Greetings! Welcome to Vol. 2, No. 8 of Exchange Messaging Outlook , 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 Microsoft Exchange Server.
Today's highlights:
Regular features:
The next version of Microsoft Outlook
Attendees at the Microsoft Exchange Conference 97 in San Diego earlier this month got a preview of the next version of Microsoft Outlook. As yet unnamed, this version looks like it will fulfill Microsoft's promise to support all the features of Outlook Express, plus features like a customizable toolbar that Outlook 97 users have been begging for. Exactly how it will handle such things as newsgroups and shareable folders remains to be seen.
This new version will be free as an upgrade to current users of Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office and Exchange Server. A public beta is planned. For a detailed list of what Microsoft has made public so far, see http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/olnext.htm.
What about Outlook 8.03? This is the version, currently in beta, that has been updated to support new features in Exchange Server 5.5, but it also includes three features that average users should be interested in:
Microsoft Office 97 Enterprise Update
CDs for the Office 97 Enterprise Update are starting to arrive. This, as you probably know, is a complete copy of Microsoft Office, including all the SR-1 patches. As MVP Hal Hostettler reminds us, you can install it over your existing copy of Office if you use exactly the same settings.
This means that there are two safe courses. One is to remove Office completely, then install the Enterprise Update. The other is to run Office setup and make a note of all the components you currently have installed. Then install the Enterprise Update and choose exactly the same settings.
If you need to create an adminstrative setup point or "run from server" installations, follow the instructions in the Netwrk8.txt file found on the CD.
No Fix Forms in U.S. SR-1 patch
More on Office 97 SR-1: The Fix Forms utility included in the patch does not install correctly if you get the U.S. English version of the patch. You probably don't need this utility unless you use both the Outlook and Exchange clients on the same machine. It can be downloaded separately from http://www.microsoft.com/officefreestuff/outlook/dlpages/formfix.htm.
Complete guide to making Microsoft Fax work
My fellow MVP Athena has written a a step-by-step description of what components to install in what order to minimize problems with Microsoft Fax. She's posted it numerous times on the newsgroups, but now has also helped turn it into a Web page for wider distribution. (I've added a few little troubleshooting hints at the end.) Congratulations to Athena on this major aid to Exchange and Outlook users, now posted at http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/faxfix.htm.
CompuServe Mail users should also note that she's written an extensive document for configuring that service, too. GO CSAPPS and download CSmailsu.rtf.
I don't have the final version of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (http://www.microsoft.com/ie/) yet, but from reading the newsgroups, it looks like the final release does not resolve the conflict between MSIE4 and Microsoft Fax -- the one that results in an Awfxcg32.dll error when you exit Exchange or Outlook. The error itself is apparently harmless, though.
One solution (other than just ignoring it) is to open a second Outlook window, then close it. I don't know if this works for Windows Messaging and Exchange, too, but it's easy enough to try.
The error can also occur with Microsoft FrontPage 98 and other applications that use DCOM components.
Another possible headache for MSIE4 and Office 97 users is detailed in the MSKB article OFF97: Problems Occur After Removing MS Internet Explorer 4.0 (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q174/4/31.asp). The bottom line is that, if you install MSIE4, then Office 97, then remove MSIE4, you'll have problems. The safest course, therefore, is to install Office 97, then MSIE4 in that specific order.
Experienced Windows users know that the Microsoft Knowledgebase is the first place to go when you start getting mysterious error messages or want to know how to perform some arcane task. Microsoft has revamped the MSKB -- in theory, to make it easier to use. For example, you can now use natural-language queries and count on the MSKB to remember the questions you've asked in the past. The catch? You'll need to register and have your browser set to accept cookies. Visit the new site at http://support.microsoft.com/support/c.asp?M=F. You should only need to register once.
<Soapbox> I'm all in favor of progress, but I'm not thrilled when I have just a couple of free seconds to search the MSKB and find that I suddenly have to register to get access to the database. At least the MSKB registration process worked and I can now search again. Recent changes to other Microsoft pages haven't been so easy to cope with. The MSDN site now also requires registration, but it won't take the details I fill in. I've been exchanging e-mail messages with the MSDN folks for more than a week now and still can't get in. The lack of access means I can't update some of the links from my Web site for Exchange and Outlook developers, because I can't find out where the pages have moved. Are the improvements to these sites worth the hassle? I'm not convinced they are. </Soapbox>
Group Schedule
For Microsoft Outlook connected to Microsoft Exchange Server, displays the schedules for a group of users in a color-coded grid. You can double-click any cell in the grid to get more detailed information on a user's appointments. Free prototype expired 12/31/97.Exchange Download Display Extension
Uses a system tray icon to display the number of messages being downloaded during the current connection session. The author says it needs the Microsoft Exchange Server service in the profile, but I've found that it works (at least some of the time) without it.
http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/gallery.htm#downdisShark!mail 4.0 MAPI Edition
Complete replacement for Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Outlook client, with ability to access Microsoft Exchange Server and any other mail services for which MAPI transports are available. Supports extended MAPI.
http://www.lanshark.com/mktinfo/pr/sm4-pr.htmContact with Fax Action Form
Microsoft Outlook form that includes a New Fax to Contact action, subject to the significant limitations of the Microsoft Fax service for Windows 95. Includes an option for 10-digit dialing. Also demonstrates how to create a custom action for a form.
http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/olforms/contfax.htmThunderBYTE Anti-Virus for Exchange Server (beta)
Searches for viruses in private and public folders in both real time and scheduled modes.
http://www.nemx.comImport to Personal Address Book 97
Complete re-write of this very popular utility that takes any data Word can use as a mail merge source (including Microsoft Access databases, Schedule+ contacts, text lists, etc.) and adds it to the Personal Address Book (PAB) in your Microsoft Exchange profile. This new version for Word 97 uses a wizard to walk you through the process.
http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/imppab.htmDeming Secure Messenger (aka WorldSecure Client)
Version 2.0 adds LDAP directory support for managing digital IDs to this S/MIME add-on for Microsoft Exchange, Outlook and Windows Messaging.
http://www.deming.com/sm.htmActiveFax
Version 2.0 of this automatic printing add-on for Microsoft Fax no longer requires that Exchange or Outlook be running. It also includes logging and other improvements.
http://users.iafrica.com/p/po/pokey/
The new Guide to Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Profiles and Policies is an essential roadmap for setting up roving users (http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/info/propolicies.htm).
For Personal Fax for Windows NT issues, Carsten Pohle maintains an FAQ in English (http://www.inx.de/~cpohle/ntfaxe.html) and German (http://www.inx.de/~cpohle/ntfax.html).
Get the answers from the Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging and Microsoft Outlook FAQs at http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/faqs.htm.
The Microsoft Outlook FAQ has a Table of Contents at http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/outlfaq.htm to help you find answers faster.
Ask new questions and provide other feedback for the Slipstick Systems Exchange Center FAQs at http://www.slipstick.com/exchange/faqfdbk.htm.
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