Debugging an Outlook 2007 script fired by a rule

Question

I'm trying to debug an Outlook 2007 VBA script that's fired by a rule. I've set a breakpoint in the script but it doesn't get hit.

The script is actually a Sub in the ThisOutlookSession object.

When I run the rule on a specified folder nothing seems to happen.

What am I doing wrong?

Update:

I've added a MsgBox "Processing: " & mailItem.Subject to the script and that pops up just fine when I run the rule. However I can't seem to get the script to stop on breakpoints.

Answer 1

I think you may not be doing anything wrong, because I have experienced exactly the same behaviour.

However, in order to debug your VBA, I suggest that you create a macro (via the Tools|Macro|Macros menu) that calls your script function with a test e-mail item that you create in the macro.

Maybe something like this:

Sub TestScript()
    Dim testMail As MailItem
    Set testMail = Application.CreateItem(olMailItem)
    testMail.Subject = "Test subject"
    testMail.Body = "Test body"
    Project1.ThisOutlookSession.YourScriptForDebugging testMail
End Sub

This way you can "Step Into" the macro via that Macro dialog again, and do all the debugging you need. It solved my problem, anyway.

Answer 2

Any existing item can be used to test code that requires one.

Sub passOpenItem()
    'first open an item
    codeRequiringItemParameter ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
End Sub

Sub passSeletion()
    'first select an item
    codeRequiringItemParameter ActiveExplorer.Selection(1)
End Sub

Sub codeRequiringItemParameter(itm As Object)
    Debug.Print "TypeName: " & TypeName(itm)
    Debug.Print "Class...: " & itm.Class
End Sub