Can't connect to Outlook via TOutlookApplication component

Stef Merlijn
Stef Merlijn used Ask the Experts™
on
Hi,

One of our customers has a problem with synchronizing scheduler events from Outlook to our application.
Customer PC details: Windows 10, Outlook 2010.
Our application uses component "TOutlookApplication" to connect to Outlook.
When connecting to Outlook the user is asked to close Outlook before starting sync. 
procedure TForm1.btStartImportClick(Sender: TObject);
var Calendar: MAPIFolder;
      NmSpace: NameSpace;
begin
  try
    appOutlook.ConnectKind := ckRunningOrNew;
    appOutlook.Connect;
    try
      NmSpace := appOutlook.GetNamespace('MAPI');
      NmSpace.Logon('', '', False, False);
      Calendar := NmSpace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderCalendar);
      ProgressBar1.Max := Calendar.Items.Count;
    except
      On E: EOleException do  // uses ComObj
      begin
        E.Message := FullOleExceptionMessage(E);
        ShowMessage(E.Message);
        Exit;
      end;
    end;
  finally
    appOutlook.Disconnect;
  end;
end;

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The error which is given: 
Cannot connect to MS Outlook server is unavailable
Error code: -2147221231 80040111
Facility: ITF code: 4

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Does anybody have an idea how this can be solved?
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imkotteesSenior Messaging Engineer

Commented:
Hi, Make sure that your username and password are correct. try username like Domain\Username
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
imkottees: There is no username or password given in my code, so I don't quite understand.
NmSpace.Logon('', '', False, False);

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Also user doesn't have to login when he starts Outlook normally.
Sinisa VukSoftware architect
Top Expert 2012

Commented:
Try to comment (or delete) lines:
 //appOutlook.ConnectKind := ckRunningOrNew;
 //appOutlook.Connect;

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Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
@Sinisa Vuk: Without those settings I get following EOleSysError:
"Uitvoeren vanaf de server is mislukt, ClassID: {0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}."
This is when Outlook is NOT already running.

If I start Outlook before sync, than on my system the connection is established.
Sinisa VukSoftware architect
Top Expert 2012

Commented:
do you have line
Outlook := CoOutlookApplication.Create;

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somewhere...? How do you bind to Outlook?
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
No I don't. What does it do?
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
I used to use this but it gave problems on some systems:
Try
    appOutlook.ConnectKind := ckRunningOrNew;
    appOutlook.Connect;
    try
      NmSpace := appOutlook.GetNamespace('MAPI');
      NmSpace.Logon('', '', False, False);
      Calendar := NmSpace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderCalendar);
      ProgressBar1.Max := Calendar.Items.Count;
    except
Finally
  appOutlook.Disconnect;
end;

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Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
When I use following code I can only use it when Outlook is closed, otherwise I get the same connectionerror.
    Outlook := CoOutlookApplication.Create;
    NmSpace := Outlook.GetNamespace('MAPI');
    NmSpace.Logon('', '', False, False);
    Calendar := NmSpace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderCalendar);
    ProgressBar1.Max := Calendar.Items.Count;

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Sinisa VukSoftware architect
Top Expert 2012

Commented:
Ahhh, you put TOutlookApplication component to form, right? So, that's why you don't have a create.
Hmm, if you put:
    Outlook := CoOutlookApplication.Create;
    Outlook.Connect;
    NmSpace := Outlook.GetNamespace('MAPI');
    NmSpace.Logon('', '', False, False);
...

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?
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
Outlook.Connect;  -> undeclared identifier 'Connect'
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
Can it be related that multiple instances of Outlook aren't allowed?
Software architect
Top Expert 2012
Commented:
I don't have Outlook .... but as this article noticed - as opposite to Word, Outlook can be started only once. Try example "Without using the type library" from upper link.
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
The same error occurs when Outlook is running.
So it doesn't matter which way the connection is established.
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
As I see it, the connection is made correctly, so the error has to come from a different problem.
Does anybody have an idea how to track this down and solve it?
Stef MerlijnDeveloper

Author

Commented:
Thanks for making sure connection was established correctly.
It turned out that a PDF plugin in Outlook kept some instance of Outlook running in the background even when it was closed. After de-installing the plugin the problem was solved.

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