Can only send email via Outlook if Outlook is open

Question

I want to use send emails via Outlook as described here. It works fine as long as I have already opened Outlook. So for example if Outlook is minimized and I execute my code

Answer 1

The following code has reliably worked for months for me:

            app = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook.Application();
            Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook.NameSpace ns = app.GetNamespace("MAPI");
            f = ns.GetDefaultFolder(OlDefaultFolders.olFolderInbox);
            Thread.Sleep(5000); // a bit of startup grace time.

if outlook was open it uses it, if not its opened it. Of course, if your outlook requires you to login, your code wont allow for that. Some systems make it difficult for you to auto login.