• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Outlook Tips

Learning Microsoft Outlook One Tip At A Time

Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

  • Home
  • Tips Archive
  • How to...
  • Beginner
  • Outlook 2016
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook on Windows 10

How to publish custom forms in Microsoft Outlook

See Designing Custom Forms to learn how to open a form in design view.

Due to security issues, any Outlook template (or form) containing code must be published –  templates (*.oft) opened from the hard drive will not work and in some cases, will no longer open. (Templates containing custom fields need to be opened using the Choose Form dialog.)

To publish a form to Outlook's folders or the forms library:

1. Look on the form's Tools, Forms menu and choose Publish form or Publish form as.

Form Designer menu

In most cases it won't matter which option you choose, but if you are editing a form, choosing Publish Form is similar to using Save – the original form will be replaced. If this is not your intention, choose Publish form as.

It may ask if you want to publish the forms definition. In most cases, no, you don't want to publish the definition. However, others won't see the form unless they have it published or it's in Exchange Server's organizational forms library, unless you include form definitions.

2. Click on the Look in list and find the location where you want to publish the form. You can use any Outlook folder, the personal library or the Organization library, if you use Exchange server.

Use the look in menu to find the form

If you choose an Outlook folder you can select that folder's on Actions menu to open the form – published forms are at the bottom of the menu.

3. Type the form name in the Display name and form name fields and press Publish.

When you want to use the form, look for the form on the Actions menu when you have the folder you published it to open.

Select the published form from the Actions menu

If you published it to the personal forms library you'll need to browse to find it using the Tools, forms, Open form menu.

If you are sharing the form with other users on your Exchange server, install the form to the Organizational forms library so everyone can use it. To install it to the Organizational forms library, select it from the Look In list. You'll need to open it using Tools, Form, Open Form menu when it's in the Organizational forms library.

Using the custom form for New items

You can easily change the default form used for new items for each item type except Mail.

To do this:

  1. Right click on the folder name and choose Properties.
  2. Then select the new form from the General Tab, When posting to this folder use: field.

Now when you click the New button or otherwise create a new item of that item type, it will use the form you selected.

Step 1: Open the properties dialogStep 2: Choose the default form

Step 1: Open the properties dialog        Step 2: Choose the default form

Apply Custom Forms to Existing Items

To change the existing messages to use the custom form, the easiest way is with DocMessageClass, a free utility.

Note: DocMessageClass does not work with Outlook 2013.

Published January 6, 2011. Last updated on June 16, 2017.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Google
  • More
  • Print
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest

Related posts:

Tip 77: Easy Access to Templates within OutlookFor a custom message form with custom properties to work fully, the form must be published to the Organizational Forms library orTip 563: Custom forms and Outlook SecurityQ: I tried the date form sample on your site and it doesn't work. A: Forms containing scripts must be published. This preventsTip 202: Publishing Custom Forms QuestionsIf you are using a custom form in Outlook 2002, 2003 or 2007 and don't want your default signature added to it, you'll neeTip 366: Signatures on Custom Forms

6
Leave a Reply

2500
wpdiscuz_captcharefresh
4 Comment threads
2 Thread replies
0 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
5 Comment authors
2500
wpdiscuz_captcharefresh
  Subscribe  
newest oldest most voted
Notify of
Michael Weisman

WOW! This was exactly what I needed. Thanks!!!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
July 26, 2013 8:13 am
gregp

I have tried to create a custom for in Outlook for others to reply using fill in the blank boxes. It doesn't show the custom form boxes I inserted or anything below the normal box for inserting a response. I tried showing the definitions (per an earlier post) but that doesn't bring it up either. I am sure there is a less stressful way to do this. Any ideas?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
October 31, 2012 10:15 am
Diane Poremsky

Did you set separate read and compose views? If so, you;ll only see the values in the fields in the fields are in both views.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
October 31, 2012 8:42 pm
genghis7777

Thanks so much. I just wanted to add a next action field to the existing contact form and your post made it relatively painfree. I wonder why MS didn't anticipate that messageclasses would require changing?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
October 15, 2012 8:54 pm
Diane Poremsky

They anticipated it, but chose not expose it to the average user. They did this with a lot of things that most users will never use.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
October 16, 2012 6:52 am
Craig

Easy & Simple!!!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
June 22, 2012 1:51 pm

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Outlook Tips by Email

Search OutlookTips

Training and one-on-one assistance

Do you need help setting up Outlook or want some one-on-one training? I'm available for hire. See Training and one-on-one assistance for fees and to check availability.

Popular Posts

  • Popular
  • Latest
  • WeekMonthAll
  • How to start Outlook in safe modeHow to start Outlook in safe mode
  • How to Find Folder Paths in Outlook MailboxesHow to Find Folder Paths in Outlook Mailboxes
  • How to Reset the View on Outlook foldersHow to Reset the View on Outlook folders
  • Change Outlook's Open or Save Attachments FolderChange Outlook's Open or Save Attachments Folder
  • Where is File tab in Outlook?Where is File tab in Outlook?
  • Setting a fixed Column Width in OutlookSetting a fixed Column Width in Outlook
  • How to use Outlook's Command line switchesHow to use Outlook's Command line switches
  • Windows 10 and Outlook's New Email NotificationsWindows 10 and Outlook's New Email Notifications
  • Turn Off the Metered Network Warning in OutlookTurn Off the Metered Network Warning in Outlook
  • Where are my Outlook Files?Where are my Outlook Files?
  • Prevent Accidentally Sending an Email MessagePrevent Accidentally Sending an Email Message
  • Change your password in Outlook 2016Change your password in Outlook 2016
  • Can't Print in Outlook?Can't Print in Outlook?
  • iCloud Contacts are not showing in Address BookiCloud Contacts are not showing in Address Book
  • Autocomplete only uses the first letters of a nameAutocomplete only uses the first letters of a name
  • Drag to Reorder the To-Do ListDrag to Reorder the To-Do List
  • Outlook Search fails to find messagesOutlook Search fails to find messages
  • Daylight Saving Time Calendar Display BugDaylight Saving Time Calendar Display Bug
  • Fixed: iCloud doesn't work in Outlook 2007Fixed: iCloud doesn't work in Outlook 2007
  • Bugs in Outlook's June 13 2017 security updateBugs in Outlook's June 13 2017 security update
Ajax spinner

Footer

You Might Like

Using Two-factor authentication in Outlook
How to install Outlook on a Netbook
Outlook's Missing Holidays
Where are my Outlook Files?
How to use Outlook's Command line switches

Resources

Ask questions and share your knowledge in Outlook Forums.

Most Commented Articles

  • Delete a message stuck in Outlook's Outbox (310)
  • Using Microsoft Outlook's Forms Designer (106)
  • How to use Scanpst.exe to repair Outlook data files (102)
  • Outlook's Missing Holidays (97)
  • Calendar Detail View in Outlook (76)
  • How to start Outlook in safe mode (60)
  • How to Find Folder Paths in Outlook Mailboxes (56)

© 2019 · Outlook Tips

wpDiscuz