How to Auto Insert & Update Countdown Days in Outlook Tasks’ Subjects

Some users are eager to auto insert and update countdown days in tasks’ subjects. So, in this article, we will introduce an intelligent approach to get it.

When you open a task, you will definitely see the “Due in XX days” screen tip in the header. Nevertheless, since you are used to checking task directly in the list, you may hope to see such countdown tip straightly in the task subject. Therefore, in the followings, we’ll share a smart way to auto insert and update countdown days in tasks’ subjects.

Auto Insert & Update Countdown Days in Tasks’ Subjects

1. For a start, trigger Outlook VBA editor by referring to the article – “How to Run VBA Code in Your Outlook“.
2. Next, in the “ThisOutlookSession” project, put the following VBA code.

Private WithEvents objTasks As Outlook.Items
Private objItem As Object

Private Sub Application_Startup()
    Set objTasks = Outlook.Application.Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderTasks).Items
 
    'Auto Update Countdown Days in All Tasks' Subjects on Startup
    For Each objItem In objTasks
        Call UpdateCountdownDays(objItem)
    Next
End Sub

'Auto Insert the Countdown Days to New Tasks' Subjects
Private Sub objTasks_ItemAdd(ByVal Item As Object)
    Dim objTask As Outlook.TaskItem
    Dim lCountdownDays As Long
 
    If Item.Class = olTask Then
       Set objTask = Item
       With objTask
            lCountdownDays = .DueDate - Date
           .Subject = .Subject & " (Due in " & lCountdownDays & " days)"
           .Save
       End With
    End If
End Sub

'Auto Update Countdown Days when Changing Tasks
Private Sub objTasks_ItemChange(ByVal Item As Object)
    Call UpdateCountdownDays(Item)
End Sub

Private Sub UpdateCountdownDays(ByVal objItem As Object)
    Dim objTask As Outlook.TaskItem
    Dim strSubject As String
    Dim strCountdownNotes As String
    Dim lCountdownDays As Long
 
    If objItem.Class = olTask Then
       Set objTask = objItem
       strSubject = objTask.Subject
 
       'Replace the Old Countdown Days with New Value in Task Subject
       If InStr(1, strSubject, "Due in") > 0 Then
          strCountdownNotes = Right(strSubject, Len(strSubject) - InStr(1, strSubject, "(Due in") + 1)
          With objTask
               lCountdownDays = .DueDate - Date
               .Subject = Replace(objTask.Subject, strCountdownNotes, "(Due in " & lCountdownDays & " days)")
               .Save
          End With
       End If
    End If
End Sub

4. After that, restart your Outlook application.
5. Since then, every time when you create a new Task, Outlook will auto insert the countdown days into its subject.
6. Besides, as long as you start Outlook or make modifications in a task, Outlook will auto update the countdown days.

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Author Introduction:

Shirley Zhang is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including corrupt mdf and outlook repair software products. For more information visit www.datanumen.com