How to keep category while replying or forwarding email in Outlook?

Author Xiaoyang Last modified 2024-08-21

Normally, when you reply or forward an email that I have categorized, the category will be removed automatically on the sent email. If you want to keep the category on outgoing emails in replying or forwarding, this article will introduce a method to deal with it.

Keep category while replying or forwarding email with VBA code

Keep category while replying or forwarding email with VBA code

1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. In the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, double click ThisOutlookSession from the Project1(VbaProject.OTM) pane to open the mode, and then copy and paste the following code into the blank module.

VBA code: Keep category while replying or forwarding email:

Private WithEvents GExplorer As Outlook.Explorer
Private WithEvents GInspectors As Outlook.Inspectors
Private WithEvents GMailItem As Outlook.MailItem
Private GCategories As String
Private Sub Application_Startup()
    Dim xApp As Outlook.Application
    Set xApp = Outlook.Application
    Set GExplorer = xApp.ActiveExplorer
    Set GInspectors = xApp.Inspectors
End Sub
Private Sub GExplorer_SelectionChange()
    On Error Resume Next
    If TypeName(GExplorer.Selection.Item(1)) <> "MailItem" Then Exit Sub
    Set GMailItem = GExplorer.Selection.Item(1)
    GCategories = GMailItem.Categories
End Sub
Private Sub GInspectors_NewInspector(ByVal Inspector As Inspector)
    On Error Resume Next
    If TypeName(Inspector.CurrentItem) <> "MailItem" Then Exit Sub
   Set GMailItem = Inspector.CurrentItem
    GCategories = GMailItem.Categories
End Sub
Private Sub GMailItem_Forward(ByVal Forward As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
    Call GetCategories(Forward)
End Sub
Private Sub GMailItem_Reply(ByVal Response As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
    Call GetCategories(Response)
End Sub
Private Sub GMailItem_ReplyAll(ByVal Response As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
    Call GetCategories(Response)
End Sub
Private Sub GetCategories(ByVal NewMail As Object)
    If NewMail.Class <> olMail Then Exit Sub
    NewMail.Categories = GCategories
End Sub

3. Then save and close this code window, close and restart the Outlook, now, when you reply or forward an email with category, the category will be kept in the outgoing message in Sent Items, see screenshot: