Outlook Connector Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Oracle Outlook Connector?

Oracle Outlook Connector is a messaging service for email and calendaring that replaces Microsoft Exchange Server with Oracle Server and any IMAP4-compliant email server.

 

OOC provides IMAP email support and full calendaring functionality to your Outlook client.

Is OOC installed client-side or server-side?

The Oracle Outlook Connector is a MAPI service provider that runs on your PC. You may add OOC to a pre-existing profile, or create a new profile.

 

OOC currently runs with Outlook 98 and 2000, and is available for Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000.

Will I lose any Outlook functionality?

OOC does not touch the core functionality of Outlook, but some calendaring and email features will be unavailable. Server-side rules, message encryption, and Remote Mail are not currently supported.

What will I gain from OOC and Oracle Server?

You will be able to interact with other Campus users who utilize Henge, the Oracle Calendar Server.

Why must Outlook be installed in Corporate/Workgroup Mode rather than Internet-Only?

Because Internet-Only mode is associated with the IMAP standard, many people might expect it to be required by OOC. However, Outlook does not expose its full calendaring functionality when installed in Internet-Only mode. As a result, Oracle requires that Outlook be installed in Corporate/Workgroup mode.

Which email servers does OOC support?

OOC will work with most IMAP4 email servers, whatever their platform (UNIX or NT) and "flavour." The ITS imap server, imap-server.caltech.edu, is supported.

Can I continue to use Exchange for my email?

Yes, you can continue to use Exchange as your email server, although you must use the IMAP access protocol.

Why IMAP and not POP?

For this release, Oracle concentrated on IMAP because of its flexibility and functionality. However, a POP implementation is being considered for future development.

Can Outlook users schedule with Oracle users?

Yes. Because OOC connects Outlook directly to Oracle Server's calendar database, you can schedule with Calendar users and take advantage of our real-time system. Outlook users gain all the benefits of the Oracle solution, including interoperability with the full range of Oracle clients (Windows, Mac, Motif, and web), wireless connectivity and PDA synchronization tools.

Can Exchange Server and Oracle Server be synchronized?

No. There is no direct communication between Exchange Server and Oracle Server. However, other options besides server-side synchronization may be available to allow pockets of Exchange users to schedule with Oracle users. Invitations from Exchange users will appear as regular email within the Outlook client, and can be imported into your calendar.

How does OOC affect PDA synchronization?

To synchronize your calendar data with your PDA, you will need certified third-party conduits. If you have already set up Outlook to sync with your PDA, then it will automatically work when you install the Oracle Outlook client.

Why can't I change a Meeting into an All-Day Event?

The ability to change a Meeting into an All-day Event and an All-day Event into a Meeting is not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Where did my Contact's attachment go?

Although they can be added normally, Oracle Outlook Connector does not currently support the ability to save attachments with Contacts.

Why can't I delete an attachment from a task?

The ability to delete attachments from tasks is not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I attach an OLE object?

The ability to set an OLE-style attachment is not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I AutoPreview my messages?

When AutoPreview is selected, Outlook opens up the local copies of all messages within the current folder, and displays the first three lines of each message.

 

IMAP-compliant email servers, however, like the one that works with Oracle Outlook Connector, only download the headers of your messages, leaving the full text stored on the server. Therefore, no local copies exist for Outlook to open. It is still possible to select AutoPreview from the View menu, but the folder display will continue to show only the headers of your messages.

Oracle Outlook Connector does however implement the Preview Pane.

Why can't I set a birthday for a Contact?

Defining contact birthdays is not currently supported by Oracle Outlook Connector.

 

Recurrences

When you create recurring meetings and events in Outlook, users of Oracle native clients will be able to view these Calendar entries as Repeating Entries.

However, Outlook will display Repeating Entries created with Oracle native clients as individual, unconnected meetings and events. All instances of the meeting or event will be present in the Outlook Calendar, but they will only be accessible separately.

The ability to create a recurring task is currently not supported by Oracle Outlook Connector.

Properties dialogs

Permissions allow you to specify other users access rights to your information.

