Volume 26 Issue 26 | Slipstick Systems

Issue Date: October 7, 2021 « Previous Issue | Next Issue »

The following articles were included in our Exchange Messaging Outlook (EMO) newsletter published on October 7, 2021.

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Use PowerShell to Search Contacts

While you don’t need to use PowerShell to search contacts, and can do a more complicated search within Outlook, you will need to use PowerShell or VBA if you want to search for a value in a custom field.

I have a PowerShell script, you'll only need to supply the search term and the field’s property tag. (Which you can get using MFCMAPI). You can search for the exact word or phrase or do a wildcard search for a partial word.

Unlike searches completed within Outlook, my PowerShell script only creates a list of contacts matching the search terms, but can include any contact field such as full name and home address or phone number.

Get the code (and instructions for finding the property tag using MFCMAPI) at Search your Contacts using PowerShell

Older Outlook version on Windows 11?

I’ve had a few people ask me if they can use their old versions of Outlook on Windows 10 or 11.

The short version: Yes. Some features might not work well (like Instant Search) but it should send and receive mail and handle calendar and contacts ok. You may not be able to use it to connect to an Exchange server, but it should work fine with POP and IMAP accounts.

However, using really old versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003, is not recommended. They are less secure and do not support modern authentication or encryption methods. Outlook 2007 is pushing 15 years, and Outlook 2003 is 20 years old, time to retire them.

Should you run out and upgrade to Office 365 or Office 2021? I don't recommend doing that - my policy is new computer, new Office. I know there are a lot of people still using Outlook 2007, but if you are purchasing a new computer you should seriously consider upgrading to a current version of Office.

If you have an older computer and won't be replacing it in the near future, I don't recommend upgrading to the current version of Office, in part because it may not work on your Windows OS. For most people, especially home users, having the latest is not as important, especially if you use POP or IMAP and have an older computer. You won't benefit from many of the new and improved features.

If you have an Office 365 mailbox, you may have issues connecting older versions of Outlook to the Office 365 Exchange server, but this due to changes in Exchange and not your desktop.

Starting November 1, 2021 the following versions of Outlook for Windows, as part of Office and Microsoft 365 Apps, will not be able to connect with Office 365 and Microsoft 365 services. This change is rolling out over several months and is expected to be completed by the spring of 2022.

Office 2013: need updated above 15.0.4970.9999
Office 2016: need updates above 16.0.4599.9999
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, Microsoft 365 Apps for business: updates newer than 1705.

If Outlook is a newer version than listed above but not a supported version, users may experience connectivity issues, which may include issues syncing and sharing calendars.

Not surprisingly, Microsoft recommends users upgrade to the supported versions of Office and Microsoft 365 Apps.

Older Outlook version on Windows 11?

Speaking of Office Upgrades

Office 2021 is now available, but don’t get “new version” envy.

If you have Office 365, you have the newest version of Office. Office 2021 is about 9 months behind Office 365 right now (and will not receive future feature updates). It’s newer than Office 2016 and 2019, but many users won’t get much benefit in upgrading (besides a lighter wallet), especially if they don’t use an Exchange mailbox. Most of the new features are targeted to business users, not POP and IMAP.

If there are new features it has that you’d like, consider a subscription to Office 365 instead. If you are a frequent upgrader and need the latest and greatest, or have more than one computer, it can be less expensive in the long run.

Office 2021 is Office 16.0, same as Office 2016, 2019 and 365. Addins, registry hacks and file paths are identical between the 4 versions. Most features are identical.