How to Create Birthday Reminders Using Microsoft Outlook, in C#

Introduction

I guess it isn't rocket science to put birthday reminders into Outlook, but nevertheless, doing it in C# code cost me more effort than it should have. So without further ado, here is the code.

Steps

1. Ensure you reference Microsoft Outlook, then create a new application.

   Outlook._Application olApp = 
      (Outlook._Application) new Outlook.Application();

2. Log on. (I think email needs to be running)

   Outlook.NameSpace mapiNS = olApp.GetNamespace("MAPI")
   string profile = "";
   mapiNS.Logon(profile, null, null, null);

3. Repeat the line.

   CreateYearlyAppointment(olApp, "Birthday", 
      "Kim", new DateTime(2004, 03,08, 7, 0, 0));

   for your wife and kids etc. etc.!!!

The Code

static void CreateYearlyAppointment(Outlook._Application olApp, 
    string reminderComment, string person, DateTime dt)
  {
   // Use the Outlook application object to create an appointment
   Outlook._AppointmentItem apt = (Outlook._AppointmentItem)
    olApp.CreateItem(Outlook.OlItemType.olAppointmentItem);
  
   // set some properties
   apt.Subject = person + " : " + reminderComment;
   apt.Body = reminderComment;
  
   apt.Start = dt;
   apt.End   = dt.AddHours(1);
 
   apt.ReminderMinutesBeforeStart = 24*60*7 * 1;  // One week reminder
   
   // Makes it appear bold in the calendar - which I like!
   apt.BusyStatus = Outlook.OlBusyStatus.olTentative; 
   
   apt.AllDayEvent = false;
   apt.Location = "";
   
   Outlook.RecurrencePattern myPattern = apt.GetRecurrencePattern();
   myPattern.RecurrenceType = Outlook.OlRecurrenceType.olRecursYearly;
   myPattern.Interval = 1;
   apt.Save();
  }

Reap The Rewards

With a one week reminder, you will never again forget your Mum's birthday.