to open Notes session.", vbCritical, "Init Error"
Exit Sub
End If
End With
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
On Error Resume Next
' Set object variables to nothing and
' search for Notes window to close it.
Set OLEDB = Nothing
Set OLESess = Nothing

Const WM_CLOSE = &H10
Dim hw As Long
hw = FindWindow("NOTES", vbNullString)
If hw <> 0 Then
SendMessage hw, WM_CLOSE, 0&, 0&
End If
End
End Sub

Richie_Simonetti

' NotesAutomation.vbp

Type=Exe
Reference=*\G{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}#2.0#0#..\..\WINNT\System32\stdole2.tlb#OLE Automation
Reference=*\G{29131520-2EED-1069-BF5D-00DD011186B7}#1.0#0#..\..\lotus\notes\domobj.tlb#Lotus Domino Objects
Reference=*\G{1CF542E0-D988-11CF-B485-00805F98FACE}#1.0#0#..\..\lotus\notes\notes32.tlb#Lotus Notes Automation Classes
Object={F9043C88-F6F2-101A-A3C9-08002B2F49FB}#1.2#0; COMDLG32.OCX
Form=frmNotesOLE.frm
Form=frmNotesCOM.frm
Form=frmInit.frm
Module=modNotes; modNotes.bas
Startup="frmInit"
HelpFile=""
Command32=""
Name="NotesAutomation"
HelpContextID="0"
CompatibleMode="0"
MajorVer=1
MinorVer=0
RevisionVer=0
AutoIncrementVer=0
ServerSupportFiles=0
VersionCompanyName="FMC Argentina"
CompilationType=0
OptimizationType=0
FavorPentiumPro(tm)=0
CodeViewDebugInfo=0
NoAliasing=0
BoundsCheck=0
OverflowCheck=0
FlPointCheck=0
FDIVCheck=0
UnroundedFP=0
StartMode=0
Unattended=0
Retained=0
ThreadPerObject=0
MaxNumberOfThreads=1

[MS Transaction Server]
AutoRefresh=1

kevink34

ASKER

Thanks for the info Richie!
We were able to get the close from your code!

We do not want to use the Domino object. With that in mind, how can we get around the password prompt box? We would like to pass it as some kind of parameter rather than send keys.

Thanks for all your help!

Richie_Simonetti

There is no way to avoid password prompt in version below 5.x, sorry.
It was implemented from 5.x and ahead.

There is another limitation with 4.x: The program loads to end user and there is nothing you can do to avoid that.
And not discg!harges from memory even if you release those objects.
Due to this limitation, i used an api function to search Notes window and send it a message to close.

Anyway, 5.x has backwards since if your last login to Notes was other user, that method will fail.
To work arond this limitation, we need to edit notes.ini file and change lastuser to the user who is login at this time.

Hope i was clear.

kevink34

ASKER

Thank you everyone for your comments and help. Tim really helped the most in getting what we were after.

hiba_t

Hi everyone,

I can see that Tim's code has been helpful for more than one person here.. And since I'm also trying to right a VB program to send emails through lotus notes I wanted to look at Tim's code.. But when I tried to open http://www.geocities.com/TimCottee, It couldn't find the page..

Can anyone help me here ? This code should help me out.. if anyone can send it to me.. My email is hiba_t_t@hotmail.com..

Thanks,
Hiba_t

Richie_Simonetti

why don't you use the code provided here?

hiba_t

Because I want to use the MAPI, and as I read the code that posted here it doesn't use it..

I also managed to write something using MAPI but the problem is that when running it lotus just opens a new message and fills the fields with data but doesn't send it automatically so I was hoping that Tim's code will help me solving this problem..