Note: newer versions of Outlook include an Insert date command so it’s no longer necessary to use this form.
You can use this method to customize a form so its easy to add the current time and date to notes you add to an appointment or contact. This method works with both Outlook 2007 and 2010 but is not necessary with as both include an Insert date command. However, this method could be easier and custom forms created to use in older versions of Outlook will continue to work with Outlook 2007 and 2010.
In a new form, select the Tools menu | Forms | Design this form command. In Outlook 2007 and 2010, you need to show the Developer ribbon and select Design this form from the Developer ribbon.
Then go to the View menu | View code to open the code window.
In the code window, enter the following code. When finished, open the control toolbox and drag a command button to the form. Rename it by right clicking on it and selecting Properties. In the caption field, type in the desired name. (You can click in the textbox to select the code. Use Ctrl+C to copy, then paste it into the code window.)
Create a custom form and add a date stamp button to it.
The following code can be used in place of the DateStamp() procedure above and places carriage returns between the date and item body.
For a ready-to-use contacts template, datestamp.oft is available here. You'll learn more by following the steps to create your own, which is what you'll need to do if you want the date stamp on other forms.
To change existing forms to use the Date Stamp form, try DocMessageClass, a free utility used to change forms used on Outlook items.
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I am not a programmer and I agree that 2007 has the function, but it takes at least 4 steps to get the information into the form.
Do you know of a modification or script that can select the functions and make the Date, Time – look like the example below?
30 Jun 11, 1607 -
I’ll see what I can find – but in Outlook 2007 and 2010, its fairly easy to enter the date using keyboard shortcuts – Alt+N+D Enter. (With the desired format set as the default.)
The date and time formats are the Windows short date and long date format – you can adjust them as needed in Windows control panel but they will apply to all applications.
how do you apply a time stamp on outlook 2003 evrything i see applys to other years and does not work 2003
The custom form method above will work with Outlook 2003. Or install ActiveWords or a Windows macro tool (like AutoIt) – then you can type date and it inserts the date.
I’m using Outlook 2003. The third line, ITEM.BODY, saused a script error. I deleted it and the script ran. But I can’t figure out how to apply it to existing contacts. Also, I can’t figure out how to make this the default when opening contacts.
I’m using Outlook 2010 and I would rather train my computer one time to “Alt+N+D Enter” every time a contact is opened than to try to remember to do it myself every time I have a note. Is there a way to create a macro that would run every time a contact is opened or customize the contact form so that the current date and time would be added to the notes every time a contact is opened?
Thanks
It’d probably better to use a custom form with a button, as described on this page (it works with Outlook 2010 too) – because the other method will add a date stamp to the Notes field every time you open a contact using the form, even if its just to look at one field. (You will be asked if you want to save changes, so the date stamp is not permanent until saved but it can be as annoying as inserting the date when you want a date).
If you really want to do it, open a form in Design Form mode and add the following lines to the Run code editor. Publish the form and set it as default. The script will run every time you open a contact based on this custom form. You can convert existing items to use this form using docmessageclass.
Function Item_Open()
Item.Body = Now() & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & Item.Body
End function
Probably should declare the Item object
Private Item as Outlook.AppointmentItem