Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook ( OL) (English [ maɪ.kɹoʊ.sɒft aʊt ˌ lʊk ] ) for Windows and Macintosh as well as the former Microsoft Entourage for Mac OS are popular Personal Information Manager ( PIM) of the company Microsoft. The Macintosh versions of the PIM clients between 2001 and 2008 were called Entourage. Scope of function, both products are similar.

Outlook is primarily the client to the Exchange server, but to use them without Exchange is also possible. For the first time it appeared in 1997 in connection with Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5, where it replaced the " Exchange Client ," which was to Exchange Server 5.0 or delivered, and Schedule and united. Due to the strong integration with Microsoft Office Outlook can be used as part of the Microsoft Office package are considered and is also sold as a PIM with this together.

In the e- mail and news client Outlook Express ( for Windows ) is, despite the similarity in name to another program.

History

With Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Exchange client was replaced Schedule 7.5 and Windows Messaging and replaced by Outlook 8. This version was distributed on different platforms. Bundled with the Exchange Server Outlook appeared for both Windows 3.1x and for the 32 -bit Windows operating systems, this came Outlook for MS- DOS and Outlook for Macintosh.

While Outlook for MS- DOS, Mac OS, and for 16- bit Windows systems only support the Exchange protocol, supported the 32 -bit version of Windows and the POP3/SMTP and IMAP protocol. The 32 -bit version was in the software package Office 97 and was accordingly named Outlook 97

And while the development of the DOS and 16- bit Windows version have been set out, was for Mac OS in October 2001 Entourage, which supported the POP3/SMTP and IMAP protocol introduced. The last Mac OS Classic version of Outlook as an Exchange client was Outlook 2001.

In Outlook 97, followed at Windows level 98 Outlook (Outlook 8.5 ), Outlook 2000 ( Outlook 9 ), Outlook XP (also called " Outlook 2002 ", Outlook 10) and Outlook 2003 (Outlook 11). Is included at the turn of 2006/2007 was released Office 2007, in Outlook 2007 (Outlook 12). Mid-2010, Office 2010 came on the market that contains Outlook 2010 (Outlook 14).

The first Entourage version supported the Microsoft Exchange server yet, the support was introduced in 2004. The last version is Entourage 2008 and was exclusively delivered with Office 2008. This support in all editions (except for the Home and Student Edition ) Exchange server, except here, however, tasks and notes.

Since Office 2011 is again Outlook instead of Entourage, part of the Home & Business Edition of Microsoft Office for Mac. This version supports the connection to an Exchange server ( at least Exchange 2007 SP1 RU 4 ). The sync function does not support calendar events, tasks, or memos yet. Only contacts can be synchronized.

With Service Pack 1 (Version 14.1.0 ) of 12 April 2011, the Sync function for calendar events, tasks and notes was eventually provided.

Operation (Windows 32-/64-bit )

Outlook saves individual e -mails, including attachments and appointments, unencrypted and not compressed in the container format Microsoft Exchange mail document (. Msg). The set of messages ( e -mail, calendar, contacts, etc. ) puts it in Personal Store files (. Pst ) from. Up Outlook 2002 this was limited to 2 GB. Since version Outlook 2003 PST file can be stored in a Unicode format and is no longer limited in this mode to a certain size. Versions of Outlook that are earlier than Outlook 2003 can not work with these Unicode PST files. IMAP folders are Unicode enabled only since Outlook 2007.

The Outlook product range, as well as the latest version of Entourage, playing their full functional capabilities in the network with a Microsoft Exchange server in the background. The Microsoft Exchange Server stores all data in central databases from, because the networking of PST files is not possible as a standard feature. The product then also provides groupware. Since 2001, there are alternatives to the Exchange server, PST files or individual folders synchronize them (Outlook synchronization) or can offer the sharing of Outlook data on the network, without requiring the user to the cost of a complex server system to overthrow needs.

In the Microsoft Exchange server alternatives, one must distinguish between typical synchronization programs which load the network, and those that IBM 's own, called Store Provider of as Microsoft Exchange Server or Lotus Notes / Domino. All Outlook folder items are here available in real time on all workstations.

