How to detect item class in outlook object model

How to detect item class in outlook object model

• kevin83

  (1) The 'least code' way is to not cast the outlook type unless you have to, as this will work wherever the item shared common properties and/or methods i.e. use a 'helper' function to call the COM object with a late bound method, like this:

  "string subject = (string) OLLateBoundPropertyGetHelper(cItem, "Subject");

  public object OLLateBoundPropertyGetHelper(object targetObject, string propertyName)

  {

  return(targetObject.GetType().InvokeMember(propertyName,

  BindingFlags.Public |

  BindingFlags.Instance |

  BindingFlags.GetProperty,

  null,

  targetObject,

  null,

  CultureInfo.CurrentCulture));

  }"

  (2) The other way is to test the type, but without using an exception, i.e. something like this:

  "GenericSaveItem(cItem);

  public void GenericSaveItem(object item)

  {

  if (item is MailItem)

  {

  MailItem mi = item as MailItem;

  mi.Save() ;

  }

  else if (item is AppointmentItem)

  {

  AppointmentItem ai = item as AppointmentItem;

  ai.Save() ;

  ... and so on - there are about 15 types."

  For more details let me know, or grab a copy of something like 'VSTO ISBN:0-321-33488-4' ( http://tinyurl.com/qyc9c ) as it explains better than I could.

  
  
  

• Tpzguy

  Thanks. I'm writing in VB but your answer put me on the right track and enabled me to solve my issue. Appreciate your help.
  

• Antoniodya

  How do you do this in the Contacts folder It contains both contacts and distributions lists. Currently im doing:
  
  foreach(object item in items)
  {
  Outlook.ContactItem cItem = null;
  try
  {
  cItem = (Outlook.ContactItem)item;
  }
  catch(Exception e){}
  }
  
  
  ...
  which seems suboptimal at best. I guess the real question is how you get the type value out of an object (not comobject :))
  
  Thx
  
  

• Marcuscoker

  Something like this should work:

  Outlook.OlItemType type = oYourFolder.DefaultItemType;

  switch (type)

  {

  case Outlook.OlItemType.olAppointmentItem;

  // We have an appointment

  case Outlook.OlItemType.olMainItem

  // We have a Mail item

  }

  The other approach is not to strongly type your calls and do that 'big switch cast' thing, i.e. use things like .InvokeMember late bound get/set helper functions.

  
  
  
• How to detect item class in outlook object model