Need a macro for Outlook 2013 to permanently delete selected message

RetiredCHE · #1 12-31-2017, 06:27 PM

I have tried 4 different macros found from web searches to permanently delete a mail item, but none of them worked for me at all. They either did nothing or gave runtime errors.

I have a Quick Step that I can use, but would prefer a macro that I can assign to the QAT. The Outlook VBA online reference and object browser are very close to useless to me. And I haven't been able to find much in the way of books for VBA in Outlook 2013.

Does anyone have code that works in 2013, and/or the name of a good book for 2013 VBA? Any help is greatly appreciated!

macropod · #2 12-31-2017, 10:46 PM

Have you tried using Shift-Delete? No macros required.

RetiredCHE · #3 01-01-2018, 06:22 AM

I know about Shift-Delete, and I have a Quick Step item to do a Permanent Delete, but was looking for a macro solution to add to my Quick Access Toolbar. But thanks anyway Paul.

gmayor · #4 01-01-2018, 08:17 AM

You can delete an item from a folder with VBA, but it then goes into the Deleted items folder, so you need to delete it from there also. This is easy to do if there is nothing in the deleted items folder, or if the deleted item is the latest item in the deleted folder. If not you are going to have to search for it e.g. as follows.

Code:

Sub DeleteSelectedItem()
'Graham Mayor - http://www.gmayor.com - Last updated - 01 Jan 2018 
Dim olItem As Object
Dim lngDel As Long
Dim strSubject As String
Dim strDate As String
Dim objDeletedFolder As Folder
    Set objDeletedFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderDeletedItems)
    On Error Resume Next
    Set olItem = ActiveExplorer.Selection.Item(1)
    strSubject = olItem.Subject
    strDate = olItem.CreationTime
    olItem.Delete
    For lngDel = objDeletedFolder.Items.Count To 1 Step -1
        With objDeletedFolder.Items(lngDel)
            If .Subject = strSubject And .CreationTime = strDate Then
                objDeletedFolder.Items(lngDel).Delete
                Exit For
            End If
        End With
    Next lngDel
lbl_Exit:
    Set objDeletedFolder = Nothing
    Set olItem = Nothing
    Exit Sub
End Sub

RetiredCHE · #5 01-02-2018, 11:07 AM

Thanks, Graham. This code should work just fine. I do find it interesting that there appears to be no way in a single "command" in VBA to permanently delete an item, yet there is such an action available in both rules and Quick Steps.

Happy New Year!
Alan (molechaser)

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