Sending e -mails, often unified messaging features such as integrated fax and SMS messaging, are now possible both centrally on the Exchange server, via online providers as well as stand-alone and with the mentioned alternatives.

With the help of the so-called " Project Manager" of Entourage also let Microsoft Office documents, manage the team. A similar function has Outlook version 2003 and on by default, either as a true online collaboration using a SharePoint server or by providing the documents in an intranet or by mail delivery of documents. Entourage also includes a newsreader.

Data migration of locally stored data between Outlook ( Windows) and Entourage (Mac OS) is not, or at best with limitations by means of Exchange Server or third-party programs possible with Outlook 2011 for Mac is a function imported and used with the local data from Outlook for Windows may be, has been integrated.

Scope

Outlook and Entourage support the management of multiple e- mail accounts on a surface; the accounts can be accessed via POP3, IMAP4 or through Exchange RPC. In addition to the e- mail function date management in the business environment is the most extensively used function of Outlook / Entourage. Here, in order to be able to use the full functionality of Outlook / Entourage, the operation of an Exchange server is required. About the Exchange server can be automatically scheduled meetings and other events with multiple participants, where the Outlook / Entourage client compares the calendars of all participants and indicating potential scheduling overlaps. At the same time ( such as rooms or equipment ) can be reserved under Outlook / Entourage resources.

PDAs, Pocket PCs or Smartphones can be synchronized with Outlook so that it will allow the user to enter the move appointments and to remind you of appointments. If the device runs on a Windows CE -based operating system, this is done by means of the utility ActiveSync. For Palm PDAs additional software is needed next HotSync. Entourage can communicate using iSync with mobile devices.

When sending mail via SMTP Outlook violates the protocol specification by inserting spaces illegally in some commands. See the most mail server via this widespread protocol violation but of time, so rarely have problems with this misbehavior.

In addition, Outlook offers a comprehensive contact database, calendar functions, as well as notes and task management under a single interface. The applications are interlinked, thus allowing, for example, to integrate the birth of a contact automatically to the calendar.

In addition, a more expensive version with the Business Contact Manager is available.

Automation and Security

Outlook can be set via VBA and OLE, automate and extend Entourage with VBA and AppleScript. This allowed (along with the then standard security settings ) the massive spread of computer worms, Melissa (1999) and Love Letter ( 2000).

Phishing emails are becoming an increasing burden for computer users. Phishing is an attempt to spy on confidential data with deceptively real-looking, fake e -mails. For MS Outlook, there is the possibility to protect themselves under certain circumstances against phishing e-mails. For this purpose, a toolbar in MS Outlook is integrated; each incoming e -mail can be checked with the tools to dangerous references and suspicious header back. The Delphish program is available free of charge and enables the user either in a position to independently make a decision about a possible phishing, or it classifies e- mails automatically to a phishing risk a. In the automatic classification is resorted to a database of previously known phishing e- mails, or the links in the e- mail be checked for suspicious features out.

Due to the massive spread of worms using Outlook partial safety queries to the user will be when accessing addresses and other security-related properties by scripts provided that will ensure that the action (such as sending emails or the reloading of code by accessing other websites) is a desired by the user behavior.

These designated by Microsoft as the Object Model Guard technology was first released with an update for Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002 has been one for normal functions.

Extensibility

Since Outlook 97, it is possible to extend the functionality of Exchange Client Extensions, which was abolished in Outlook 2010. Outlook 2000 introduced a COM-based extensibility for so-called Outlook AddIns, which greatly expanded the possibilities by providing the Outlook Object Model.

Such extensions make it possible to do many tasks that would otherwise be not feasible in Outlook. Thus, there are extensions that are used by individual users to increase productivity, but also company - specific solutions to improve the integration into the business processes. The scope of the existing extensions ranging from export of contacts and e-mails to other formats through to the comfortable requesting resources such as conference rooms in corporate environments.

In May 2010, Microsoft announced disclose the Outlook format. This would allow you to access third party applications to the program PST folders and implement their own interoperability strategy.

Outlook.com

The webmail service Outlook.com was launched by Microsoft on 31 July 2012 and replaced the spring of 2013, Microsoft Hotmail. With Outlook.com Microsoft wants to offer a stronger competitor to Google's mail offer GMail.

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