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Start Outlook Minimized

I believe I have outlook so it will start when I start my computer. Is there a way to make it start minimized in the system tray. Husband clicks the X closing the program instead of just minimizing it.

Outlook 2003
Windows XP

Thanks!
Lena

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

gillgates

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LenaWood

ASKER

I did that...put that shortcut in the startup folder and it doesn't start minimized. Any other ideas.

Lena

gillgates

You could try this software.

http://www.genesoft.biz/default.aspx?id=11

LenaWood

ASKER

I found an easier solution...I taught hubby what minimize was and told him the X was off limits haha.

Thanks for the suggestions!
Lena

gieseking

I was able to force Outlook 2003 to minimize at startup using VBA script. Hit Alt-F11 to go to the VBA editor. Paste this sub in the "ThisOutlookSession" section:

Private Sub Application_Startup()
SendKeys ("% n")
End Sub

Now after Outlook loads it will minimize. I also use this next one to minimize instead of close when someone attempts to close outlook.

Private Sub Application_Quit()
Call Shell("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\relaunchOL.bat", vbHide)
End Sub

Create C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\relaunchOL.bat and put these two lines in it:

Ping 1.2.3.4 -n 1
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\outlook.exe"

This will give Outlook a couple of seconds to close, then relaunch itself, then minimize itself sinse you have the macro for minimize in startup.

Hope this helps.

LenaWood

ASKER

How do you Create C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\relaunchOL.bat?

I will be happy to open a new question and award you the points for it if I can get this working.

Lena

gieseking

Just create a new text document in notepad. Add those two lines to the file and save it as C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\relaunchOL.bat .

LenaWood

ASKER

Thank you...I will try this once I get home.

Lena

gieseking

No Problem. I had a hard time finding a working solution to this on the web over the past couple of days so I came up with this solution. In order for the macros to execute without prompting, you have to set your macro security level to low (go to Tools, Macro, Security), but this shouldn't be a problem as long as you have a virus scanner on your PC.

gieseking

I discovered something that needs a slight adjustment the other day when I put a new router between my PC and modem. Seems that pinging one time wasn't causing enough delay before outlook could completely close before reopening it. I changed "Ping 1.2.3.4 -n 1" to "Ping 1.2.3.4 -n 4". You can adjust that last number accordingly to get the right amount of time to pause before attempting to relaunch outlook. If your script relaunches outlook too soon you will get a operation failed dialog box.