Do you know all the command line switches for Outlook 2003?

someone shared this link today:

https://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP010031101033.aspx

I have to admit I didn’t know all of these existed.

 

enjoy!

 

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The command that starts Microsoft Outlook is Outlook.exe. A command-line switch is the addition of a forward slash (/) followed by the switch name and any parameters the switch has.

HideHow to use switches

  1. Search for the Microsoft Outlook executable file, Outlook.exe, and make a note of the path to Outlook.exe. For example, the path might be C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe.

  2. Click Start, and then click Run.

  3. In the Open box, type the complete path you noted in step 1, including the file name. Press the SPACEBAR once, and then type a forward slash mark (/) followed by the switch.

    For example, if you want to use the CleanReminders switch, the command you type in the Open box should look like this:

    "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /Cleanreminders

    Note   Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (") and are case sensitive.

  4. To run the command, click OK.

HideSwitch reference

Switch
Description

/a

Creates an item with the specified file as an attachment.

Example:

  • "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /a "C:\My Documents\labels.doc"

If no item type is specified, IPM.Note is assumed. Cannot be used with message classes that aren't based on Outlook.

/altvba otmfilename

Opens the VBA program specified in otmfilename, rather than %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\VbaProject.OTM.

/c messageclass

Creates a new item of the specified message class (Outlook forms or any other valid MAPI form).

Examples:

  • /c ipm.activity creates a Journal entry
  • /c ipm.appointment creates an appointment
  • /c ipm.contact creates a contact
  • /c ipm.note creates an e-mail message
  • /c ipm.stickynote creates a note
  • /c ipm.task creates a task

/checkclient

Prompts for the default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts.

/cleanclientrules

Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules.

/cleandmrecords

Deletes the logging records saved when a manager or a delegate declines a meeting.

/cleanfinders

Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server store.

/cleanfreebusy

Clears and regenerates free/busy information. This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.

/cleanprofile

Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable.

/cleanpst

Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst) (Personal Folders file (.pst): Data file that stores your messages and other items on your computer. You can assign a .pst file to be the default delivery location for e-mail messages. You can use a .pst to organize and back up items for safekeeping.).

/cleanreminders

Clears and regenerates reminders.

/cleanrules

Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.

/cleanschedplus

Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.

/cleanserverrules

Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules.

/cleansniff

Deletes duplicate reminder messages.

/cleansubscriptions

Deletes the subscription messages and properties for subscription features.

/cleanviews

Restores default views. All custom views you created are lost.

/designer

Starts Outlook without figuring out if Outlook should be the default client in the first run.

/embedding

Opens the specified message file (.msg) as an OLE embedding. Also used without command-line parameters for standard OLE co-create.

/f msgfilename

Opens the specified message file (.msg) or Microsoft Office saved search (.oss).

/firstrun

Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time.

/hol holfilename

Opens the specified .hol file.

/ical icsfilename

Opens the specified .ics file.

/importprf prffilename

Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch.

/l olkfilename

Opens the specified .olk file.

/launchtraininghelp assetid

Opens a Help window with the Help topic specified in assetid.

/m emailname

Provides a way for the user to add an e-mail name to the item. Only works in conjunction with the /c command-line parameter.

Example:

  • Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m emailname

/nocustomize

Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file.

/noextensions

Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.

/nopollmail

Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup.

/nopreview

Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off.

/p msgfilename

Prints the specified message (.msg). Does not work with HTML.

/profile profilename

Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks (").

/profiles

Opens the Choose Profile dialog box regardless of the Options setting on the Tools menu.

/recycle

Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook window, if one exists. Used in combination with /explorer or /folder.

/resetfoldernames

Resets default folder names (such as Inbox or Sent Items) to default names in the current Office user interface language.

For example, if you first connect to your mailbox Outlook using a Russian user interface, the Russian default folder names cannot be renamed. To change the default folder names to another language such as Japanese or English, you can use this switch to reset the default folder names after changing the user interface language or installing a different language version of Outlook.

/resetfolders

Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.

/resetnavpane

Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile.

/rpcdiag

Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog.

/s filename

Loads the specified shortcuts file (.fav).

/safe

Starts Outlook without extensions, Reading Pane, or toolbar customization.

/safe:1

Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off.

/safe:2

Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup.

/safe:3

Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.

/safe:4

Starts Outlook without loading Outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file.

/select foldername

Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window. For example, to open Outlook and display the default calendar use: "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /select outlook:calendar

/sniff

Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar.

/t oftfilename

Opens the specified .oft file.

/v vcffilename

Opens the specified .vcf file.

/vcal vcsfilename

Opens the specified .vcs file.

/x xnkfilename

Opens the specified .xnk file