Outlook SQL DASL syntax - an update

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Here's an update to my previous blog entry on Doing more with Outlook filter and SQL DASL syntax.

I had some great feedback from my previous posting, there is obviously a need for more information about how to "do stuff" with Outlook filters.

Special thanks to Patrick for a very useful message, which showed me how to use dynamic dates in Outlook filter queries. Previously I thought this was impossible! Patrick's trick (:o) is to use the today(S) function with a parameter in seconds (S). The parameter gives a positive or negative offset from today and can be used to check the Due Date of tasks (or any other date test you like).

Here is Patrick's example which he uses on the Tasks folder:

(
(" https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/811c000b " = 0)

 AND

  (NOT(" https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/81050040 " IS NULL))

 AND

  (" https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/81050040 " <= today(864000))
)

When applied to a task folder, this shows 'not completed' tasks that have a Due Date set in the next 10 days from today.

This same technique should be useful for filtering on received date (etc) on email folders and others.

Here's another tip. Finding articles about Outlook Filter programming is tricky, but if you search for one of the following using MSN Search or Google, you will find several articles to check:

  https://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=81050040

  https://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=811c000b

These numbers come from the XML schema for the Outlook SQL syntax. Sometimes using a very specific identifier in this way can deliver accurate hits.

My previous blog entry is here (Doing more with Outlook filter and SQL DASL syntax).

If you try any of these ideas, please be sure to test the results thoroughly.

-AD

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