Outlook command line parameters stopped working

Question

Command line switches has stopped working. The following worked has worked for many years with different versions of Outlook (2007, 2010, Office365) until recently when it stopped working:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note /m "******@b.dk&subject=Test&body=Text to customer".

Now it's just seen as part of recipient, and doesn't fill out subject, message body, cc or bcc.

Answer 1

I believe the issue is that Outlook has made the command more strict recently.

While this used to work: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\outlook.exe" /c ipm.note /m "****@b.dk&**subject=Test&body=Text to customer"

The correct syntax is "...****@b.dk?**subject=Test..."

? to begin the value names with & afterwards.

FYI: This affects Cc= and Bcc= (whichever comes first if in use at all). It may be best to just add a bogus value after the TO value so you can always tack on with "&valuename=X".

Example: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\outlook.exe" /c ipm.note /m "@b.dk?v=1 & cc=@b.dk&bcc**=@b.dk&subject**=Test**&body**=Text to customer"

Answer 2

After changing the first & to a ? it works as expected again.

Answer 3

oh! I just changed the '&' from my code to '?' and now it's fixed! Thanks!

Answer 4

Same thing here, users told me automatic email creation from our ERP stopped working since friday, it's a simple C# code that execute outlook.exe with the cmd parameters for the email content but now everything is inserted in the "To" field. We all have version 2001.

Answer 5

Hi jakobmn,

Thank you for sharing with us, my pleasure to support you.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\outlook.exe" /c ipm.note /m "******@b.dk&subject=Test&body=Text to customer"

After you enter that above command, should be look like this:

Let's say you may use the monthly channel version of your outlook the latest build should be version 2001, which you encounter this issue. Our suggestion is you could revert an earlier version of Office, please refer tothis document.

In addition, could we have a look what version of outlook you are currently using? You can take a screenshot like this:

Let us know if it helps, appreciate it. 

Yours Sincerely,

George