Greetings! Welcome to issue #12 of Exchange Messaging Outlook (formerly Exchange Center Update), an occasional newsletter about Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging and Microsoft Outlook, both for users of Windows 95 and NT 4.0 and for organizations using Exchange Server.

Today's highlights:

Regular features:

Happy Birthday to Microsoft Exchange Server

The Microsoft Exchange Server celebrations continue. First, it was the official launch of version 5.0. Now, it's the first birthday party. There'll be a event at the Microsoft Exchange Server Community site at http://www.exchangeserver.com starting March 31. While you're there, check out the profile of the Slipstick Systems Exchange Center to learn a little more about us.

Microsoft Outlook trial version

In connection with the release of Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 and its trial version (http://www.exchangeserver.com/trial/), a 120-day trial version of Microsoft Outlook 8.01 is also available. This version has been updated to work with some of the new client features in Exchange Server 5.0. A 120-day trial version (30mb) is labeled for NT but also works with Win95. For information on what's new in 8.01, see http://www.microsoft.com/kb/articles/q163/7/43.htm.

Note that you don't need this version of Microsoft Outlook to connect to Microsoft Exchange Server. The version in the Office 97 box works fine; it just doesn't have the additional 5.0 features.

Mail attachment security add-on

No doubt you've heard all about the latest security problems in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator and always think twice about opening attachments sent to you via e-mail. Or do you? To help you remember that mail attachments can be dangerous, Microsoft has posted an add-on for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Outlook. Get it from http://www.microsoft.com/security/.

Favorite utilities updated

Some of our favorite add-ons are out with new versions. If you use any of these, you'll definitely want to get the latest:

Microsoft Outook Rules Wizard (http://www.microsoft.com/OfficeFreeStuff/outlook/)
Finally, you can do replies with Outlook templates and forward messages, too. This version also supports partial matches for sender and recipient addresses, so you can create a rule to store all the messages you send to anyone at microsoft.com.
Chilton Preview for Microsoft Outlook (http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/gallery.htm#preview)
Gil Chilton has been working hard to make this the best preview pane available for Outlook. It now loads with an .ecf file, so you won't get an error message if you also run Exchange. But, best of all, it supports Internet hotlinks and does an even better job than Outlook itself. Mail addresses in name@domain format are hot, even if there's no mailto: prefix. World Wide Web URLs that start with www are also clickable, even if there's no http: prefix.
ExLife (http://www.mokry.cz/exchange/index.htm)
The new version 1.13 adds Boolean expressions, so you can create more complex filters, attachments in autoreply and virtual folders, such as the Unread Message folder.
Antispam [no longer available]
This junk mail response utility incorporates new whois information all the time. The lastest version lets you save your default settings.

Another shared address book

In our last issue, we introduced you to AltaVista Directory 97 (http://altavista.software.digital.com/directory/index.htm), an add-on to support shared address books without Exchange Server. Now there's another similar product -- RKK Ħaddress it! (http://www.rkk.de/products/addressit/default.htm).

If you decide to use either of these, we'd love to hear about your experience. For other ideas on sharing address books, see http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/client1.htm#addressbook.

New Microsoft Outlook resources

If you use Microsoft Outlook, pay a visit to the new resource site at http://www.outlook.useast.com/. You'll find a growing collection of VBA samples from some of the real experts. For example, Helen Feddema has created a custom form to let you start a Word letter from a Microsoft Outlook contact, using whatever Word template you specify.

America Online is beta testing its transport for Microsoft Outlook (and Microsoft Exchange). I'm not sure whether new beta sites are still being added, but send a message to MAPIguy@aol.com, giving your AOL screen-name, and tell him Sue sent you. [Note: As of 16 Oct 97, this beta apparently has concluded. No word yet on whether the transport will be released publicly.]

Worldwide Exchange and Outlook Users Party winners

The prize winners from the Worldwide Microsoft Exchange and Outlook Users Party are Alex Vogelbein from Hamburg, Germany, and Dan Kachel of Long Beach, California. Each receives an autographed copy of The Microsoft Exchange User's Handbook for his story about e-mail. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Discount on The Microsoft Exchange User's Handbook

You still have a few days to get The Microsoft Exchange User's Handbook at 10% off the cover price by ordering directly from the publisher, Duke Press, before the end of March. For details and a complete summary and outline of the book, see http://www.slipstick.com/handbook/.

FAQ review

Get the answers from the Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging and Microsoft Outlook FAQs at http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/faqs.htm.

About this newsletter

This newsletter is devoted to Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging and Microsoft Outlook client issues. If you're mainly interested in Exchange Server setup and administration, I'd suggest that you join the MSEXCHANGE mailing list. Send a message to msexchange-request@insite.co.uk with a message saying "SUBSCRIBE" (without quotes or other punctuation). Or, just visit the Microsoft Exchange Forum at http://www.msexchange.org.

If you'd rather not receive this newsletter, then drop me a line at sue@slipstick.com, and I'll take you off the list.

If you received this newsletter as a forward from someone else and would like your own copy, e-mail me at sue@slipstick.com. Also send me the addresses of any public folder that you’d like to subscribe to the newsletter.

This newsletter is sent in RTF format. If you don't want RTF, let me know, and I'll adjust your settings in my address book.

'Bye for now! There are lots more Exchange goodies at the Exchange Center, so pay us a visit at http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/.

Cheers,

Sue Mosher
Slipstick Systems, Moscow, Russia
Internet: sue@slipstick.com
MSN: Sue_Mosher
CompuServe: 75140,543