I'm using O2003. I created my own form with custom fields. Not very
much programming, nor do I know how to program much in Outlook. I was
hoping to get some guidance on how to do the following items. These
may be very simple things to do, but I just don't know if they are
possible.

1. I have a custom field (text / dropdown ) that I created. This
field reflects what I've done last. For example it might say "I sent
you an email on January 24, 2008" What I do each day is change the
date in the Initial Value to the next day. It would be nice if I
could plug in the Initial Value field something like.

"I sent them an email on [today]."

2. I'm using the built in Due By field as a reminder when I want to
follow up with this person. Each day I set the Initial Value to be
today plus seven days. Basically count out seven days and type in the
new date. In the Initial Value field can I have it always be todays
date plus seven days? I always set the time at 12:00 AM since it is
used in my searches to differentiate these items from other items.

Both would allow me from changing the dates each day in each field.

Are the above items possible? Any help would be appreciated.

Shawn

New formula components for you to use:

string concatenation operator - &
Date() function to return the current date
Format() function to control what the date looks like

Use the Edit button to open the formula edit and click the Function button to see more useful functions. Here's how those above can produce your desired initial values:

1) "I sent them an email on " & Format( Date(), "mmmm dd, yyyy" )

2) Date() + 7
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54


"srm" wrote in message ...
I'm using O2003. I created my own form with custom fields. Not very
much programming, nor do I know how to program much in Outlook. I was
hoping to get some guidance on how to do the following items. These
may be very simple things to do, but I just don't know if they are
possible.

1. I have a custom field (text / dropdown ) that I created. This
field reflects what I've done last. For example it might say "I sent
you an email on January 24, 2008" What I do each day is change the
date in the Initial Value to the next day. It would be nice if I
could plug in the Initial Value field something like.

"I sent them an email on [today]."

2. I'm using the built in Due By field as a reminder when I want to
follow up with this person. Each day I set the Initial Value to be
today plus seven days. Basically count out seven days and type in the
new date. In the Initial Value field can I have it always be todays
date plus seven days? I always set the time at 12:00 AM since it is
used in my searches to differentiate these items from other items.

Both would allow me from changing the dates each day in each field.

Are the above items possible? Any help would be appreciated.

Shawn

Sue:

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Shawn

On Jan 24, 11:14 am, "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]"
wrote:
New formula components for you to use:

string concatenation operator - &
Date() function to return the current date
Format() function to control what the date looks like

Use the Edit button to open the formula edit and click the Function button to see more useful functions. Here's how those above can produce your desired initial values:

1) "I sent them an email on " & Format( Date(), "mmmm dd, yyyy" )

2) Date() + 7
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

"srm" wrote in ...
I'm using O2003. I created my own form with custom fields. Not very
much programming, nor do I know how to program much in Outlook. I was
hoping to get some guidance on how to do the following items. These
may be very simple things to do, but I just don't know if they are
possible.

1. I have a custom field (text / dropdown ) that I created. This
field reflects what I've done last. For example it might say "I sent
you an email on January 24, 2008" What I do each day is change the
date in the Initial Value to the next day. It would be nice if I
could plug in the Initial Value field something like.

"I sent them an email on [today]."

2. I'm using the built in Due By field as a reminder when I want to
follow up with this person. Each day I set the Initial Value to be
today plus seven days. Basically count out seven days and type in the
new date. In the Initial Value field can I have it always be todays
date plus seven days? I always set the time at 12:00 AM since it is
used in my searches to differentiate these items from other items.

Both would allow me from changing the dates each day in each field.

Are the above items possible? Any help would be appreciated.

Shawn

Sue:

Thank you. I hate to bother you, but I had one more question. Your
feedback worked, but will it work on items in a dropdown list? For
example, I might have the following items in the possible values drop
down list where I want to add today's date at the end in the noted
format.

I sent them an email on
I called them on
I talked to them on

When I run the form, all commas were changed into semi-colons which
makes a new entry in the list. I removed the semi-colons but my
entries are as follows (except for the initial entry). I would like
to also use the commas in the values (if possible). Below are just
different variations in the dropdown list.

"I sent them an email on " & Format( Date() "mmmm dd yyyy"
I sent them an email on " & Format( Date() "mmmm dd yyyy
I sent them an email on & Format( Date() mmmm dd yyyy

It does not represent the actually date.

Shawn

On Jan 25, 12:10 pm, srm wrote:
Sue:

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Shawn

On Jan 24, 11:14 am, "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]"

wrote:
New formula components for you to use:

string concatenation operator - &
Date() function to return the current date
Format() function to control what the date looks like

Use the Edit button to open the formula edit and click the Function button to see more useful functions. Here's how those above can produce your desired initial values:

1) "I sent them an email on " & Format( Date(), "mmmm dd, yyyy" )

2) Date() + 7
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

"srm" wrote in ...
I'm using O2003. I created my own form with custom fields. Not very
much programming, nor do I know how to program much in Outlook. I was
hoping to get some guidance on how to do the following items. These
may be very simple things to do, but I just don't know if they are
possible.

1. I have a custom field (text / dropdown ) that I created. This
field reflects what I've done last. For example it might say "I sent
you an email on January 24, 2008" What I do each day is change the
date in the Initial Value to the next day. It would be nice if I
could plug in the Initial Value field something like.

"I sent them an email on [today]."

