How To Implement a MessageFilter in VFP Using Active Messaging

MORE INFORMATION

Being a database developer, you are most likely aware of both the concept and benefits of applying filters to tables in order to process only a set of records that meet a certain criteria. The same concept applies equally well to Messages (for example: I want to see only unread messages, or only messages from a certain person, ...). The following code sample demonstrates how to implement this functionality in Visual FoxPro using the Active Messaging library:

   * AM_MessageFilter.PRG
   * --------------------
   *
   *Create a MAPI Session object then Logon. The Logon dialog can be
   *bypassed by providing a valid ProfileName as the first parameter
   *(as a string) to the Logon Method as seen below.
   objSession = CREATEOBJECT("mapi.session")
   objSession.Logon    &&objSession.Logon("YourProfileName")

   *Instantiate a MessageFilter Object on the Inbox's Messages collection
   objMsgColl = objSession.Inbox.Messages
   objMsgFilter = objMsgColl.Filter

   *Setup the criteria for the MessageFilter
   objMsgFilter.Text = "test test"
   objMsgFilter.Unread = .T.  && Filter for unread messages

   *By default the two conditions noted above are logically ANDed, this
   *can be changed however to a logical OR instead by uncommenting the
   *next line
   *objMsgFilter.Or = .T.

   *Message filter is now specified; ready for display loop
   FOR EACH objMess IN objMsgColl && Operates only on messages post filter
      MESSAGEBOX("Message not read: " + objMess.Subject)
   NEXT

   *Clean up then bail
   objSession.Logoff
   RELEASE objMessage, objMsgFilter, objMsgColl, objSession
				

NOTE: If you intend to apply the MessageFilter for only a specific task then continue processing as normal with the full Messages Collection available, you MUST be careful and release both the MessageFilter and refresh the Messages Collection. While this sounds obvious enough when reading it in print, it is a common mistake when using MessageFilters.