Set Outlook Out-of-office programatically

[JimOldguy]

I need to be able to set the Outlook Out-of-office mode automatically, for different start and stop dates/times.

One user needs the auto-reply to be turned on every Monday and Friday, while another needs every Friday.

Currently, they have to set this manually, through the Outlook File\Automatic Replies buttons.

This is a nuisance, and can easily be forgotten, hence the request to automate it.

We are all using Office 365.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[vbfbryce]

How do you want this to be triggered? Click a button and choose the OoO pattern? Starting, or exiting Outlook? Other?

[JimOldguy]

Hi,
If I can get the basic function to work, I'll probably set it up to run at start of Outlook, where it will check for the appropriate day.

[JimOldguy]

Hi,
If I can get the basic function to work, I'll probably set it up to run at start of Outlook, where it will check for the appropriate day.

[westconn1]

are you running outlook connected to an exchange server?

[JimOldguy]

Yes, Office 365 etc.

[westconn1]

If I can get the basic function to work

        ' The name of the property whose value is to be returned. 
        Const PR_OOF_STATE = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x661D000B" 
         
        ' Set reference to the Stores collection. 
        Set stoItems = olApp.GetNamespace("MAPI").Stores 
         
        ' /* Step through each store object in the stores collection. */ 
        For Each stoItem In stoItems 
             
            ' /* a primary Exchange mailbox store. */ 
            If stoItem.ExchangeStoreType = olPrimaryExchangeMailbox Then 
                'Obtain an instance of PropertyAccessor class. 
                Set olPropAccessor = stoItem.PropertyAccessor 
                 
                ' Get the Out of Office state. 
                blnOOFState = olPropAccessor.GetProperty(PR_OOF_STATE) 
                ' /* Toggle the Out of Office state if the old state is not the same as the given state. */ 
                If blnOOFState <> OOFState Then Call olPropAccessor.SetProperty(PR_OOF_STATE, OOFState)
            End If 
             
        Next

from https://gallery.technet.microsoft.co...ffice-bc0edb1e

where OOFSTATE = true or false, you will need to make sure all your application constants are valid, if there are multiple store i would include exit for

[JimOldguy]

Thank you, Westconn1, that is exactly what I needed.

I've followed your link, and downloaded the vbscript there. I believe I now have all that I need.

Thanks again,

Jim

[westconn1]

i did not see any reason to test the current state before changing, just set to the desired state anyway

while it is useful to know how to test the current state, it did not seem to be required for the code to work as required

[JimOldguy]

I've looked in detail at the script listed above, and decided not to go with it.
The script sets up scheduled tasks, to run at the specified time, to toggle the state of the Out Of Office feature.
This will work just fine for one of my users, who works in the office, 9 - 5.
The other user is mobile, and there is slim chance that her laptop will be running at the times that the scheduled tasks would be set to run.

Instead, I have set up two rules on the Exchange, whereby any emails received, for the specific addressee, between specified start and stop days, will receive an automatic Out-of-Office reply. Unless the received message is itself an automatic reply. (Don't want to kick off any email storms!)

Thanks to all who responded and helped.

Jim

[westconn1]

I've looked in detail at the script listed above,

i only posted the part of the code i though relevant to you, none of the scheduling part

i agree your simple solution is probably much better, though you can call a vba macro from a rule if that is ever of any use