The Forms tab allows you to install the Oracle Calendar Form. This form must be installed. The properties dialog box for Oracle Public Folders allow you to select the IMAP4 folders you wish to show or hide. Administration tabs are created by Microsoft Exchange and are not currently supported by Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I move/rename/delete this folder?

Oracle Outlook Connector does not allow you to move, rename or delete any of the "special" Outlook folders:

 

Outlook Today
Inbox
Calendar
Contacts
Tasks
Journal
Notes
Deleted Items
Sent Items
Outbox
Drafts

Other folders may be modified.

Why can't I see Category headers?

Oracle Outlook Connector does support the ability to view your messages by category within all folders. However, the expandable row separators normally shown in this view are created by Microsoft Exchange, and are not implemented in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I specify certificates for Contacts?

Oracle Outlook Connector does not currently implement the same security features as Microsoft Exchange. Certificates (digital ID's) are not available for use in this release.

Why can't I use Mail Merge?

The ability to merge contact lists with external Word files is not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why doesn't my contact's Journal tab work?

The Journal tab is currently unavailable when viewing contacts using Outlook 98.

Why can't I create a new distribution list?

The ability to create new email distribution lists is supported by Oracle Outlook Connector, but the File menu command New, Distribution List is an extension of Exchange, and consequently is not available. To create a new distribution list, you must have a Personal Address Book set up in your user profile. For more information, see the Microsoft Outlook on-line help.

Why can't I create a new folder?

New folders you create in your Oracle profile or in a public folder on the email server may only contain mail items. Ensure that the "Folder contains:" field of the Create New Folder dialog box is set to "Mail Items" before clicking OK. Personal folders you create locally on your machine may contain any kind of items.

Why can't I customize my current view?

The current view can be customized in any way permitted by the View Summary dialog box (View, Current View, Customize Current View). The sole exception is that no grouping features are implemented in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector. If you attempt to change the settings in the Group By dialog box, you will receive the following message when you click OK in the View Summary: The sorting or group by operation failed. Either these folders do not support sorting or the conditions are too complex. Sorting and group by settings have been reset.

 

Ensure that the Group By value in the View Summary dialog box is set to None before clicking OK.

Why can't I recover deleted items?

The ability to recover deleted items is an extension of Microsoft Exchange that is currently not supported by Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I get read and delivery receipts?

Oracle Outlook Connector will process your requests for read and delivery receipts normally. However, these requests may or may not be honored by the IMAP email server and the SMTP email delivery server that handle your messages on the way to their destination. Some mail servers cannot process read and delivery receipts. Others with virus checking software installed may consider the code for your request to be a potential virus hazard, and delete it.

 

If you are not receiving read and delivery receipts, see your system administrator.

Why can't I detect and repair a folder?

Oracle Outlook Connector does not currently support the Inbox Repair utility.

Why can't I recall a message?

The Message Recall relies on the Microsoft Exchange Server. It is therefore unavailable when using Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I see text formatting in email I receive?

Oracle Outlook Connector does not support Microsoft rich-text (.RTF) formatting. If a message is sent in .RTF, it will be displayed in your folders without formatting as plain text.

 

If you create and send an .RTF message, Oracle Outlook Connector will convert your text to HTML to preserve your text formatting.

Why can't I set additional Send Options for new messages?

The ability to set formatting, delay and expire options using the Send Options dialog box is not currently supported by Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I set reminders on my messages?

The ability to set reminders on mail messages is not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I send a link to this folder?

The File menu command "Send Link to this Folder" is currently unavailable with Oracle Outlook Connector.

 

Rules

Server-side rules require the Microsoft Exchange Server, and cannot currently be set or carried out when running Oracle Outlook Connector. This includes all server-side options formerly available using the Rules Wizard, as well as the Out of Office Assistant.

Client-side rules, however, will function normally.

Why can't I set reminders on recurring meetings?

The ability to set reminders for recurring meetings, appointments and events is not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why didn't I get a reminder?

Reminders for recurrences of meetings and events are not available in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.

Why can't I use voting buttons?

Voting buttons are not supported in this release of Oracle Outlook Connector.