Adding attachments unlock file

Question

I need some help.

My application works with Outlook files. For example, I have a MSG format file is stored at my PC. Let's imagine that I haven't got any running Outlook processes on my PC.

var myProcess = new Process { ProcessInfo = new ProcessStartInfo {FileName = targetPath}}

where targetPath is full path to my file. Then I start process:

myProcess.Start();

At this moment Outlook runs at OS. Looking into TaskManager I see this process, and it's unique PID. And there is my first question: why this PID is different from myProcess.Id ?

Moving on. I need to check is my file still opening at Outlook. I resolve this issue by trying to open this file in my application for a certain time.

var iterations = 3600;
while (iterations > 0 ) {
    Thread.Sleep(1000);
    var fInfo = new FileInfo(targetPath);
    FileStream stream = null;
    try {
        stream = fInfo.Open(FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read | FileAccess.Write, FileShare.None);
    } catch {
        //I expect if exception occurs then file is not lock and can send it to server.
    }
    finally{
        if(stream != null)
        stream.Close();
    }
iteration--;
}

I think, while my MSG file is using by Outlook, I my application cant open file. In that way I decide that cant save my file and send it to server. But! If I add attachment but NOT close this e-mail at Outlook, my application CAN open this file. And I don't understand why Outlook change Read/Write attribute of this file? And how I can solve this issue?

Unfortunately, I haven't any idea why it happens and how to make it work.

I was looking on any info at web that can help to solve my issue, but has no result :(

Thank you for your time.

[Please don't put tags in question titles](https://stackoverflow.com/help/tagging) — Liam, Jun 15 '17 at 08:57
I'm not following what this issue is? Can you elaborate? FYI always `Dispose()` of `FileStream`(s) — Liam, Jun 15 '17 at 09:00
As suggested here, if you are getting incorrect process id from myProcess.ID, you can try using handles to get the id: [getting PID of process started by Process.start()](https://stackoverflow.com/a/12892316/6741868) — Keyur PATEL, Jun 15 '17 at 09:14
As @Liam mentions, your second question is not clear, what do you mean by this "at this moment file becomes available for open"? — Keyur PATEL, Jun 15 '17 at 09:16
Thank you for your comment. Of cause, I can. I start while cycle, put into opening file code, and repeat last operation for a certain time. While my MSG file is using by Outlook, I my application cant open file. In that way I decide that cant save my file and send it to server. But! If I add attachment but NOT close this e-mail at Outlook, my application CAN open this file. And I don't understand why Outlook change Read/Write attribute of this file? And how I can solve this issue? — vpopov, Jun 15 '17 at 09:28

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 18 '17 at 15:44

0

Firstly, Outlook is a singleton - if you start a new instance of outlook.exe, it will simply switch control to the already running instance and exit.

Outlook internally caches / references open MSG files, there is really northing you can do about that.

answered Jun 18 '17 at 15:44

Dmitry Streblechenko

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Adding attachments unlock file

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