Using Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory in Graph PowerShell

The Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory cmdlet is a powerful tool for retrieving the master category list of a user's Outlook account. This list includes categories that the user can use to tag their Outlook items like emails, calendar events, and tasks. Understanding how to use this cmdlet effectively can streamline your Microsoft 365 management tasks.

Cmdlet Syntax

The basic syntax for the Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory cmdlet is as follows:

Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory -UserId <String> [-CategoryId <String>] [-Property <String[]>] [-ExpandProperty <String[]>] [<CommonParameters>]

• -UserId: Specifies the user ID of the user whose master category list you want to retrieve.
• -CategoryId: Specifies the ID of a specific category to retrieve.
• -Property: Specifies the properties to include in the response.
• -ExpandProperty: Specifies related entities to include in the response.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Retrieve All Categories for a User

Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory -UserId "user@domain.com"

This command retrieves the complete list of master categories for the specified user.

Example 2: Retrieve Specific Category by ID

Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory -UserId "user@domain.com" -CategoryId "categoryId"

This command retrieves a specific category from the user's master category list by its ID.

Cmdlet Tips

• Filtering and Selecting Properties: Use the -Property parameter to filter and select only the necessary properties, which can make your scripts more efficient.
• Expand Properties: Use the -ExpandProperty parameter to include related entities in the response, which can be useful for more comprehensive data retrieval.
• Error Handling: Always include error handling in your scripts to manage potential issues gracefully.

Use Cases

• Organizing and Managing Outlook Items: The Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory cmdlet can be used to organize and manage Outlook items by retrieving the categories a user has defined. This can be particularly useful for generating reports on category usage or ensuring that specific categories are available for tagging important items.
• Auditing and Compliance: For compliance and auditing purposes, administrators can use this cmdlet to ensure that users are adhering to organizational standards for categorization and tagging.

Possible Errors & Solutions

Error 1: Unauthorized Access

Issue: You might encounter an error if you do not have the necessary permissions to access the user's category list.
Solution: Ensure you have the necessary permissions by assigning the appropriate roles or obtaining consent from the user. The required API permission is MailboxSettings.Read.

Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory : Error occurred while executing GetUserOutlookMasterCategory
Code: Authorization_RequestDenied
Message: Insufficient privileges to complete the operation.

To resolve this, make sure you have the required permissions:

Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "User.Read.All"

Error 2: User Not Found

Issue: The specified user ID is incorrect or the user does not exist.
Solution: Verify the user ID and ensure that the user exists in your Microsoft 365 tenant.

Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory : Error occurred while executing GetUserOutlookMasterCategory
Code: Request_ResourceNotFound
Message: Resource could not be discovered.

Double-check the user ID you are using in the cmdlet:

Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory -UserId "user@domain.com"

Conclusion

The Get-MgUserOutlookMasterCategory cmdlet is a versatile and essential tool for managing and organizing Outlook categories within Microsoft 365. By understanding its syntax, usage, and potential errors, administrators can leverage this cmdlet to streamline their workflows and ensure efficient category management across their organization.

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