Volume 22 Issue 16

Today's Highlights:

• Disabling Outlook's Archive button
• Centrally managed signatures in Office 365?
• Outlook 2016 replies use the wrong email address: fixed
• Bug 2: Winmail.dat files

Disabling Outlook's Archive button

I had a couple of questions this week from users who wanted to disable the buttons and shortcut for Outlook's Archive feature.

Is there a way to get rid of the "Archive" command item on the right click menu? I've used Outlook for something like 18 years, and I'm pretty used to right click, barely slide the mouse, and click to delete a message. I'm archiving a lot of junk now instead of deleting it.

If you aren't using Archive, you can disable the commands on the ribbon and menu by editing the registry. This will not remove it from the ribbon or menu but will disable it so you can't use it. If you are using the archive, this will disable the button commands but the Backspace shortcut will continue to work.

To disable the buttons, set this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\disabledcmdbaritemslist
REG_SZ:TCID1
Value: 26308

If you previously disabled other commands, you'll need to change TCID1 to the next available number.

I would like to disable the Backspace shortcut that archives items.

You can disable the shortcut, but it will disable the backspace key everywhere in Outlook, however, if you press Enter then Backspace will work temporarily. Or use Shift+Backspace (or Ctrl+Backspace to delete whole words).

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\disabledshortcutkeyslist
REG_SZ: KeyMod1
Value: 08,

If you previously disabled other shortcuts, you'll need to increment KeyMod1 to the next available number.

After setting either key, you need to restart Outlook.

More information, screenshots, and ready-to-use registry files are available at Outlook's Archive button

Centrally managed signatures in Office 365?

An Office 365 administrator had a question about the "signature" feature in Exchange online:

We are using Office 365 and recently created a signature rule in mail flow. When I send a new message, the signature is at the end of the message. But when I reply, it is at the bottom of the whole conversation.

You aren't adding a signature, you are adding a disclaimer. These are always added at the end of the message; Exchange doesn't split the message to insert it within the message, it just stamps it on at the end.

You have two choices for a company-wide signature: push out the signature files using a logon script or use a centrally managed signature solution from CodeTwo, Exclaimer, or others. The advantage of the commercial products is that all messages, even those sent using Outlook on the web or using smartphones, will have the signature added. These programs make it easier to edit the signatures and apply the changes to everyone.

Outlook 2016 replies use the wrong email address: fixed

A bug plaguing Outlook 2016 users who have Outlook.com accounts in their profile is fixed in build 16.0.8067.1000, which was released this month.

This bug affected users who had personal addresses as aliases in their Microsoft account and a POP3 or IMAP account in their profile. When they replied to email received in the POP or IMAP account, the From field showed the outlook.com account, not the account that received the message.

Bug 2: Winmail.dat files

A second bug affecting Outlook.com accounts will be fixed in an upcoming build.

The bug: When sending email to contacts selected from the address book in Outlook, recipients receive a winmail.dat file attachment that shows up in some clients. Outlook should decode the winmail.dat file and correctly display any attachments, however, if not, the attachment icon may be displayed but no attachment is shown. Recipients end up confused and annoyed. Selecting a contact and clicking the Email command avoids the bug.

New & Updated Exchange KB Articles

The Exchange Edge Transport server version is incorrect in EAC or ECP after upgrade
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4019802

Search fails on Exchange Server 2016 and Exchange Server 2013
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4013606

Online submission “These contracts cannot be used with” message
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4023619

Meeting invites are forwarded by an attendee
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4014990

Error when a mailbox name includes an umlaut in Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 5
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4019534

New & Updated Office 365 KB Articles

Inbox rule to forward messages doesn't work in Office 365
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4021948

Introduction to SharePoint Online
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4013958

Downloads and product keys
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4000641

Description of the security update for Office for Mac 2011 14.7.4: May 16, 2017
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3212221

Can't enable an online archive after a migration in Office 365 dedicated/ITAR vNext
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4023183

New & Updated Outlook KB Articles

"The address list cannot be displayed" error when you try to view the contacts of a public folder in Outlook 2016
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/4020049

Other Resources

Bulk Add Addresses to Safe and Blocked Senders Lists
An administrator wanted to know if he could set up global safe and blocked lists for distribution to his users. There two options: add domains and addresses to the safe or blocked lists in Exchange admin center or to Outlook using PowerShell.

Insert or change an Outlook signature using VBA
How to insert or change an Outlook signature using a VBA macro.

Save attached contacts to Contacts folder
Save an attached contact to your default contacts folder.