CyberSecretary for Microsoft Outlook includes several functions which are useful for accessing information via the Internet.
.SearchInternet "Engine", "Query"
This method initiates an Internet search for the specified query using the chosen search engine. The query string for the chosen search engine is stored in the Registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ VB and VBA Program Settings\ CyberSecretary\ Internet. Several popular search engines are added to the Registry by CyberSecretary's setup program, and others can be added. The search results are displayed using the default web browser. This way of making searches is faster than loading the search engine's home page.
.GetURL "URL"
This method returns the data identified by the specified URL and returns it as a variant. Usually this would be a web page, but may be any type of data. This method is useful for obtaining a web page and returning it to be pasted into a Word document or Outlook mail message. For example, the following code will post your "My Yahoo!" page to your Outlook Inbox:
Dim ol as Outlook.Application
Set ol = New Outlook.Application
Dim MyPost as PostItem
Set MyPost = ol.CreateItem(olPostItem)
MyPost.HTMLBody = MySecretary.GetURL "http://my.yahoo.com"
MyPost.Post
.GetFileFTP "Site", "RemoteFile", "LocalFile"
This method uses Internet FTP to download the specified remote file from the specified site, saving it as the specified local file. Please note, this method only works with anonymous FTP. Logins requiring passwords are not supported at this time.
.GetMap "Street", "City", "State", "PostalCode"
This method uses the MapBlast Internet mapping service to display a street map in the user's default web browser. The four parameters can be input by the user or might be extracted from an Outlook contact item, e.g.:
Dim MyContact as ContactItem
Set MyContact = ol.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
With MyContact
MySecretary.GetMap .BusinessAddressStreet, _
.BusinessAddressCity, .BusinessAddressState,
_
.BusinessAddressPostalCode
End With
.GetStockPrice "Ticker Name"
This method uses the Yahoo! Internet stock quote service to access current stock quotations. This method requires a single string parameter consisting of the stock ticker symbol followed by a space and the name of the stock. The current price and today's price change are returned by your CyberSecretary's dialog box รป with appropriate facial expressions depending on whether the stock price is up, down or unchanged. You will then be given the option whether to obtain a full stock report in your web browser.