Tips 'n' Tricks

If you have several templates, add a custom group to the Ribbon for easy access. The first thing you need is a macro; use the following sub procedure as a guide:

Sub OpenCustomTemplate()

  'Open template from a macro button

  'added to the ribbon.

  Set myFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)

  Set myItem = myFolder.Items.Add("IPM.Form.NewsletterTemplate")

  myItem.Display

End Sub

Update the Set myItem statement to reflect the name of your template but keep the IPM.Form component (that’s the class). With the macro in place, add a custom group to the Ribbon as follows:

1. Click the File tab and then click Options under Help in the left pane.
2. Select Customize Ribbon in the left pane.
3. Click New Group, choose Rename, enter a name such as Templates, and click OK. By default, Outlook will position the new group at the end of the Ribbon. You can use the arrows to the right to move it.
4. With the new Templates group still selected, choose All Commands from the Choose Commands drop-down and select Macros.
5. Select your macro and click Add.
6. Right-click the macro (in the Templates group now), choose Rename, and enter a short, but descriptive name.
7. Click OK.

Outlook will place a Templates group on the Home tab, as shown in Figure A.

Figure A

Add a new group for templates to the Ribbon.