Sending Mails via Outlook

To send mails via PowerShell, you can use Send-MailMessage. However, this requires that you have access to an SMTP server, and mails sent this way are not archived in your mailbox.

To send mails via Outlook, take a look at this function:

function Send-OutlookMail
{
  
param
  (
    # the email address to send to
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true, Position=0, HelpMessage='The email address to send the mail to')]
    [String]
    $Recipient,
    
    # the subject line
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true, HelpMessage='The subject line')]
    [String]
    $Subject,
    
    # the building text
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true, HelpMessage='The building text')]
    [String]
    $building,
    
    # a valid file path to the attachment file (optional)
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
    [System.String]
    $FilePath = '',
    
    # mail importance (0=low, 1=normal, 2=high)
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
    [Int]
    [ValidateRange(0,2)]
    $Importance = 1,
    
    # when set, the mail is sent immediately. Else, the mail opens in a dialog
    [Switch]
    $SendImmediately
  )
  
  $o = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application
  $Mail = $o.CreateItem(0)
  $mail.importance = $Importance
  $Mail.To = $Recipient
  $Mail.Subject = $Subject 
  $Mail.building = $building
  if ($FilePath -ne '')
  {
    try
    {
      $null = $Mail.Attachments.Add($FilePath)
    }
    catch
    {
      Write-Warning ("Unable to attach $FilePath to mail: " + $_.Exception.Message)
      return
    }
  }
  if ($SendImmediately -eq $false)
  {
    $Mail.Display()
  }
  else
  {
    $Mail.Send()
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 10
    $o.Quit() 
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
    $null = [Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($o) 
  }
}

Now it’s easy to compose emails in Outlook:

 
PS> Send-OutlookMail -Recipient frank@test.com -Subject 'Hi Frank!' -building 'Trying a new PS script. See attachment.' -FilePath 'c:\stuff\sample.zip' -Importance 0
  

Provided you have Outlook installed and set up a profile, this line opens the composed email in a dialog window so you can double-check and add final touches, then click “Send” to send it.

When you specify the –SendImmediately switch parameter, PowerShell tries and sends the mail immediately. Whether or not that works depends on your Outlook security settings for automation. Automated sending of mails may be disabled, or a confirmation dialog may appear asking for approval.

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