Example of creating a Solution Module in Outlook 2010 using VBA
In outlook 2010, there is a new but hidden option in the Navigation Pane. The solution module can only be ‘activated’ programmatically by giving it a root folder. SM, just like the other modules such as mail or contact, provides a place to store folders and outlook items. However, SM can store different types of items such as contact/task/mails all under one roof.
There is not much information on SM using VBA, I have googled and saw only one example from Microsoft explaining how to do this in C, a language which I had forgotten many years ago. So I cooked up a quick VBA example to show others how this may works.
Am thinking of using the solution module as my GTD setup @someday. Program outlook to startup in the Solution Module and go from there.
Figure 1 – Adding the Folder before running the macro AND adding the Solution Module to the navigation pane after running the macro
Figure 2 – Running the macro
Figure 3 – Clicking on the solution Module in Navigation Pane
The code starts here, insert a module in outlook VBA editor (ALT F11), copy and paste, then run
Option Explicit
Private Sub CreateSolutionModule()
Dim objPane As NavigationPane
Dim objSolModule As SolutionsModule
Dim objFolder As Outlook.folder
Set objPane = Application.ActiveExplorer.NavigationPane
Set objSolModule = objPane.Modules.GetNavigationModule(olModuleSolutions)
‘Let the User pick a folder to put into Solution Module
Set objFolder = Application.Session.PickFolder
‘Turn on the Solution Module
objSolModule.AddSolution objFolder, olShowInDefaultModules
objSolModule.Visible = True
End Sub
You can run these codes in a class module so that thisoutlooksession won’t be so clutted, example here
The Trusted Adviser 
Seems you discovered some traces of Outlook’s Business Contact Manager. Just check out this videio, you’ll notice that the icon it uses is identical to the one in your screenshots:
And the whole functionality part also easily overlaps. BCM is indeed used to store Outlook-like objects such as appointments, contact information etc.
I have tried BCM before and I believe most people who actively search for an outlook integrated CRM solution would have too. The issue with BCM is that the database is seperate from outlook which means that your outlook data is sometimes stored at one location and sometimes stored at another.
Also, there is the problem of synchronising the data you have entered in BCM to gadgets such as iphone. So using BCM as a GTD solution means one has to be tied to the computer. Most synchronising software/API are mostly developed for the Outlook and not the BCM.
In the worst case, if and after a while of using BCM and one would like to change to another software (lets say ACT!), the data inside is very difficult to transfer out.