You have to tell the macro which message myItem refers to. If it is a selected item then:
Sub FindMatterNumber() Dim strSubject As String Dim myItem As Outlook.MailItem On Error Resume Next Select Case Outlook.Application.ActiveWindow.Class Case olInspector Set myItem = ActiveInspector.currentItem Case olExplorer Set myItem = Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection.Item(1) End Select strSubject = myItem.Subject MsgBox "Subject is: " & strSubject, vbInformation lbl_Exit: Exit Sub End Sub