You now have a calendar entry form displayed to you, with the start and end dates, subject, and some data in the body of the calendar entry.

The sample database has agents that will show you how to do the following:

• Create and send an Outlook Mail Message with field data and a working link back to the Lotus Notes document;

• Create a new Outlook Mail Message;

• Create a new Outlook Calendar Entry with field data and a working link back to the Lotus Notes document;

• Create a new blank Outlook Calendar Entry;

• Create a new Outlook Task with field data and a working link back to the Lotus Notes document;

• Create a new blank Outlook Task;

• Create a new Outlook Contact with field data and a working link back to the Lotus Notes document;

• Create a new Outlook Contact;

• Go to your Inbox, Calendar, Task List, or Contacts from Lotus Notes.

I used the Outlook Forms designer to get the field names I needed to set up the Outlook Forms. Here's a list of Microsoft help files that will make expanding on this easier to do:

• Vbscript.chm
• Vbaoutl.hlp
• Olform.hlp
• Fm20.hlp
• Auto98.hlp

Conclusion
I know I've only touched on the subject here, but the possibilities are almost endless. Sales Force Automation, Project Tracking, Vacation Request, and Resource Scheduling applications are only a small list of applications whose functionality could be greatly enhanced with these techniques. This article shows you the basics of OLE Automation, and the power it can give you as a programmer.

John J. Coolidge is a Senior Domino/Web Developer for GenRad Inc in Westford Massachusetts. He's a CLP Notes Application Developer R5, a CLP Notes Principal Application Developer R4.6, and a CLP Notes Principal Systems Administrator R4. You can contact him at jmcoolidge@mediaone.net.