Accessing Outlook contacts for use in external app

[emmaUK]

Hello Everybody!

Can anyone point me in the right direction here?

I want to access the 'Contacts' and 'Inbox' email addresses that Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express stores from an external application but I don't have the first clue of where I should look.

Regards

D.

 

[rvnguy]

Much will depend on what the external app is capable of??

If it has been written to access the information directly or if this something you want it to do but it was not designed to do this...or???

Can the app dicipher CSV files?

Guess you need to provide the particulars of what you are working with, what you specifically want to do and then pick OL or OE as they handle this information differently.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[emmaUK]

Thankyou rvnguy

I am using(or is that trying to use, lol) Borland C++ Builder V6 to build a Mailing List program. But as I'm quite inexperienced I didn't know where to look for these email addresses. This is my first real project I am trying to put together one that I will actually find useful as I have a web shop and it will make my life easier contacting customers every week.

Regards

D.

 

[rvnguy]

First, the C++ app will allow comma delimited files to be inserted, read etc...to create in OL: file > import/export > export to a file > (select the file format) > select the contacts file > name the file > next> finish.

Similar for OE; File export > address book > etc.

That being done; What web shop script are you using?? as the ones that I have experience with keep all the customer data in the DB and allow you to email single, select, or all customers with what ever announcement you have. Not that you might not learn alot writing your own but maybe this is time better spent on other things as it has been written many times for many apps.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[emmaUK]

I really wanted my mailing list program to pick out the email addresses in the contacts+inbox folders without the user having to even start OE/OL so that was what I needed to know - where on a windows system does OE/OL store(as in what file or is it even stored in the registry?)these email addresses so that I can obtain them and insert them into my program.

OBTW I am using Oscommerce but I am trying to build my own application because

a)If the app evolves into something respectable I will probably release it as freeware. And automatically obtaining outlooks email addresses is a professional little touch.

b)I enjoy learning C++ and using C++ Builder, and it has definitely made me learn the language quicker.

c)When my apps finished I want it to give me the option of entering a 'placeholder' for somebodys first/last name so that if I send 10000 emails(god I wish I had that many customers)I would enter for example:

Dear --PLACEHOLDER-- //INSERT FIRST NAME HERE ETC

And as you can see this offers a highly personalised touch with absolutely no extra work apart from writing the one email. Oscommerce is a buggy solution at best(after installing several contributions) and I really wish I had saved myself the time and wrote myself something from scratch in the first place.

Regards

D.

 

[rvnguy]

Again, OL & OE have different formats and the location is customizable.

OL = file > datafile management

OE = tools > options > maintenance

Have a look at ZenCart

http://www.zen-cart.com/modules/mydownloads/

More complete than OSC.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all