How to: Programmatically Access Outlook Contacts
This example finds all contacts whose last names contain a specified search string.
Applies to: The information in this topic applies to application-level projects for Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2010. For more information, see Features Available by Office Application and Project Type.
Example
Private Sub ThisAddIn_Startup(ByVal sender As Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Startup
AccessContacts("Na")
End Sub
Private Sub AccessContacts(ByVal findLastName As String)
Dim folderContacts As Outlook.MAPIFolder = Me.Application.ActiveExplorer() _
.Session.GetDefaultFolder(Outlook.OlDefaultFolders _
.olFolderContacts)
Dim searchFolder As Outlook.Items = folderContacts.Items
Dim counter As Integer = 0
For Each foundContact As Outlook.ContactItem In searchFolder
If foundContact.LastName.Contains(findLastName) Then
foundContact.Display(False)
counter = counter + 1
End If
Next
MsgBox("You have " & counter & _
" contacts with last names that contain " _
& findLastName & ".")
End Sub
private void ThisAddIn_Startup(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
AccessContacts("Na");
}
private void AccessContacts(string findLastName)
{
Outlook.MAPIFolder folderContacts = this.Application.ActiveExplorer().Session.
GetDefaultFolder(Outlook.OlDefaultFolders.olFolderContacts);
Outlook.Items searchFolder = folderContacts.Items;
int counter = 0;
foreach (Outlook.ContactItem foundContact in searchFolder)
{
if (foundContact.LastName.Contains(findLastName))
{
foundContact.Display(false);
counter = counter + 1;
}
}
MessageBox.Show("You have " + counter +
" contacts with last names that contain "
+ findLastName + ".");
}
private void ThisAddIn_Startup(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
AccessContacts("Na");
}
private void AccessContacts(string findLastName)
{
Outlook.MAPIFolder folderContacts = this.Application.ActiveExplorer().Session.
GetDefaultFolder(Outlook.OlDefaultFolders.olFolderContacts);
Outlook.Items searchFolder = folderContacts.Items;
int counter = 0;
foreach (Outlook.ContactItem foundContact in searchFolder)
{
if (foundContact.LastName.Contains(findLastName))
{
foundContact.Display(false);
counter = counter + 1;
}
}
MessageBox.Show("You have " + counter +
" contacts with last names that contain "
+ findLastName + ".");
}
Compiling the Code
This example requires:
- Contacts whose last names contain the string "Na" (for example, Tzipi Butnaru) in the Contacts folder.
See Also
Tasks
How to: Programmatically Add an Entry to Outlook Contacts
How to: Programmatically Search for a Specific Contact
How to: Programmatically Search for an E-Mail Address in Contacts
How to: Programmatically Delete Outlook Contacts