OL2002: "Operation Failed" Error Message When Sending Attachments (289966)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to send a file as an e-mail attachment in a program that uses simple Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) protocol (for example, Microsoft Word), you receive the following error message if Outlook 2002 is not running when you send the attachment:

The operation failed.

When you click OK in the error message, the e-mail message that contains the attachment disappears. If you then start Outlook, you find that the message is in the Outbox but still waiting to be sent.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because programs that use simple MAPI cannot handle sending an e-mail attachment when Outlook is not running.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, either make sure Outlook is running when you send an attachment through a program that uses simple MAPI, or start Outlook after you receive the error message and then click Send/Receive to send the message with the attachment.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.