Change Category in a Task via macro

[llravlin]

I am trying to change a task category using a macro by opening the categories dialog box while in the task and have it automatically change the name and mark it complete..

I've started some code, but I can't get anything to work. Any help is appreciated

Public Sub TagCompleted()
Dim objOutlook As Outlook.Application
Dim objInspector As Outlook.Inspector
Dim strDateTime As String
' Instantiate an Outlook Application object.
Set objOutlook = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
' The ActiveInspector is the currently open item.
Set objExplorer = objOutlook.ActiveExplorer
' Check and see if anything is open.
If Not objExplorer Is Nothing Then ' Get the current item.
Dim arySelection As Object
Set arySelection = objExplorer.Selection
For x = 1 To arySelection.Count
strCats = arySelection.Item(x).ShowCategoriesDialogue
If Not strCats = "" Then
strCats = strCats & ","
End If
strCats = strCats
arySelection.Item(x).Categories = strCats
arySelection.Item(x).Completed
arySelection.Item(x).Save
Next x
Else ' Show error message with only the OK button.
MsgBox "No explorer is open", vbOKOnly
End If ' Set all objects equal to Nothing to destroy them and
' release the memory and resources they take.
Set objOutlook = Nothing
Set objExplorer = Nothing
End Sub

 

[Diane Poremsky]

So you just want to change a task from Blue Category to Red Category and mark it complete? Or do you want to select the specific category?

I have this macro - http://www.slipstick.com/developer/code-samples/change-category-task-marked-completed/ which is automatic. When you mark it complete, it changes the category.

to mark complete, try this format:
.complete = true

if you want the category picker, use this format - US English.
.ShowCategoriesDialog

do you want to keep the old category and add a new one or remove old categories so it has only the new one?

i usually use for each item in selection rather than counting them, then set objitem = the current item.

Sub UseSelection() 
    Dim currentExplorer As Explorer 
    Dim Selection As Selection 
    Dim obj As Object
   Set currentExplorer = Application.ActiveExplorer 
    Set Selection = currentExplorer.Selection
   On Error Resume Next
   For Each obj In Selection
           Set objItem = obj
           With objItem 
' do whatever 
                .Save 
            End With 
        Err.Clear 
    Next
   Set Session = Nothing 
    Set currentExplorer = Nothing 
    Set obj = Nothing 
    Set Selection = Nothing 
 
End Sub

 

[llravlin]

So you just want to change a task from Blue Category to Red Category and mark it complete? Or do you want to select the specific category?

I have this macro - http://www.slipstick.com/developer/code-samples/change-category-task-marked-completed/ which is automatic. When you mark it complete, it changes the category.

to mark complete, try this format:
.complete = true

if you want the category picker, use this format - US English.
.ShowCategoriesDialog

do you want to keep the old category and add a new one or remove old categories so it has only the new one?

i usually use for each item in selection rather than counting them, then set objitem = the current item.

Sub UseSelection() 
    Dim currentExplorer As Explorer 
    Dim Selection As Selection 
    Dim obj As Object
   Set currentExplorer = Application.ActiveExplorer 
    Set Selection = currentExplorer.Selection
   On Error Resume Next
   For Each obj In Selection
           Set objItem = obj
           With objItem 
' do whatever 
                .Save 
            End With 
        Err.Clear 
    Next
   Set Session = Nothing 
    Set currentExplorer = Nothing 
    Set obj = Nothing 
    Set Selection = Nothing 
 
End Sub

I want to be able to pick the category and change to complete. I want to do it using a macro so not in ThisOutlookSession (I have other code there).

I want to replace the category so it only has the new one.

I already am using the ShowCategoriesDialogue which pops up, but doesn't change it/save it after I select my new category and hit OK. And I can't get it to change to complete...

 

[Diane Poremsky]

I had an appointment this morning and wasn't able to test your macro

The reason the category doesn't save is because you are using it wrong- you don't assign it to a viariable, you just need to call it up -
arySelection.Item(x).ShowCategoriesDialog

This version works on an open or selected message. If you are using tasks, not flagged messages, you need to use
arySelection.Item(x).Status = olTaskComplete

Public Sub TagCompleted() 
Dim objOutlook As Outlook.Application 
Dim objInspector As Outlook.Inspector 
Dim strDateTime As String 
' Instantiate an Outlook Application object. 
Set objOutlook = CreateObject("Outlook.Application") 
' The ActiveInspector is the currently open item. 
Set objExplorer = objOutlook.ActiveExplorer 
' Check and see if anything is open. 
If Not objExplorer Is Nothing Then ' Get the current item. 
Dim arySelection As Object 
Set arySelection = objExplorer.Selection 
 
For x = 1 To arySelection.Count 
arySelection.Item(x).ShowCategoriesDialog 
 
' if working with messages 
arySelection.Item(x).FlagStatus = olFlagComplete 
 
' for tasks use this instead 
'arySelection.Item(x).Status = olTaskComplete 
 
arySelection.Item(x).Save 
Next x 
 
Else ' Show error message with only the OK button. 
MsgBox "No explorer is open", vbOKOnly 
End If ' Set all objects equal to Nothing to destroy them and 
' release the memory and resources they take. 
Set objOutlook = Nothing 
Set objExplorer = Nothing 
End Sub

 

[llravlin]

I receive an error "object doesn't support this property or method" with the code:

arySelection.Item(x).ShowCategoriesDialogue
......
If Not objExplorer Is Nothing Then ' Get the current item.
Dim arySelection As Object
Set arySelection = objExplorer.Selection
For x = 1 To arySelection.Count
arySelection.Item(x).ShowCategoriesDialogue
arySelection.Item(x).Categories = strCats
arySelection.Item(x).Status = olTaskComplete
arySelection.Item(x).Save
Next x
.......

 

[Diane Poremsky]

use arySelection.Item(x).ShowCategoriesDialog - that should not error, at least not on that line. You don't need this line: arySelection.Item(x).Categories = strCats as the categories are added as soon as you select them.

 

[llravlin]

It just doesn't want to work :-( It will not change the category or change it to complete. I'm at a loss...The categories box comes up, I change it, but it doesn't change the category.

 

[larry]

The last macro D posted, #4 works here in Outlook 2007.

To use it with Tasks, remove these lines:
' if working with messages
arySelection.Item(x).FlagStatus = olFlagComplete

and remove the ' from this one.
' for tasks use this instead
'arySelection.Item(x).Status = olTaskComplete

When I first tested it in tasks, it errored because I selected a flagged message in the To-Do list, then it looked like it wasn't working because I used a view that hid completed tasks. I discovered the error in my ways when I tested it on an open task. Oops.

 

[llravlin]

My problem isn't with the "complete" it is with the categories. I have a category already assigned to the task. I want to change that category and mark complete with a macro. With the task opened, I run the macro, when the categories dialog box opens there is no category chosen; which I think it would since the task does have a category already. With the box opened I choose a category and it does not change the category. Marking complete is fine...