You can use a rule to print messages as they arrive, but if you want to print attachments, you need to use an add-in or custom action. For most people, using an add-in is easier than writing a custom action (which require programming knowledge). Most add-ins offer more options than printing from Outlook normally would.
A macro to print attachments as messages arrive is also available. This macro prints attachments only, not the message.
Tools in the Spotlight
Sperry Software's Auto Print Pro for Outlook add-in is similar to their Auto Print tool, except that instead of being forced to print to a single printer, this add-in will allow you to set up a number of different "rules" so that emails from this person go to this printer, emails from that person go to that printer, etc. And just like the original add-in, this one will allow you to print just the emails, just the attachments, or both... with an unlimited set of rules. | |
Print Tools for Outlook will help you automatically print incoming and outgoing messages with attachments (as well as messages and attachments separately). The plug-in automatically unpacks and prints packed .ZIP and .RAR attachments, and supports manual and automatic modes. Used with Microsoft Outlook rules, the Print Tools plug-in allows you to create a system that will automatically print messages and/or attached files. You can specify (or forbid) which file types will be printed or print an attachment separately from its message. |
Tools
Sperry Software's Auto Print Add-In for Outlook has support for Outlook 2010, both 32-bit and 64-bit. In addition, it now has the ability to print emails and/or attachments to any printer, not just the default printer. Margins, number of copies, print first page only - many new options are also now available, and Sperry Software now has fully functional 14-day trial versions on its entire product line. | |
Print your Outlook Emails the way you want. Outlook Printer allows you to customize the printing of your Outlook mails with an easy to use interface. Prints incoming e-mails automatically. | |
Print Agent for Exchange - a solution for Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, which allows to automatically print out the necessary emails and attachments. The product consists of three components - a management console, transport agents, installed on the Exchange server, and one or more services that are directly processed printing. A practical system of rules, including conditions, actions and exceptions, allows to define criteria for printing of really necessary messages and attachments. Print Agent for Exchange can print both email messages and attached files (images, html, PDF, txt). | |
Sperry Software's Print On Demand add-in for Outlook is being released for Outlook 2010. The add-in places convenient print buttons on the Outlook toolbar so that you can simply select the emails and/or attachments you want to print then click the Print Email, Print Attachments, or Print Both buttons. This new version now works with Outlook 2010, both 32-bit and 64-bit. |
More Information
The following pages address other Outlook printing issues:
David Sivewright says
We have some e-mails that have e-mails with attachments attached. is there anyways to get those to print as well.
David Sivewright says
I am getting complaints that the script is not printing every attached PDF. Is this heard of ???
Diane Poremsky says
Its not uncommon for attachments (not just PDF) to either be skipped or not printed in the same order as the messages. This usually only happens when multiple messages and attachments are sent to the printer in a very short time and the applications can't process the attachments fast enough.
David Sivewright says
Yea that would be exactly what we have going on. Is there any type of timing working around??
Diane Poremsky says
There isn't a way to do it directly in Outlook. To the best of my knowledge, its complicated and difficult (and slow
0 to do in VBA code but I believe sperry Softwares addins have it solved (but I could be wrong - fortunately, they have a trial.)
David Sivewright says
Will this still work with Outlook Office 365 2016?
Diane Poremsky says
Yes, it does work in Outlook 2016.
Barry says
you da bomb!
Thank you
David Sivewright says
I having been using the print attachment script for about a year now, but i am now being told that some PDFs are not being printed, but I am not sure if it is something with the script for maybe Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Have you heard of any similar issues?
Diane Poremsky says
it could be something to do with the reader version - i haven't heard other complaints and the script should work with any pdf reader as it uses shell commands but if it's not working only on computers using reader dc, then it's clearly a problem with reader.
David Sivewright says
OK thank you i will look in to the reader software then.. Thanks!
David says
I use the print attachment script, but was curious if there is a way to add a time stamp to each document to show when it was received or printed.
Diane Poremsky says
That would be added by the document's application at the time of printing. If the application supports VBA it could be possible but I don't have any code samples.
Jef Peeters says
Hi , thanx for the fast respons , unfortunally i'm doing something wrong because it't not working.
I first am trying the macro as it is (printing) , deal with openening later.
I've added this to see if macro is running , and got a confirmation , so that should be ok.
MsgBox "Welcome, " & Application.GetNamespace("MAPI").CurrentUser
Application.ActiveExplorer.WindowState = olMaximized
but if i receive a mail with an "doc" attachement , nothing happens, no printing...what could be wrong ?
Is it maybe because i'm using the dutch version of 2010 or doesn't this matter ?
Greetz and thx !
Diane Poremsky says
It's not the language.
This line controls what opens - each extension needs the last 4 characters in the file name. (I apparently changed out the macro here at some point and did not clean up the text until today.)
Case ".xls", ".doc", "docx", ".pdf"
I added these lines in the for loop - activeexplorer doesn't do anything (outlook is maxed already) but the message box comes up with my name in it.
If colAtts.count Then
For Each oAtt In colAtts
MsgBox "Welcome, " & Application.GetNamespace("MAPI").CurrentUser
Application.ActiveExplorer.WindowState = olMaximized
sFileType = LCase$(Right$(oAtt.FileName, 4))
Jef Peeters says
Hello, i'm looking for the same thing but only opening an pdf attachement instead of printing.We've got an pc fax wich send us this fax as an pdf attachement. So it would be cool if when this email arrives it opens the attachement automaticaly , is this possible ?
Diane Poremsky says
See https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/email/save-open-attachment/ for a code sample. Actually, in looking at this code sample, you just need to change "print" to "open" - add pdf in in the case line and it will open pdf.