I'm releasing a CD -- customized membership software -- soon.

For my email solution, I have included 3 selectable techniques: Outlook automation, collaboration data objects, and the VFP mapi control. I'm trying to fit in with as many email installations as I can. I have found the CDO approach to be necessary for folks on MS Exchange -- especially if there is a proxy server.

Two questions:

1) Are all three of these techniques necessary or does the Outlook solution do everything that the MAPI controls do?

2) What would I gain be substituting your mapi class for the VFP mapi controls? Better error handling? No need to distribute the OCX? Easier to program?

I want to include the MAPI class but I'm up against a deadline.