# Microsoft Outlook Automation

This guide demonstrates how to automate the Microsoft Outlook desktop application using the `pywin32` library. This allows you to send emails, read inbox messages, and manage folders directly through the installed Outlook client on Windows.

**Note:** This script requires **Windows** and the **Microsoft Outlook** desktop application to be installed and configured.

**Modules Used:**
*   `pywin32`: Provides access to the Windows API and COM objects (specifically `win32com.client`).
*   [[programming/python/modules/argparse-module|argparse]]: To handle command-line arguments.

## Installation

```bash
pip install pywin32
```

## The Code

Save this as `outlook_bot.py`.

```python
import win32com.client as win32
import argparse
import sys
import os

def get_outlook():
    try:
        # Connect to the running Outlook instance or start a new one
        outlook = win32.Dispatch('outlook.application')
        return outlook
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error connecting to Outlook: {e}")
        return None

def send_email(to, subject, body, attachment=None):
    outlook = get_outlook()
    if not outlook: return

    try:
        # 0 represents a MailItem
        mail = outlook.CreateItem(0)
        mail.To = to
        mail.Subject = subject
        mail.Body = body
        
        if attachment:
            if os.path.exists(attachment):
                mail.Attachments.Add(os.path.abspath(attachment))
            else:
                print(f"Warning: Attachment '{attachment}' not found.")

        # mail.Display() # Uncomment to show the email window instead of sending immediately
        mail.Send()
        print(f"Email sent to {to}")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error sending email: {e}")

def read_inbox(count=5):
    outlook = get_outlook()
    if not outlook: return

    try:
        # GetNamespace("MAPI") is required to access folders
        mapi = outlook.GetNamespace("MAPI")
        
        # 6 refers to the Inbox folder
        inbox = mapi.GetDefaultFolder(6)
        
        messages = inbox.Items
        messages.Sort("[ReceivedTime]", True) # Sort by received time descending
        
        print(f"\n--- Latest {count} Emails ---")
        
        # Iterate through the first 'count' messages
        for i, message in enumerate(messages):
            if i >= count:
                break
            
            try:
                sender = message.SenderName
                subject = message.Subject
                received = message.ReceivedTime
                print(f"[{received}] From: {sender} | Subject: {subject}")
            except Exception:
                # Some items might not be MailItems (e.g., meeting requests)
                print(f"[{message.ReceivedTime}] <Non-Mail Item>")

    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error reading inbox: {e}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Outlook Automation Tool")
    subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(dest="command", help="Command to run")

    # Send Command
    send_parser = subparsers.add_parser("send", help="Send an email")
    send_parser.add_argument("to", help="Recipient email")
    send_parser.add_argument("subject", help="Email subject")
    send_parser.add_argument("body", help="Email body")
    send_parser.add_argument("--attachment", help="Path to attachment file")

    # Read Command
    read_parser = subparsers.add_parser("read", help="Read latest emails")
    read_parser.add_argument("-n", "--count", type=int, default=5, help="Number of emails to read")

    args = parser.parse_args()

    if args.command == "send":
        send_email(args.to, args.subject, args.body, args.attachment)
    elif args.command == "read":
        read_inbox(args.count)
    else:
        parser.print_help()
```

## Usage

```bash
# Read the last 5 emails
python outlook_bot.py read

# Send an email
python outlook_bot.py send recipient@example.com "Hello" "This is an automated message."
```

[[programming/python/python]]