After selecting the “Link to the data source by creating a new table” option (shown in Figure 8.5)
and clicking OK, the Link Exchange/Outlook Wizard opens, much the same as in previous ver-
sions of Office, letting you select a folder to link to an Access table.FIGURE 8.5Selecting the Tasks folder for linking to an Access table.
On the next screen of the wizard, you can give the table a name; I use the “ol” prefix to indicate
that the table is linked to Outlook. I made linked tables for tasks, contacts, and appointments
(located in the calendar folder, and named as such). Figure 8.6 shows three linked Outlook tables
in the Tables list; note the arrow indicating a linked table, and the distinctive icon for Outlook.FIGURE 8.6Access tables linked to Outlook folders.
As with earlier versions of Office, the Link option has serious limitations. The linked olTasks table
(shown in Figure 8.7) has a great many fields, but it lacks the crucial Subject field, making it all
but useless.Working with Outlook Items 8