Jaa

BUG: Outlook: Word: A signature to death!

  • Artikkeli

I have been working lately with this customer who was trying to create new signature files under %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Signatures folder which will be used by Outlook 2007 (SP2) but what we discovered is that whenever they try to use it, it used to crash Outlook.

This was the content of the HTML Signature file that we were using.

 <HTML>
<BODY>
<IMG SRC="https://www.server.com/logo.jpg" />
</BODY>
</HTML>

Let’s save this HTML file to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Signatures\CrashMe.htm

Now next thing you need to do is make sure that Outlook’s Mail Format is HTML

 

Next you need to make sure that “Typing replaces selected text” is unchecked under Tools->Options->Mail Format->Editor Options->Advanced

 

Once you done it all, now we load a new email item and insert our signature into the body and just try to save the message, and it will crash the Outlook.

Root Cause:

I am not very much sure but its not Outlook’s fault at all, Outlook is just a victim and its Word libraries at fault which are used to Edit the email message.

Workaround:

Since there is no solution at this moment, here are your workarounds.

1) Create the signature file using Outlook’s Signature Designer

2) Do not use HTML as default format for emails, either use RTF or Text

3) Do not uncheck the ‘Typing replaces selected text’ option, keep it selected

The word team is working on it and I shall update you all when I have some more information on this.

Happy Debugging.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    November 09, 2009
    I have an issue with Outlook 2003. When I go into 'tools, options, mail format', if I attempt to use any of the drop down windows (whether it be to change from HTML or to add signature etc.) Outlook shuts completely down immediately. Any ideas?