# Read Macos Outlook > Search and read Outlook emails via AppleScript (macOS only). Requires Outlook to be running. Returns max ~1000 token summary. - Skill: `jimweller/read-macos-outlook` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jimweller/read-macos-outlook` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jimweller/read-macos-outlook/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: jimweller (https://skillmd.com/u/jimweller) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jimweller/read-macos-outlook --- # Read macOS Outlook You help users search and read emails from Microsoft Outlook on macOS using AppleScript. ## Requirements - **macOS only** - Uses AppleScript - **Legacy Outlook required** - New Outlook does NOT support AppleScript - Switch to Legacy Outlook: Outlook menu > Legacy Outlook - Script will detect and error if New Outlook is active - **Partial downloads** - Some emails may not have bodies downloaded locally ## CRITICAL: Smart Folder Selection **DO NOT search all folders blindly.** Large mailboxes (40k+ messages) will be slow. ### Step 1: Always List Folders First ```bash ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh folders ``` This returns folder names, IDs, and message counts. Use this to make smart decisions. ### Step 2: Pick Folders Based on Query Type | Query Type | Folders to Search | |------------|-------------------| | "emails I sent" / "my sent emails" | `Sent Items` only | | "emails I received" / "inbox" | `Inbox` only | | "emails from [person]" | `Inbox` (they sent to you) | | "emails to [person]" | `Sent Items` (you sent to them) | | "correspondence with [person]" | `Inbox,Sent Items` | | "all emails about [topic]" | `Inbox,Sent Items` | | "drafts" | `Drafts` only | | "deleted emails" | `Deleted Items` only | | "archived emails" | `Archive` (if exists) | ### Step 3: Use Folder IDs for Ambiguous Names Multiple accounts may have folders with the same name (e.g., two "Inbox" folders). When `folders` shows duplicates, use the **folder ID** instead of the name: ```bash # Use ID to target specific folder ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh search --folder 117 --limit 20 ``` Pick the folder with more messages (likely the active account). ## Workflow 1. **List folders** - Always start here to understand the mailbox structure 2. **Analyze query** - What is the user looking for? Sent? Received? Both? 3. **Select folders** - Pick 1-3 relevant folders based on query type 4. **Search with filters** - Use date, subject, sender filters to narrow results 5. **Read details** - Get full content of high-relevance emails 6. **Summarize** - Present findings focused on the user's context ## Commands ```bash # ALWAYS START HERE - List all folders ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh folders # Search specific folder(s) ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh search \ --folder "Inbox" \ --subject "term" \ --sender "email@example.com" \ --after "2025-01-01" \ --before "2025-01-31" \ --limit 20 # Search by folder ID (use when names are ambiguous) ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh search \ --folder 117 \ --limit 10 # Search multiple folders (comma-separated) ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh search \ --folder "Inbox,Sent Items" \ --after "2025-01-01" # Get single email by ID ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh get # Get email thread by conversation ID ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh thread ``` ## Search Options | Option | Description | Example | |--------|-------------|---------| | `--folder` | Folder name(s) or ID. **Required - always specify!** | `--folder "Inbox"` or `--folder 117` | | `--subject` | Subject contains term | `--subject "deployment"` | | `--sender` | Sender email contains | `--sender "azure"` | | `--after` | Emails after date | `--after "2025-01-01"` | | `--before` | Emails before date | `--before "2025-01-31"` | | `--limit` | Max results (default: 50) | `--limit 10` | | `--offset` | Skip first N results | `--offset 20` | **Multiple folders**: Use comma-separated names: `--folder "Inbox,Sent Items"` Omit unused options (don't include empty `--subject ""`). ## Search Response ```json { "folders_searched": 2, "total_matches": 48, "returned": 10, "offset": 0, "results": [ { "id": 12345, "subject": "Deployment Complete", "sender_email": "azure@microsoft.com", "sender_name": "Azure DevOps", "date": "2025-01-28", "folder": "Inbox", "folder_id": 113, "conversation_id": 789, "is_partial": false } ] } ``` ## Get Response ```json { "id": 12345, "subject": "Deployment Complete", "sender_email": "azure@microsoft.com", "sender_name": "Azure DevOps", "date_sent": "2025-01-28T14:30", "date_received": "2025-01-28T14:31", "folder": "Inbox", "folder_id": 113, "conversation_id": 789, "is_read": true, "is_partial": false, "to": [{"name": "User", "email": "user@company.com"}], "cc": [], "content": "Email body text..." } ``` ## Handling Partial Downloads If `is_partial: true`, the email body is not available locally. The user must open the email in Outlook first to download it. Report partial status clearly: ``` CONTENT STATUS: Not downloaded (email must be opened in Outlook first) ``` Then provide what analysis you can from metadata (subject, sender, date, recipients). ## Output Format ``` SEARCH STRATEGY: - Query: [what user asked for] - Folders selected: [folder names and why] - Filters applied: [date range, subject, sender] RESULTS: [N] emails found in [folders] EMAIL: [ID] - [Subject] FROM: [Sender Name] <[email]> DATE: [Date Sent] FOLDER: [Folder name] (ID: [folder_id]) RELEVANT FINDINGS: - [Finding relevant to research context] KEY CONTENT: - [Important details from email body] RELEVANCE: [high|medium|low] - [explanation] ``` ## Rules - **ALWAYS list folders first** - Don't guess at folder names - **Pick specific folders** - Don't search everything - MAX ~1000 tokens output - Focus on research context - extract what's RELEVANT - If emails have minimal relevance, say so briefly - Include RELEVANCE rating ## Example Session User asks: "Find emails I sent about the deployment last week" 1. **List folders:** ```bash ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh folders ``` -> See "Sent Items" (ID: 117, 46 messages) and "Sent Items" (ID: 3, 0 messages) 2. **Analyze:** User wants SENT emails -> search Sent Items only. Use ID 117 (has messages). 3. **Search:** ```bash ~/.dataops-assistant/bin/outlook-email.sh search \ --folder 117 \ --subject "deployment" \ --after "2025-01-20" \ --limit 20 ``` 4. **Summarize findings** focused on deployment topics.