E-mails and Outlook

One way you can send an e-mail from VBA code is using the SendObject method, as shown here:

  DoCmd.SendObject ObjectType, ObjectName, OutputFormat, To, Cc, Bcc, Subject, MessageText, EditMessage, TemplateFile 

The ObjectType, ObjectName, and OutputFormat parameters are used to specify a file created from the database to include as an attachment. Remember that earlier I said you had exported the tblEmployees table to Excel so that you could e-mail it to a coworker. The SendObject method allows you to attach certain database objects in one of a variety of formats as part of the e-mail. Thus, to generate a new e-mail that also attaches the tblEmployees table as an Excel attachment, you could use something similar to the following:

  'Send the Employees file DoCmd.SendObject acSendTable, "tblEmployees", acFormatXLS, _      "[e-mail]", , , "Employee List", "For your review.", False 

If you do not want to send an attachment, but just want to send an e-mail telling me how much you like the book so far, you can use the following command. Please do this - I would love to get this test e-mail from you!

  'Send the author of this book an email DoCmd.SendObject acSendNoObject, , , "[e-mail]", , , _       "This is cool!", _       "I just sent an email from VBA. Really am enjoying your book.", False 

If you want to learn more about controlling Outlook from your VBA applications, consult Chapter 11, where I cover automation with various Office programs such as Outlook. The SendObject method I just discussed is not specific to any e-mail program.