One of the great features in Microsoft Outlook is the ability to design custom forms.
Before you can design forms in Microsoft Outlook 2010 or Outlook 2013, you need to enable the Developer ribbon. Go to File, Options, Customize Ribbon and add a check to Developer
In Outlook 2007 you need to enable the Developer ribbon for Outlook items (mail, calendar, contact forms, etc) from the Office Icon, Editor options dialog. You can also open the Forms Designer as you would for all older versions: using Outlook's Tools, Forms menu.
Video Tutorial: Enable the Developer Ribbon
Open a form in the Forms Designer
Once you have the Developer ribbon enabled, you can open a new Outlook item (of the type you want to design) then choose Developer ribbon, Design this form and the form opens in design mode. Any content already in the Outlook item will be carried over into the form.
If you prefer, you choose Design a Form and browse for the form type you want to design.
In Outlook 2007 and older, you can open forms from the Tools | Forms menu, choosing Design a Form when in the main Outlook window.
In Outlook 2003 and older, you can also use the Tools | Forms | Design this form command in an opened item.
Creating different read and compose pages
Outlook supports separate read and compose pages. Check the settings under the Page options and if you are using a separate read layout, you'll need to Edit the Read Page too.
Save as a template or publish the from?
When you are finished editing your form, Publish the form or save it in Windows file system as a template (*.oft).
If the form contains VB Script, you'll definitely need to publish it.
The screenshot below is of the Contacts form in design mode. Note that the Contact form looks like the old Outlook 2002 (and older) forms. As long as you don't edit the first page, it will retain the look of Microsoft Outlook 2003 Contact forms and up when published.
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387 Comments on "Designing Custom Outlook Forms"
Hi, My form runs when I am in developer run form but not when I am creating a new from by selecting it from ribbon.
This is when you click the New [item] button? Did you set it as the default form for the folder?
Hi, i would like to ask why my editor script is not working when running outlook form?
What exactly happens? Where is the form published - if in shared or public folders, do you have scripts enabled in File, options, Trust Center, email security?
When creating custom fields using the "Button" type... what's the difference
between "on/off", "yes/no", and "true/false". I've experimented a little bit but
they all appear the same. What's the difference? Thanks!
they are the same, just different text - the underlying response is always a 0 or 1. This is so thee response is logical to the situation. (Answering "On" to 'do you want to send this?' is confusing.)
I have some custom fields I've added to a custom contact form in
Outlook that I no longer need. I've found information on deleting
the field from each form but I want to delete it from the entire system.
In the Field Chooser the "delete" button is grayed out. How can I delete
them?
Delete the fields from the form then you should be able to delete them from the folder.
I've created a new Contact form. I have added several new fields to
the Outlook Contact Form. I bought ContactGenie QuickPort to be able
to export and import the data. Sometimes to manipulate it and others
times to share with someone else.
I have been receiving the error now with 14 of my fields. I found the
definition today that the table is too big.
I'm assuming I've put to many fields in there for Outlook to handle.
Is this correct? Is there a way to work around this?
Thank you!
How many fields do you have? You shouldn't hit that error until you have a lot of fields - using invalid property types can also cause it.
Hello Diane,
I am trying to create an outlook template that will populate things such as To:CC, and other selectable subject information based on an initial selection from a dropdown. Is this possible?
it is possible - you'll need to use code behind the form to make it work. I don't think i have any samples that do that but will check.
thank you. I have searched and searched but cannot come up with anything.
I don't have any samples here either - you'll need to design it yourself.
I'm not aware of any thing that will do that in outlook - it would require a lot of coding to make it work.
Hi Diane - I have a question regarding multiple survey questions and/or quizzes. I would like to email a quiz to my employees to see the effectiveness of training and then review it. I would suspect that a quiz would be very similar to a multi-question survey. Is this possible in Outlook 2010, and if so, how do I go about setting it up?
Within an Exchange system, you might be able to make it work using published custom form, but it would only work in Outlook windows desktop. It's much better (and easier, with fewer issues) to use a web survey form - easier for you and the end users. If you only have one question, voting might work, again only within outlook on windows and only within your exchange org (it requires TNEF data, which is often removed on messages to the internet).