Custom Form Overwritten?

[DrMopp]

Operating system::    Windows 11 Pro
Outlook version:     Desktop App V2510
Email type or host:    Microsoft 365

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I have a number of appointment records created with the message class IPM.Appointment.Booking. The IPM.Appointment.Booking custom form existed in my Personal Forms folder and still does, except it has reverted to the standard IPM.Appointment form. Can't think of any way this could have happened other than if had loaded the standard form in Forms Designer and then published it as the custom form, which I'm certain didn't happen. Is there any way to recover the 'lost' custom form, or do I have to start again?

 

[DrMopp]

OK earlier posts may have been a little less than accurate, to summarise:-.
A subset of 'Calendar' Records created using a customised appointments form - 'IPM.Appointment.Booking' - are shown in the attached screenshot:
When I double click on one of those records it opens the IPM.Appointment.Booking form, but missing some fields and most of the data from the record as per the second screenshot.
If I open the form in forms designer I am unable to add back the field names as they don't appear in the field chooser.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Hornblower409]

Hard to be sure, but it looks like your IPM.Appointment.Booking Custom Form needs to be removed and Published again.

Export the form
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
Select the Form.
[Properties]. Copy the full Message Class.
[Save as]. Move to a directory to use for the backup. Use the Message Class as the file name.

Delete the form
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
Select the Form.
[Delete]

Clear the Forms Cache
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
[Clear Cache]
Exit and Restart Outlook
Reinstall the Form
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
[Install]
Change the type filter to -> Form Message (*.fdm)
Move into the directory where you saved it.
Select the .fdm file
[Open]
{Stupid will show you the Properties of the installed form.} [OK]
Close your way out.

Set it as Default
Make sure it's the default for your Calendar Forlder
How to Set a Custom Form as the Default for a Folder | Slipstick Systems

For general help with Custom Forms

Designing Custom Outlook Forms | Slipstick Systems
Publishing Custom Forms in Outlook

 

[Hornblower409]

For existing items that are not using the Custom Form
Assign a custom form to existing Outlook items | Slipstick Systems

 

[DrMopp]

Hard to be sure, but it looks like your IPM.Appointment.Booking Custom Form needs to be removed and Published again.

Export the form
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
Select the Form.
[Properties]. Copy the full Message Class.
[Save as]. Move to a directory to use for the backup. Use the Message Class as the file name.

Delete the form
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
Select the Form.
[Delete]

Clear the Forms Cache
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
[Clear Cache]
Exit and Restart Outlook
Reinstall the Form
File -> Options [Advanced] [Custom Forms] [Manage Forms]
[Install]
Change the type filter to -> Form Message (*.fdm)
Move into the directory where you saved it.
Select the .fdm file
[Open]
{Stupid will show you the Properties of the installed form.} [OK]
Close your way out.

Set it as Default
Make sure it's the default for your Calendar Forlder
How to Set a Custom Form as the Default for a Folder | Slipstick Systems

For general help with Custom Forms

Designing Custom Outlook Forms | Slipstick Systems
Publishing Custom Forms in Outlook

• 10 minutes ago

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• #5

Thanks Hornblower409 for your very helpfully detailed instructions, which I have followed to the letter, however the form fields remain stubbornly blank, although when put into design mode the field names are visible in the relevant value boxes. Is there any way to 'reconstitute' the form (or create a new one) from the data in the view shown in my first image?

 

[Hornblower409]

however the form fields remain stubbornly blank, although when put into design mode the field names are visible in the relevant value boxes. Is there any way to 'reconstitute' the form (or create a new one) from the data in the view shown in my first image?

The user defined form fields have somehow become disconnected from the item user defined fields?

Using the "Ship" field as an example.
Open an existing IPM.Appointment.Booking item.
Developer -> Design this form.
| All Fields |

Select from: User-defined fields in this item
You see the "Ship" field and a value? Or just the field and no value?

Select from: Booking {your custom form}
You see the "Ship" field but no value?

| Booking | {The first page of your Custom form}
Select the "Ship" field on the form and Right-click -> Properties.
| Value |
The "Field name"? {What is in the box next to [Choose Field]

e.g. For my user defined field "CardTitle" on my Custom Form "Card"

 

[DrMopp]

The user defined form fields have somehow become disconnected from the item user defined fields?

Using the "Ship" field as an example.
Open an existing IPM.Appointment.Booking item.
Developer -> Design this form.
| All Fields |

Select from: User-defined fields in this item
You see the "Ship" field and a value? Or just the field and no value?

