Clipform uses templates to define and format the Outlook data to be extracted or inserted. You can even specify the formatting for dates, numbers and Boolean (yes/no) data. You can mix literal strings and text formatting (such as tabs, hard returns, etc.). You can even include HTML code, so that you can create a web page from your Outlook data in one step.
Clipform templates can be created in any text editor (e.g. Notepad).
Clipform works with all types of Outlook data - contact items, appointment items, mail items, task items, journal items, post items, even note items. You can extract all items in a folder, or all items currently selected. The data to be extracted can be filtered.
Data can be extracted to the Windows clipboard, saved as a text file, or placed in an e-mail message.
Clipform is controlled by user-defined templates, text files with the .CPF extension, which can be created using any text editor (e.g. Notepad). By default, templates are stored in a Templates subfolder of the Clipform program folder. A shortcut is placed on the Windows Start menu to open this folder.
- To create a new template,
- Press the Windows Start button, then choose Programs and Ivitar Software
- Click on New Template.
You'll be prompted for a name. A new blank template will be created and opened in Notepad.
- To edit an existing template, right-click on the template in the Windows Explorer and choose Edit. The template will be opened in Notepad.
- To launch a template, simply double-click on it.
The template specifies the following information:
- The source of the Outlook data to be extracted - either an Outlook folder, or all currently selected items.
- The output destination - either a text or HTML file, an e-mail recipient, or the Windows clipboard.
- Filters (optional) to be applied to the Outlook data.
- Sort (optional) criteria for the Outlook data.
- A command (optional) to be launched after Clipform is completed. You can, for example, open an extracted text file in Notepad, or launch a macro that will use the extracted data.
- The Outlook field values to be extracted, surrounded by square brackets, along with the format (in the case of non-text data: dates and times, numerals, and boolean (yes/no) values). (Follow the links for information on the available field values for contact items, appointment, task and journal items, and mail and post items.)
- (Optional) New in version 1.4, Outlook field values can be prefaced with a conditional label which will be included in the output if the Outlook data is present, but will be omitted if the Outlook data is absent. Include the desired text within the square brackets; separate from the Outlook field name with a vertical bar. For example, [E-Mail: |EMail1Address] would preface e-mail addresses with a label, but would omit the label if the Outlook item has no e-mail address.
- (Optional) the [ITEMCOUNT] directive, to insert the total number of items, and the [#] directive, to insert the current item number.
- Text to accompany the Outlook field values. This can include HTML tags- making Clipform perfect for creating web pages on-the-fly!
- (Optional) the [ENDHEADER] and/or [BEGINFOOTER] directives. Any text that precedes [ENDHEADER] will appear once at the beginning of the Clipform output. Any text that follows [BEGINFOOTER] will appear once at the end of the Clipform output. This is useful for including text information once at the start or end of the output.
Here's an example of a simple Clipform template. This template extracts a phone directory.
[Source=outlook://Personal Folders/Contacts]
[Output=c:\My Documents\phonebook.txt]
[Sort=FileAs]
PHONE DIRECTORY
[ENDHEADER]
[FileAs]
[JobTitle]
[CompanyName]
[BusinessAddressStreet], [BusinessAddressState] [BusinessAddressPostalCode]
Phone: [BusinessTelephoneNumber]
Fax: [BusinessFaxNumber]
Clipform comes with several sample templates which are installed in the Templates subfolder of the Clipform program folder. These templates demonstrate some of the uses of Clipform for working with Microsoft Outlook data. You can use these templates as is, customise them, or make your own!
