--- name: send-outlook-email compatibility: Requires Windows with the classic Outlook desktop client and PowerShell 5.1+ for COM automation. description: >- Send emails via the Outlook COM API from PowerShell. Supports plain-text and HTML-formatted emails, sending to self or specified recipients, with subject and body content. Handles COM object lifecycle (create, send, release). USE FOR: send email, email summary, Outlook email, send via Outlook, email myself, mail summary, HTML email, send notification, email report. DO NOT USE FOR: reading email, calendar invites, Outlook rules, Exchange Web Services, Microsoft Graph API email. --- # Send Outlook Email Skill for sending emails programmatically via the Outlook COM API using PowerShell. ## When to Use - Send a summary or report via email to the current user or a specified recipient - Send HTML-formatted emails with styled content - Automate email notifications from within VS Code / PowerShell ## Prerequisites - **Microsoft Outlook** must be installed and configured with at least one email account - The Outlook COM API (`Outlook.Application`) must be accessible from PowerShell - Works on Windows only (COM is a Windows technology) ## Sending a Plain-Text Email to Yourself ```powershell $ol = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application $mail = $ol.CreateItem(0) $mail.To = $ol.Session.CurrentUser.Address $mail.Subject = "Your Subject Here" $mail.Body = "Plain-text body content here." $mail.Send() # Clean up COM objects [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($mail) | Out-Null [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($ol) | Out-Null ``` ## Sending a Plain-Text Email to a Specific Recipient ```powershell $ol = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application $mail = $ol.CreateItem(0) $mail.To = "recipient@example.com" $mail.Subject = "Your Subject Here" $mail.Body = "Plain-text body content here." $mail.Send() [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($mail) | Out-Null [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($ol) | Out-Null ``` ## Sending an HTML-Formatted Email Use the `HTMLBody` property instead of `Body` for rich formatting. ```powershell $html = @'

Email Title

Date • Context

Section Heading

Paragraph with bold and code formatting.

Warning or important note here.
Informational note here.

Bullet List

Footer text

'@ $ol = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application $mail = $ol.CreateItem(0) $mail.To = $ol.Session.CurrentUser.Address $mail.Subject = "HTML Email Subject" $mail.HTMLBody = $html $mail.Send() [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($mail) | Out-Null [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($ol) | Out-Null ``` ## Best Practices ### Use a Script File for HTML Emails When sending HTML emails from the VS Code integrated terminal, here-strings with HTML can cause buffering and parsing issues. Write the email logic to a `.ps1` file and execute it instead: ```powershell # Write script to temp file, run it, clean up $script = @' $html = @"

Title

Content

"@ $ol = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application $mail = $ol.CreateItem(0) $mail.To = $ol.Session.CurrentUser.Address $mail.Subject = "Subject" $mail.HTMLBody = $html $mail.Send() [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($mail) | Out-Null [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($ol) | Out-Null '@ $tempScript = Join-Path $env:TEMP 'Send-Email.ps1' $script | Set-Content $tempScript -Encoding UTF8 powershell -NoProfile -File $tempScript Remove-Item $tempScript -Force ``` ### Always Release COM Objects Outlook COM objects hold references to the Outlook process. Always release them after sending to avoid orphaned `OUTLOOK.EXE` processes: ```powershell [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($mail) | Out-Null [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($ol) | Out-Null ``` ### Adding CC and BCC Recipients ```powershell $mail.CC = "cc-recipient@example.com" $mail.BCC = "bcc-recipient@example.com" ``` ### Adding Attachments ```powershell $mail.Attachments.Add("C:\path\to\file.pdf") ``` ### Setting Importance ```powershell $mail.Importance = 2 # 0 = Low, 1 = Normal, 2 = High ``` ## Troubleshooting | Symptom | Cause | Fix | |---------|-------|-----| | `New-Object : Retrieving the COM class factory failed` | Outlook not installed | Install Microsoft Outlook | | `Operation aborted` on `.Send()` | Outlook security prompt blocked send | Run from a trusted context or adjust Outlook Trust Center settings | | Email stuck in Outbox | Outlook not connected / Send/Receive not triggered | Open Outlook and click Send/Receive, or ensure Outlook is online | | `RPC_E_CALL_REJECTED` | Outlook is busy (dialog open) | Close any open Outlook dialogs and retry |