Using the view control is basically using Search or Activities and requires a filter - it is not "permanent". Because its a filtered view, it might be faster than Activities (which uses the old, slow search). The view control fell out of favor due to exploits and I'll need to look for my filter samples. I have a sample of using vba to apply a filtered view here -
Apply Filtered Views Using a Macro - you'd use a similar filter in the code for the view control.
You can add a hyperlink (easier, because i have code samples) or object linking (I don't think i have code samples) or you can attach the original (usually not recommended unless you plan to move messages around, which can break the links). I recommend doing this as the message arrives going forward, run a macro once to do it on existing messages.
The difference between a hyperlink and object link: the hyperlink can use the item subject as the link text while embedded shows the envelope icon and the subject.
To do any of it, you're going to need to learn some vba. I don't have any full macros that do exactly this.
the closest i have is a macro that creates a hyperlink to a contact in a task. it could easily be changed to create a hyperlink to email in a contact, but you'll need to add the filter (the link i posted earlier has an example).
Code:
Sub GetContactLink()
Dim objContact As Outlook.ContactItem
Dim objTask As Outlook.TaskItem
Dim strID As String
Dim strLink, strLinkText As String
Set objContact = Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection.Item(1)
strID = objContact.EntryID
strLink = "outlook:" & strID
strLinkText = objContact.FullName
Set objTask = Application.CreateItem(olTaskItem)
Set objInsp = objTask.GetInspector
Set objDoc = objInsp.WordEditor
Set objSel = objDoc.Windows(1).Selection
With objTask
objDoc.Hyperlinks.Add objSel.Range, strLink, "", "", strLinkText, ""
objSel.Range.InsertBefore "Link to "
.Display
End With
End Sub
FWIW, i'd probably work with the email address fields unless there is some reason why you need to use a custom field. It will save you the hassle of adding the field.