Select from: Booking {your custom form}
You see the "Ship" field but no value?

| Booking | {The first page of your Custom form}
Select the "Ship" field on the form and Right-click -> Properties.
| Value |
The "Field name"? {What is in the box next to [Choose Field]

e.g. For my user defined field "CardTitle" on my Custom Form "Card"

View attachment 4640

View attachment 4641
View attachment 4642

Thanks again, to answer your questions, selecting 'user-defined fields' in the dropdown I see one field named 'Customer' with the value 'No' (this looks like a field from an old Contact form where I had a Yes/No field against Contacts to indicate customers. Nothing to do with this form). I don't see any other custom fields e.g. Ship. However when looking at the properties of the form field, the correct field value appears e.g.. Line, Ship etc..

 

[Hornblower409]

'user-defined fields' in the dropdown I see one field named 'Customer' ... I don't see any other custom fields e.g. Ship. However when looking at the properties of the form field, the correct field value appears e.g.. Line, Ship etc..

Do I understand correctly?

Open an existing IPM.Appointment.Booking item.
Developer -> Design this form.
| All Fields |

1 -- Select from: "User-defined fields in this item" - you do not see the "Ship" field at all.

2 -- Select from: "Booking" {your custom form} - you do see "Ship" but it has no value.

If you go to the first page of | Booking | {Your Custom form}
Select the "Ship" field on the form and Right-click -> Properties.
On the | Value | tab
3 -- You see "Ship" as the field to use for this Text Control.

4 -- Is this on one of the items from the View you posted the image of, where the Message Class = IPM.Appointment.Booking and the "Ship" column shows values? Or is this an item that does not show a value in the View "Ship" column.

(Please prefix your answers with my numbers)

 

[DrMopp]

Do I understand correctly?

Open an existing IPM.Appointment.Booking item.
Developer -> Design this form.
| All Fields |

1 -- Select from: "User-defined fields in this item" - you do not see the "Ship" field at all.

2 -- Select from: "Booking" {your custom form} - you do see "Ship" but it has no value.

If you go to the first page of | Booking | {Your Custom form}
Select the "Ship" field on the form and Right-click -> Properties.
On the | Value | tab
3 -- You see "Ship" as the field to use for this Text Control.

4 -- Is this on one of the items from the View you posted the image of, where the Message Class = IPM.Appointment.Booking and the "Ship" column shows values? Or is this an item that does not show a value in the View "Ship" column.

(Please prefix your answers with my numbers)

1. Correct
2. No, I only see the one field 'Customer' with a value of 'N'
3. Correct
4. There is a value in the field in the list view but not when the form is opened, when it is opened in design mode, or when showing 'all user defined fields in this item'. This is true for all ittems on the list.
Thanks again for your continued interest.

 

[Hornblower409]

More test:

Open an existing IPM.Appointment.Booking item that shows a value for "Ship" in the View.

Developer -> Design this form.
| All Fields |
5 -- Select from: "User-defined fields in folder" - do you see the "Ship" field? Does it have a Value?

Developer -> Design this form -> Developer Menu -> Form -> View Code.
6 -- Is there embedded VBScript for this form? If so, does it reference the "Ship" field using any form of ".UserProperties."

 

[Hornblower409]

If #6 is "Yes. There is VBScript for this Form", see
Custom Form Security Changes | Slipstick Systems

7 -- Do you have the Registry settings shown in the article for:

...\Outlook\Security DisableCustomFormItemScript
An entry in ...\TrustedFormScriptList for IPM.Appointment.Booking

 

[Hornblower409]

Longshot, but -

From you main Outlook Menu -> Developer -> Visual Basic (Alt+F11).
8 -- Do you have VBA code defined? If so, are there lines like "Private WithEvents ...."?

 

[DrMopp]

More test:

Open an existing IPM.Appointment.Booking item that shows a value for "Ship" in the View.

Developer -> Design this form.
| All Fields |
5 -- Select from: "User-defined fields in folder" - do you see the "Ship" field? Does it have a Value?

Developer -> Design this form -> Developer Menu -> Form -> View Code.
6 -- Is there embedded VBScript for this form? If so, does it reference the "Ship" field using any form of ".UserProperties."

5. No. I do see some of the fields, but not Line, Ship Cruise, Cabin Type or Booking Status. Field values are blank except 'Balance Due1' and 'Days' neither of which are used in the view.

6. No there is no embedded VBScript

 

[DrMopp]

If #6 is "Yes. There is VBScript for this Form", see
Custom Form Security Changes | Slipstick Systems

7 -- Do you have the Registry settings shown in the article for:

...\Outlook\Security DisableCustomFormItemScript
An entry in ...\TrustedFormScriptList for IPM.Appointment.Booking

7. Yes I have those registry settings.

 

[DrMopp]

Longshot, but -

From you main Outlook Menu -> Developer -> Visual Basic (Alt+F11).
8 -- Do you have VBA code defined? If so, are there lines like "Private WithEvents ...."?

There is no VBA Code

 

[Hornblower409]

I am sorry. But I'm stumped. All I can figure is that the fields on your Custom Form have somehow (?) become disconnected from the User Properties (any fields not part of the original Standard Form) in the Items.

