To clear the Links collection in an Outlook item

In writing about the Links property in Outlook items, I learned from an alert reader that Outlook provides no way to remove a link from a "sticky note" item once you create it. The code below does the job, clearing the Links collection.

To try this code, paste it into a module in VBA in Outlook 2000 or later. Then, open the item whose links you want to remove and run the code (you can press Alt+F8 to get the list of available macros).

Code Sample

Sub ClearLinks() Dim objApp As Application Dim objItem As Object Dim colLinks As Links Dim res As Long Dim strMsg As String Set objApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application") On Error Resume Next ' requires the user to first open the item Set objItem = objApp.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem If Not objItem Is Nothing Then Set colLinks = objItem.Links If colLinks.Count > 0 Then strMsg = "Do you want to clear this item's Contact links?" res = MsgBox(strMsg, vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Clear Links") If res = vbYes Then Do While colLinks.Count > 0 colLinks.Remove 1 Loop objItem.Save End If End If Else strMsg = "Please open the item whose Contact links you want to clear." MsgBox strMsg, , "Clear Links" End If Set colLinks = Nothing Set objItem = Nothing Set objApp = Nothing End Sub

Notes

This code demonstrates the proper way to remove items from a collection using a Do loop, rather than a For Each loop. If you use Remove in a For Each loop, you will remove only every other item.

More Information

To update the Companies field in a Microsoft Outlook journal item with data from a linked contact
Making Contact -- relinking contacts in a moved mailbox or imported items
To add information from a linked contact to an appointment


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