Create a new Outlook message using VBA

You can use a VBA macro to create a new message and preset any of the fields, including To/CC/BCC, the subject, expiration date, flags, voting options and more.

To use, use Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor and paste the following code into ThisOutlookSession. Remove the fields you don't want to set and edit the values in the fields you want to set automatically.

Add the macro to a toolbar or ribbon button or to the QAT.

Public Sub CreateNewMessage()
Dim objMsg As MailItem

Set objMsg = Application.CreateItem(olMailItem)

 With objMsg
  .To = "Alias@domain.com"
  .CC= "Alias2@domain.com"
  .BCC = "Alias3@domain.com"
  .Subject = "This is the subject"
  .Categories = "Test"
  .VotingOptions = "Yes;No;Maybe;"
  .BodyFormat = olFormatPlain ' send plain text message
  .Importance = olImportanceHigh
  .Sensitivity = olConfidential
  .Attachments.Add ("path-to-file.docx")

' Calculate a date using DateAdd or enter an explicit date
  .ExpiryTime = DateAdd("m", 6, Now) '6 months from now
  .DeferredDeliveryTime = #8/1/2012 6:00:00 PM#
  
  .Display
End With

Set objMsg = Nothing
End Sub

Send a new message to From address of selected messages

You can easily tweak the macro above to loop through a selection of messages and send a new message to the senders.

To use, select one or more messages then run the macro. As written, it opens the messages so you can review them and send yourself. You can change .display to .Send if you want to send them automatically. (Use .display when testing.)

Public Sub CreateNewMessage()
Dim objMsg As MailItem
Dim Selection As Selection
Dim obj As Object

Set Selection = ActiveExplorer.Selection

For Each obj In Selection

Set objMsg = Application.CreateItem(olMailItem)

 With objMsg
  .To = obj.SenderEmailAddress
  .Subject = "This is the subject"
  .Categories = "Test"
  .Body = "My notes" & vbcrlf & vbcrlf & obj.Body 
  .Display
' use .Send to send it automatically 

End With
Set objMsg = Nothing

Next

End Sub

Create a new contact with some fields filled in

You can use the same method with other Outlook items. This example creates a new contact with a country and city and part of phone number.

Use TaskItem and olTaskItem for Tasks, AppointmentItem and olAppointmentItem for appointments. You'll need to replace the fields with the correct properties for the item type. You can get the property names from VBA Help or at MSDN.

Public Sub CreateNewContact()
Dim objContact As ContactItem

Set objContact = Application.CreateItem(olContactItem)

 With objContact 
  .BusinessAddressCity = "Halifax"
  .BusinessAddressCountry = "Canada"
  .Business2TelephoneNumber = "902123" 'the area code and local prefix
  .Display
End With

Set objContact = Nothing
End Sub

Create a new Appointment

This macro creates a new appointment with the Location field filled in. Other fields can be added to it and if you need an meeting, click Invite attendees on the ribbon.

Sub CreateApptLocation()

Dim olAppt As AppointmentItem
Set olAppt = Application.CreateItem(olAppointmentItem)

With olAppt
   .Subject = "My Subject"
   .Location = "My Favorite place"
   .Categories = "Business"
   .Display
End With
End Sub