Delete Original Email When Replying

This sample shows how to delete an e-mail as soon as you click the Reply button. Outlook creates the reply (and, depending on your settings, with the original text in it) and moves the original into the folder for deleted items.

The macro works with Outlook 2010 and older.

  How to add macros to Outlook

Private WithEvents ReplyButton As Office.CommandBarButton
Private WithEvents m_Inspectors As Outlook.Inspectors
Private m_Mail As Outlook.MailItem

Private Sub Application_Startup()
  Set ReplyButton = Application.ActiveExplorer.CommandBars.FindControl(, 354)
  Set m_Inspectors = Application.Inspectors
End Sub

Private Sub m_Inspectors_NewInspector(ByVal Inspector As Outlook.Inspector)
  On Error Resume Next
  If Not m_Mail Is Nothing Then
    m_Mail.Delete
    Set m_Mail = Nothing
  End If
End Sub

Private Sub ReplyButton_Click(ByVal Ctrl As Office.CommandBarButton, _
  CancelDefault As Boolean _
)
  On Error Resume Next

  If TypeOf Application.ActiveWindow Is Outlook.Explorer Then
    Set m_Mail = Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection(1)
  Else
    Set m_Mail = Application.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
  End If
End Sub