Use an Outlook message file (msg) as a template

Question

I wonder if it's possible with the .net framework or Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook to load an email message (*.msg), do a search and replace and send it from C#.

It's all happening on the server so Outlook cannot be installed.

What I've tried

the Redemption library but somehow it loses the images inlined in the template and can't figure out to remedy this

Using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook

    Application objOutlook = new Application();
    objOutlook.CreateItemFromTemplate("c:\temp\..",)

But it expects as it second parameter an outlook folder, I can't give it a file path where it will save to

I'm thinking to switch to regular txt files instead of C# but maybe someone did this already

Update 1

This is the redemption code I tried. The problem is that the formatting and image (of a signature is not preserved)

using Interop.Redemption;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Replace(@"mailnonunicode.msg");
            Replace(@"mailunicode.msg");
            Replace(@"mailtemplate.oft");
        }

        static void Replace(string cTestharnessKmailMsg)
        {
            RDOSession rdoSession = new RDOSession();
            RDOMail messageFromMsgFile = rdoSession.GetMessageFromMsgFile(cTestharnessKmailMsg);

            messageFromMsgFile.Body = messageFromMsgFile.Body.Replace("abc",
                                                                      "xyz");
            messageFromMsgFile.Save();
        }
    }
}

Update 2 / Solution

If you want to preserve the formatting, you need to work with HTMLBody or RTFBody properties, not with the plain text Body.

Dmitry Streblechenko · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-15T17:25:44.800

1

What is your existing Redemption code?

If the message needs to be sent, it must be created in one of the Outlook folders - a standalone MSG file cannot be sent.

edited Mar 15 '13 at 17:25

answered Mar 08 '13 at 16:46

Dmitry Streblechenko

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I can't have outlook installed on the server so no outlook folders. I think that rules out redemption thus. :( – buckley Mar 08 '13 at 18:13
The RDO family of objects (http://www.dimastr.com/redemption/rdo_introduction.htm) does not need Outlook, only the MAPi system, which means you can have the standalone version of MAPI installed (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e17e7f31-079a-43a9-bff2-0a110307611e&DisplayLang=en). You can then call RDOSession.LogonExchangeMailbox to dynamically connect to a mailbox, retrieve the folder where the message will be created (e.g. RDOSession.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderDrafts), create the message (RDOFolder.Items.Add) import the MSG file (RDOMail.Import), then send it. – Dmitry Streblechenko Mar 08 '13 at 23:22
I've added my code to the question. Isn't this the way to make a replacement? I can send you the complete solution if that's helpful. – buckley Mar 12 '13 at 12:36
If you want to preserve the formatting, you need to work with HTMLBody or RTFBody properties, not with the plain text Body. – Dmitry Streblechenko Mar 12 '13 at 16:30
Thanks Dmitry, that was the solution – buckley Mar 13 '13 at 10:00

Use an Outlook message file (msg) as a template

1 Answers1