GetExplorer Method

Microsoft Outlook Visual Basic

Returns an Explorer object that represents a new, inactive Explorer object initialized with the specified folder as the current folder. This method is useful for returning a new Explorer object in which to display the folder, as opposed to using the ActiveExplorer method and setting the CurrentFolder property.

The Display method can be used to activate or show the Explorer.

The GetExplorer method takes an optional argument of an OlFolderDisplayMode constant.

By default, the new Explorer will be displayed in the Normal mode (olFolderDisplayNormal) with all interface elements displayed: a message panel on the right and the Navigation Pane on the left. The exception to this rule is when you are calling GetExplorer on delegated folders which are in No-Navigation mode by default. You can apply more restrictions to a default mode, but you cannot lessen the restrictions by changing the OlFolderDisplayMode.

The explorer can also be displayed in Folder-Only mode (olFolderDisplayFolderOnly). This mode is essentially same as the Normal mode, in that it too displays the Navigation Pane on the left.

The most restrictive mode you can use is No-Navigation mode (olFolderDisplayNoNavigation). In this mode, the Explorer will display with no folder list, no drop-down folder list, and any "Go"-type menu/command bar options should be disabled. Basically, the user should not be able to navigate to any other folder within that Explorer window. By default, a delegated (shared) folder appears in No-Navigation mode.

expression.GetExplorer(DisplayMode)

expression    Required. An expression that returns a MAPIFolder object.

DisplayMode    Optional Variant. The display mode of the folder. Can be one of the following OlFolderDisplayMode constants: olFolderDisplayFolderOnly, olFolderDisplayNoNavigation or olFolderDisplayNormal (default).

Example

This Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) example uses the GetExplorer method to return a new, inactive Explorer for the default Contacts folder, disables the user from customizing the commandbars, and then displays it in the default mode of olFolderDisplayNormal. Once the sub routine is run, the user will not be able to add or remove toolbar buttons or customize the menu options.

Sub DisableCustomize()
	Dim outApp As New Outlook.Application
	Dim nsp As Outlook.NameSpace
	Dim mpfContacts As Outlook.MAPIFolder
	Dim expContacts As Outlook.Explorer
	Set nsp = outApp.GetNamespace("MAPI")
	Set mpfContacts = nsp.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderContacts)
	Set expContacts = mpfContacts.GetExplorer
	expContacts.CommandBars.DisableCustomize = True
	expContacts.Activate
End Sub
		

If you use Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) in an Outlook form, you do not create the Application object, and you cannot use named constants. This example shows how to display an explorer using VBScript.

Set myNameSpace = Application.GetNameSpace("MAPI")
Set myFolder = myNameSpace.GetDefaultFolder(6)
Set myExplorer = myFolder.GetExplorer
myExplorer.Display