2. I'm using the built in Due By field as a reminder when I want to
follow up with this person. Each day I set the Initial Value to be
today plus seven days. Basically count out seven days and type in the
new date. In the Initial Value field can I have it always be todays
date plus seven days? I always set the time at 12:00 AM since it is
used in my searches to differentiate these items from other items.

Both would allow me from changing the dates each day in each field.

Are the above items possible? Any help would be appreciated.

Shawn

No, you cannot use formulas to represent calculations you want done for a drop-down list. You would have to use a different approach, adding code behind the form. See http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?ID=38 for examples of using events to respond to user interaction with the form.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54


"srm" wrote in message ...
Sue:

Thank you. I hate to bother you, but I had one more question. Your
feedback worked, but will it work on items in a dropdown list? For
example, I might have the following items in the possible values drop
down list where I want to add today's date at the end in the noted
format.

I sent them an email on
I called them on
I talked to them on

When I run the form, all commas were changed into semi-colons which
makes a new entry in the list. I removed the semi-colons but my
entries are as follows (except for the initial entry). I would like
to also use the commas in the values (if possible). Below are just
different variations in the dropdown list.

"I sent them an email on " & Format( Date() "mmmm dd yyyy"
I sent them an email on " & Format( Date() "mmmm dd yyyy
I sent them an email on & Format( Date() mmmm dd yyyy

It does not represent the actually date.

Shawn

On Jan 25, 12:10 pm, srm wrote:
Sue:

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Shawn

On Jan 24, 11:14 am, "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]"

wrote:
New formula components for you to use:

string concatenation operator - &
Date() function to return the current date
Format() function to control what the date looks like

Use the Edit button to open the formula edit and click the Function button to see more useful functions. Here's how those above can produce your desired initial values:

1) "I sent them an email on " & Format( Date(), "mmmm dd, yyyy" )

2) Date() + 7


"srm" wrote in ...
I'm using O2003. I created my own form with custom fields. Not very
much programming, nor do I know how to program much in Outlook. I was
hoping to get some guidance on how to do the following items. These
may be very simple things to do, but I just don't know if they are
possible.

1. I have a custom field (text / dropdown ) that I created. This
field reflects what I've done last. For example it might say "I sent
you an email on January 24, 2008" What I do each day is change the
date in the Initial Value to the next day. It would be nice if I
could plug in the Initial Value field something like.

"I sent them an email on [today]."

2. I'm using the built in Due By field as a reminder when I want to
follow up with this person. Each day I set the Initial Value to be
today plus seven days. Basically count out seven days and type in the
new date. In the Initial Value field can I have it always be todays
date plus seven days? I always set the time at 12:00 AM since it is
used in my searches to differentiate these items from other items.

Both would allow me from changing the dates each day in each field.

Are the above items possible? Any help would be appreciated.

Shawn

Sue:

Thank you. I'm going to take a look and also buy your book. I need
to learn how to do things rather than just guessing. Appreciate you
help.

Shawn

On Jan 25, 1:36 pm, "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]"
wrote:
No, you cannot use formulas to represent calculations you want done for a drop-down list. You would have to use a different approach, adding code behind the form. Seehttp://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?ID=38for examples of using events to respond to user interaction with the form.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

"srm" wrote in ...
Sue:

Thank you. I hate to bother you, but I had one more question. Your
feedback worked, but will it work on items in a dropdown list? For
example, I might have the following items in the possible values drop
down list where I want to add today's date at the end in the noted
format.

I sent them an email on
I called them on
I talked to them on

When I run the form, all commas were changed into semi-colons which
makes a new entry in the list. I removed the semi-colons but my
entries are as follows (except for the initial entry). I would like
to also use the commas in the values (if possible). Below are just
different variations in the dropdown list.

"I sent them an email on " & Format( Date() "mmmm dd yyyy"
I sent them an email on " & Format( Date() "mmmm dd yyyy
I sent them an email on & Format( Date() mmmm dd yyyy

It does not represent the actually date.

Shawn

On Jan 25, 12:10 pm, srm wrote:
Sue:

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Shawn

On Jan 24, 11:14 am, "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]"

wrote:
New formula components for you to use:

string concatenation operator - &
Date() function to return the current date
Format() function to control what the date looks like

Use the Edit button to open the formula edit and click the Function button to see more useful functions. Here's how those above can produce your desired initial values:

1) "I sent them an email on " & Format( Date(), "mmmm dd, yyyy" )

2) Date() + 7

"srm" wrote in ...
I'm using O2003. I created my own form with custom fields. Not very
much programming, nor do I know how to program much in Outlook. I was
hoping to get some guidance on how to do the following items. These
may be very simple things to do, but I just don't know if they are
possible.

1. I have a custom field (text / dropdown ) that I created. This
field reflects what I've done last. For example it might say "I sent
you an email on January 24, 2008" What I do each day is change the
date in the Initial Value to the next day. It would be nice if I
could plug in the Initial Value field something like.

"I sent them an email on [today]."

2. I'm using the built in Due By field as a reminder when I want to
follow up with this person. Each day I set the Initial Value to be
today plus seven days. Basically count out seven days and type in the
new date. In the Initial Value field can I have it always be todays
date plus seven days? I always set the time at 12:00 AM since it is
used in my searches to differentiate these items from other items.

Both would allow me from changing the dates each day in each field.

Are the above items possible? Any help would be appreciated.

Shawn