OK, I think I have it ... finally

I don't understand the reason to add the .GetNamespace and a few other lines, but at least I am not forced to always include a dummy attachment. Found the hint at another forum

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Soft....html#view-all


Option Explicit

 
Sub SendEmail3()
    Const olFolderInbox As Long = 6
    
    Dim oApp As Object, oMail As Object, oFld As Object
    
    Dim sFile As String, sBody As String, sRecipiant
    
    sBody = "This is an email message"
    sRecipiant = "abc@def.net"
    Set oApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
    Set oFld = oApp.GetNamespace("MAPI").GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
    Set oMail = oFld.Items.Add
    
    sFile = vbNullString
    With oMail
        .To = sRecipiant
        .CC = vbNullString
        .Subject = "email test 3 -- " & Format(Now, "General Date")
        .Body = sBody
        If Len(sFile) > 0 Then .Attachments.Add sFile
        .send
    End With

    sFile = "C:\Users\ABC\Scripts\Logs\bu2000-2015-01-20.log"
    Set oMail = oFld.Items.Add
    With oMail
        .To = sRecipiant
        .CC = vbNullString
        .Subject = "email test 3 with attachment-- " & Format(Now, "General Date")
        .Body = sBody
        If Len(sFile) > 0 Then .Attachments.Add sFile
        .send
    End With

    Set oMail = Nothing
    Set oFld = Nothing
    Set oApp = Nothing
        
End Sub

(and I thought PowerPoint was confusing - doesn't even hold a candle to Outlook)