To automatically Bcc all outgoing messages

Outlook has a rule to automatically Cc another person on outgoing messages, but no equivalent for Bcc. This page offers two code samples for adding such an automatic Bcc. Both use the Application.ItemSend event, which fires whenever a user sends a message or other item.

Method #1 (Basic)

This version is suitable for Outlook 2003 or later. It uses Outlook objects exclusively and includes error handling to avoid problems with an invalid Bcc address. Place this VBA code in the built-in ThisOutlookSession module: 

Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, _ Cancel As Boolean) Dim objRecip As Recipient Dim strMsg As String Dim res As Integer Dim strBcc As String On Error Resume Next ' #### USER OPTIONS #### ' address for Bcc -- must be SMTP address or resolvable ' to a name in the address book strBcc = "someone@somewhere.dom" Set objRecip = Item.Recipients.Add(strBcc) objRecip.Type = olBCC If Not objRecip.Resolve Then strMsg = "Could not resolve the Bcc recipient. " & _ "Do you want still to send the message?" res = MsgBox(strMsg, vbYesNo + vbDefaultButton1, _ "Could Not Resolve Bcc Recipient") If res = vbNo Then Cancel = True End If End If Set objRecip = Nothing End Sub

Make sure you substitute the right e-mail address for "someone@somewhere.dom."

The reason that this method is not suitable for versions earlier than Outlook 2003 is because it will trigger an address book security prompt due to the use of Recipients.Add. You could avoid security prompts by simply setting the Item.Bcc property to the desired address, but that has two problems. First, it would wipe out any Bcc recipients that the user might have already added. Also, in some Outlook configurations, setting Bcc without trying to resolve the address results in an unresolved address, even if you use a proper SMTP address; you'll get an error, and Outlook won't send the message.

Method #2 (Redemption)

This version uses the same basic technique as Method #1, only with the third-party Outlook Redemption library to avoid security prompts in versions before Outlook 2003 and, if the recipient cannot be resolved, to display to the user the name resolution dialog.

Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, _ Cancel As Boolean) ' Requires a reference to ' the SafeOutlook library (Redemption.dll) Dim objMe As Redemption.SafeRecipient Dim sMail As Redemption.SafeMailItem On Error Resume Next Set sMail = CreateObject("Redemption.SafeMailItem") Item.Save sMail.Item = Item Set objMe = sMail.Recipients.Add("myaddress@mydomain.dom") objMe.Type = olBCC If Not objMe.Resolve(True) Then Cancel = True End If Set objMe = Nothing Set sMail = Nothing End Sub

Make sure you substitute the right e-mail address for "myaddress@mydomain.dom."

Tools

Auto BCC / CC for Microsoft Outlook  

Add-in for Outlook 2000 - 2010 that can be customized with different criteria for adding Cc or Bcc recipients -- to specified addresses only or if the subject line or the attachment name contains particular words

Silent BCC for Microsoft Outlook

Add-in to monitor every outgoing e-mail silently and invisibly

 More Information

Another common use for the Application.ItemSend event is to check whether the subject of the message is blank or whether it has the expected attachments. Examples:

• Don't send message if attachment is missing -- or Subject is blank
• Checks for blank subject or location (for meeting requests) -- and missing attachments

More samples for the Application.ItemSend event:

• To require confirmation when sending file attachments
• To set the storage folder for an outgoing message
• Set properties on outgoing messages
• To require confirmation when sending to an Exchange distribution list