Background - Did you write the Custom Form? If not, where did you get it from? When did it break? (Windows or Office upgrade?)

We can try some more testing.

Go to the Folder.
Developer -> Design a form
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Select your form
[Open]

In the Form Designer
Developer -> Publish -> Publish Form as ...
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Display name: Booking_Test
Form name: Booking_Test
{"Message class:" should now read "IPM.Appointment.Booking_Test"}
[Publish]
File -> Close
Save changes? [No] {It is asking about the data, not the Form design}

Developer -> Design a form
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Select Booking_Test
[Open]

{On the form design first page}
Select the "Ship" control.
Right-click -> Delete

Developer -> Control Toolbox.
{On the toolbox dialog}
Click and drag "Text Box" {third from the left top row} . Drop it where "Ship" used to be.
Right-click -> Properties

| Display | Name: Ship
| Value | [New]
{New Column dialog}
Name: Ship
Type: Text
Format: Text
[OK]
[OK]

Developer -> Publish -> Publish Form
File -> Close
Save changes? [No] {It is asking about the data, not the Form design}

{Back in the folder}
Home -> New Items -> More Items -> Choose Form
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Select "Booking_Test"
[Open]

Put something in the "Ship" field.
Save and Close the Item.

Find it in your View.
Does is have a Ship value?

Open the item.
Does the form Ship field have the value?

 

[DrMopp]

Hello again and thanks for sticking with it so far! Yes I wrote the custom form around 12 years ago and it's been in use with minor tweaks since. I hadn't tried to use it for perhaps a month or so and when I did last week got the 'To prevent malicious code...' error. It took me a while to find the post about that error and the registry changes needed to resolve it, and when I saw the solution given by Diane to Kev99 in his Aug13 thread I applied those registry changes. The form then appeared to be the standard form, but when put into design mode all I needed to do was hide [Appointment] and make [P2] visible, which after publishing produced the version I have now, i.e. no data.

However your latest test worked, the field does now have a value so I guess the answer is to do the same with all fields on the form check that everything is good, then delete the 'Booking' form and remove the _test appendix from the new one?.

 

[DrMopp]

I am sorry. But I'm stumped. All I can figure is that the fields on your Custom Form have somehow (?) become disconnected from the User Properties (any fields not part of the original Standard Form) in the Items.

Background - Did you write the Custom Form? If not, where did you get it from? When did it break? (Windows or Office upgrade?)

We can try some more testing.

Go to the Folder.
Developer -> Design a form
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Select your form
[Open]

In the Form Designer
Developer -> Publish -> Publish Form as ...
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Display name: Booking_Test
Form name: Booking_Test
{"Message class:" should now read "IPM.Appointment.Booking_Test"}
[Publish]
File -> Close
Save changes? [No] {It is asking about the data, not the Form design}

Developer -> Design a form
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Select Booking_Test
[Open]

{On the form design first page}
Select the "Ship" control.
Right-click -> Delete

Developer -> Control Toolbox.
{On the toolbox dialog}
Click and drag "Text Box" {third from the left top row} . Drop it where "Ship" used to be.
Right-click -> Properties

| Display | Name: Ship
| Value | [New]
{New Column dialog}
Name: Ship
Type: Text
Format: Text
[OK]
[OK]

Developer -> Publish -> Publish Form
File -> Close
Save changes? [No] {It is asking about the data, not the Form design}

{Back in the folder}
Home -> New Items -> More Items -> Choose Form
Look in: Personal Forms Library
Select "Booking_Test"
[Open]

Put something in the "Ship" field.
Save and Close the Item.

Find it in your View.
Does is have a Ship value?

Open the item.
Does the form Ship field have the value?

Hello again and thanks for sticking with it so far! Your latest test worked, the field does now have a value!! I guess the answer is to do the same with all fields on the form check that everything is good, then delete the 'Booking' form and remove the _test appendix from the new one?

I wrote the custom form around 12 years ago and it's been in use with minor tweaks since. I hadn't tried to use it for perhaps a month or so and when I did last week got the 'To prevent malicious code...' error. It took me a while to find the post about that error and the registry changes needed to resolve it, and when I saw the solution given by Diane to Kev99 in his Aug13 thread I applied those registry changes. The form then appeared to be the standard form, but when put into design mode all I needed to do was hide [Appointment] and make [P2] visible, which after publishing produced the version I have now, i.e. no data.

 

[Hornblower409]

the field does now have a value!! I guess the answer is to do the same with all fields on the form check that everything is good,

I guess. I'm as much in the dark on this as you.

You should still have a backup of the original Form from an earlier step. But make a second backup and put it someplace safe.

-- then delete the 'Booking' form and remove the _test appendix from the new one?

Or, once "...Booking_Test" is done, do Publish -> Publish As, "...Booking" and just replace the old version.

And make a Backup of the working version.