Open Outlook Mail .msg file using VBA from Excel

Question

I'm trying to open .msg files from a specified directory using VBA but I keep getting a runtime error.

The code i have:

Sub bla()
    Dim objOL As Object
    Dim Msg As Object
    Set objOL = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
    inPath = "C:\Users\SiliconPlus\Desktop\Si+ Contact Lists\Contact_Si+"
    thisFile = Dir(inPath & "\*.msg")
    Set Msg = objOL.CreateItemFromTemplate(thisFile)
    ' now use msg to get at the email parts
    MsgBox Msg.Subject
    Set objOL = Nothing
    Set Msg = Nothing
End Sub

Here is the runtime error:

Run-time error '-2147287038 (80030002)':

Cannot open file: AUTO Andy Low Yong Cheng is out of the office (returning 22 09 2014).msg.

The file may not exist, you may not have permission to open it, or it may be open in another program. Right-click the folder that contains the file, and then click properties to check your permissions for the folder.

Answer 1

Kenneth Li You didn't had the full path when opening the file. Try this:

Sub bla_OK()
Dim objOL As Object
Dim Msg As Object
Set objOL = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
inPath = "C:\Users\SiliconPlus\Desktop\Si+ Contact Lists\Contact_Si+"
thisFile = Dir(inPath & "\*.msg")
'Set Msg = objOL.CreateItemFromTemplate(thisFile)
Set Msg = objOL.Session.OpenSharedItem(inPath & "\" & thisFile)
' now use msg to get at the email parts
MsgBox Msg.Subject
Set objOL = Nothing
Set Msg = Nothing
End Sub

Answer 2

If you get an error, try the Late Biding ( Dim Msg As Object ) right under the MsgBox (need to be uncommented) :

Sub Kenneth_Li()
    Dim objOL As Outlook.Application
    Dim Msg As Outlook.MailItem
    Msgbox "If you get an error, try the Late Biding right under this (need to be uncommented)"
    'Dim objOL As Object
    'Dim Msg As Object

    Set objOL = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
    inPath = "C:\Users\SiliconPlus\Desktop\Si+ Contact Lists\Contact_Si+"

    thisFile = LCase(Dir(inPath & "\*.msg"))
    Do While thisFile <> ""

        'Set Msg = objOL.CreateItemFromTemplate(thisFile)
        'Or
        'Set Msg = objOL.OpenSharedItem(thisFile)
        'Set Msg = GetNameSpace("MAPI").OpenSharedItem(thisFile)

        'Eventually with Shell command (here for notepad)
        'Shell "notepad " & thisFile
        Set Msg = objOL.Session.OpenSharedItem(thisFile)


        Msg.display

        MsgBox Msg.Subject
        thisFile = Dir
    Loop


    Set objOL = Nothing
    Set Msg = Nothing
End Sub

Or you can find a nice VB solution there : http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/551148-open-msg-file-using-visual-basic-applications.html#post2721847

And here for more details on Shell method : http://p2p.wrox.com/access-vba/27776-how-open-msg-file-vbulletin.html#post138411

Answer 3

Another way is to run the file programmatically (in VBA use the Shell command). It will be opened in Outlook where you can get an active inspector window with the item opened.

Answer 4

Try this

Sub GetMSG()
' True includes subfolders
' False to check only listed folder
   ListFilesInFolder "C:\Users\lengkgan\Desktop\Testing", True
End Sub


Sub ListFilesInFolder(SourceFolderName As String, IncludeSubfolders As Boolean)
    Dim FSO As Scripting.FileSystemObject
    Dim SourceFolder As Scripting.Folder, SubFolder As Scripting.Folder
    Dim FileItem As Scripting.File
    Dim strFile, strFileType, strAttach As String
    Dim openMsg As MailItem

Dim objAttachments As Outlook.Attachments
Dim i As Long
Dim lngCount As Long
Dim strFolderpath As String

'where to save attachments
strFolderpath = "C:\Users\lengkgan\Desktop\Testing"

    Set FSO = New Scripting.FileSystemObject
    Set SourceFolder = FSO.GetFolder(SourceFolderName)

    For Each FileItem In SourceFolder.Files

    strFile = FileItem.Name

' This code looks at the last 4 characters in a filename
' If we wanted more than .msg, we'd use Case Select statement
strFileType = LCase$(Right$(strFile, 4))
  If strFileType = ".msg" Then
    Debug.Print FileItem.Path

Set openMsg = Outlook.Application.CreateItemFromTemplate(FileItem.Path)
openMsg.Display
    'do whatever

Set objAttachments = openMsg.Attachments
    lngCount = objAttachments.Count

    If lngCount > 0 Then

    For i = lngCount To 1 Step -1

    ' Get the file name.
    strAttach = objAttachments.Item(i).Filename

    ' Combine with the path to the Temp folder.
    strAttach = strFolderpath & strAttach

    ' Save the attachment as a file.
    objAttachments.Item(i).SaveAsFile strAttach

    Next i
    End If
  openMsg.Close olDiscard

Set objAttachments = Nothing
Set openMsg = Nothing

' end do whatever
      End If
    Next FileItem
    If IncludeSubfolders Then
        For Each SubFolder In SourceFolder.SubFolders
            ListFilesInFolder SubFolder.Path, True
      Next SubFolder
    End If

    Set FileItem = Nothing
    Set SourceFolder = Nothing
    Set FSO = Nothing

End Sub

Edited : How to add the reference
Click Tools > Reference. Check the needed reference

Answer 5

You should check follow code and can modify your code

Sub CreateFromTemplate() 
Dim MyItem As Outlook.MailItem 
Set MyItem = Application.CreateItemFromTemplate("C:\temp\*.msg") 
MyItem.Display 
End Sub