We are trying to do something that sounds simple - but it is taking
days to figure out.

We need to send a rich text message (including images) to several
hundred employees and in each message a unique field will be added from
Excel.

So - we tried htmlbody but since the images are local - that didn't
work.  Then we tried to just add the string to the message body of a
draft message and that seemed to contain the image but the text became
unformatted.

I think it might be a matter of using a form.  I tried creating a form
and publishing it to a folder in my inbox named Test.  When I view test
it appears empty but if I choose form I can get it back.  In my code it
can't seem to find the form.

Also - if we use a form - do we have to keep copying it before we send
it because we have to change the field values each time it is sent??

Any ideas on how we should approach this puzzle??

Sent via Deja.com http://www.*-*-*.com/
Before you buy.

Is this strictly for internal use with all Outlook recipients? Or will it be
sent to external recipients possibly using other clients?

Does the information from Excel need to be appended to the text? Or do you
want to display it in a separate control on the form?

A few ideas:

1) Put the images on a network drive, and create the message by using
HTMLBody with use paths for the images . This has the pleasant side effect
of making the messages smaller, because you're not actually sending the
images.

2) Use an Outlook form published in the Organization Forms library. Don't
forget to set up separate Compose and Read layouts on the form (not setting
the Read layout is probably why your test form didn't work).
--
Sue Mosher
Author of
  "Teach Yourself Microsoft Outlook 2000 Programming in 24 Hours"
  "Microsoft Outlook 2000 E-mail and Fax Guide"

Outlook and Exchange solutions at http://www.slipstick.com