Exchange Messaging Outlook Volume 13, Number 16

Control which versions of Outlook connect to Exchange

A reader asked "Can I configure Exchange 2007 and 2003 to control which versions of Outlook can be used by clients? We want to prevent clients from using the older versions of Outlook."

You sure can.

On Exchange 2000, 2003, or 2007, set the following registry key on your Exchange server, then restart the Information store service. This example blocks all Outlook versions prior to Outlook 2003 SP1 from accessing the server but allows Outlook 2003 with post SP1 updates and later.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem
DWORD Value: Disable MAPI Clients
Value: -11.6359.6360

Note that If the subkey does not already exist, you'll need to create it.

Enter the value in 12.6316.5000 format to block a specific version or use a range to block multiple versions. For example, use 7.0.0 -12.6299.9999 to block all versions except Outlook 2007 SP1 or later.

You can also block versions on a per mailbox basis using the Management shell. This cmdlet prevents me from using Outlook 2003 with KB953432 patch installed.
Set-CASMailbox -Identity emo@slipstick.com -MAPIBlockOutlookVersions:"-11.8217.8202"

For more information, see
How to Configure Outlook Client Blocking for Messaging Records Management
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb885056(EXCHG.80).aspx
 
How to disable MAPI client access to a computer that is running Exchange Server
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=288894 

Exchange & Outlook Build Info
http://www.slipstick.com/exs/versions.htm 

Where has the Bell gone?

"Where has the bell gone?" is a fairly common question coming from frustrated users who need a visual reminder that there is a reminder set.

Opening several calendars side-by-side the icons pushed most of the subject line out of the view, so Microsoft removed the bell (and the people icon used for meetings) from the Day/Week/Month view to streamline and de-clutter the calendar interface.

The most obvious workaround is a custom view using automatic formatting to highlight appointments without reminders, but it won't work for anyone who uses color categories since the color category color overrides any color assigned by a custom view.

The bell (and meeting icon) are shown on the appointments in any table view, such as All Appointments or By Category. A custom view that shows only messages without a Reminder makes it easir to review appointments and set reminders as needed, or use Advanced Find to locate appointments missing reminders.

Outlook Quick Tip: Save a New Contact in another folder

As most Outlook users know, you can right click on an address in the message header to Save the address to your default Contacts folder. If you have more than one Contacts folder, you can save it in the preferred folder using the Save to Folder method.

Instead of choosing Save, go to File menu (Office orb in Outlook 2007), Move to Other folder. Select the Contacts folder from the Move to folder browser and click OK. Or use the keyboard shortcut trl+Shift+V to open the Move to folder browser dialog.

Sync and Disappearing Items

As mentioned in previous issues, there is a problem with Outlook's Day/Week/Month after syncing with iPhone. To recap, after syncing, some appointments are visible in table views (such as By category), on Outlook Today, and on the To-do bar but not the Day/Week/Month view.

At this time we don't know the cause but its looking more like a problem in Outlook, with Blackberry and Windows Mobile users reporting problems after syncing.

One of the easier workarounds is a filtered view. Create a filter for the Day/Week/Month view that only displays appointments on or after a certain date, such as Aug 1.