Outlook and Outlook Express are completely separate products. The only thing
shared between them is the word "Outlook".
The only common API exposed by both applications is Simple MAPI, but it only
allows to enumerate messages in the Inbox folder.

For Outlook, you can use Extended MAPI (C++/Delphi only), CDO 1.21 and
Outlook Object Model. For that latter two, the security prompts will be
shown if you access any sensitive properties that can potentially contains
e-mail addresses, such as the sender name/address.
See http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=52 for possible workarounds.

For OE, see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms709546.aspx

Dmitry Streblechenko (MVP)
http://www.dimastr.com/
OutlookSpy - Outlook, CDO
and MAPI Developer Tool

"Chris Shearer Cooper" wrote in message
...
My (C++ MFC) program needs to be able to scan all email messages found in
Outlook and/or Outlook Express and provide the user with information about
them. I need to know, for each email message, basic information like
date/time, sender, text, subject, and then I need access to any
attachments. I will not be sending any messages, receiving any messages,
scanning the contact list, etc.

I've seen a lot of different ways for programs to communicate with Outlook
and Outlook Express (MAPI, Extended MAPI, etc.) but nothing that really
summarizes which approaches work for which versions of Outlook and Outlook
Express, and which version of Windows. For example, I've seen web pages
that recommend Extended MAPI to avoid triggering security prompts, but (1)
I don't think I'm doing anything that would trigger a security prompt, and
(2) I don't know if (for example) early versions of Outlook Express
running on Windows 98SE even had Extended MAPI.

This is going to run on retail customers personal computers, so I can't
assume they will have Exchange running.

Does anyone have suggestions ...
(1) which approach (MAPI, Extended MAPI, etc.) would allow me the limited
amount of information I need to access, and support the greatest range of
versions of Outlook and Outlook Express and also versions of Windows
(without installing additional DLLs)
(2) a library (commercial or free) that handles a lot of the grunt work
for me?

Thanks!
Chris