whsoutlook1

Add-In: WHS Outlook Beta

By on July 29, 2008 in Add-ins & Apps, Software, Windows Home Server
Have you been at work and wanted to check your mail?  Or needed to send a message to somebody but you only have that contact information on your computer?  I know I have.  And it can be a hassle trying to use the Remote Access website to get into your computer, or you computer may not even support that.  And heaven forbid if your computer has been turned off!

Mike Craven (aka The Office Maven) is working on just such a solution.  WHS Outlook allows you to use Microsoft Outlook via the Windows Home Server Console.  It does require you to install Outlook on your server, and he has stated that it requires Office 2002 or newer.  You can store the “PST” files (which contains all of your mail and a number of settings) on either the system partition or on the network shares.  He recommends using Power Pack 1, and if you are going to store the PST Files on network shares, you will need to have Power Pack 1 installed or they will likely become corrupt.

whsoutlook1 300x211 Add In: WHS Outlook Beta

I can quickly see a couple of downsides to this Add-In: Everyone that will have access to this will need to know the server’s password, that only one person at a time will be able to access it, and that everyone would be using the same installation of Outlook.  Depending on your household, this may not be a problem.  I know that for me that this won’t be a problem as I am the only tech nerd in my household. And I suspect a number of others fall into the same boat as I.

Just to clarify, WHS Outlook is soon to be in beta, so it is not ready for release quite yet.  Though if you are definitely interested in actively beta testing this add-In, head over to this thread on the WGS Forums and let Mike know! Note that availability of the beta is limited (first come, first serve) and Mike has said that active participants in the beta program will receive a final release copy of the program at no charge as thanks for their help in testing out the program.  So hurry now and sign up!

Also, Mike has stated WHS Outlook will work with a trial version of Outlook so if you don’t have a spare copy, you can always use a trial. Although, it will prompt you to upgrade to the full version, so if you don’t mind annoying pop ups, this is a great way to test it.

For those wondering, this will be a commercial add-in. Mike has said that he isn’t certain about the price right now, and that the beta testing will help determine the pricing for it.  He is estimating that he will sell it for $25.95USD once it is ready.

It should be ready for beta testing in the next day or so, and you can definitely expect a review by myself then.


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  • Adrian from London

    Looks interesting, I need to spend time on my WHS. For various issues I have neglected my WHS, and need to get back into the swing

    Adrian

  • Ruatha

    The forum link doesn’t seem to be working.. or do I perhaps need to be logged in ?
    I want to beta test it, it looks like just the thing I’m looking for!

  • https://technocore.homeserver.com/ Drashna

    @Ruatha: sorry that ways my fault. Link went weird. Fixed now.

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  • http://www.AskWoody.com Woody Leonhard

    Good work, Mike!

    This looks like something a lot of people could use. Me, too.

  • JohnCz

    I really don’t see the point unless perhaps you are using a POP3 account.

  • Jerry

    I don’t see the point either. Especially charging for this plugin so someone can use an application they already own as an app. Make a web-based version, like Outlook Web Access, then maybe charge.

  • The Office Maven

    Hi All,

    Thanks for the comments and I welcome your feedback.

    While many may not see the point (which is fine), I myself wanted a way of quickly accessing all of my Outlook e-mail, contacts, appointments, reminders, etc. from any PC in my house without having to actually install a copy of Outlook onto each one of those PCs (as that gets expensive really fast!).

    WHS Outlook does just that for me. By simply installing a single copy of Outlook onto my Windows Home Server, I can now log on to Outlook and check my e-mail from any PC in my house that has the WHS Console app installed (which they all do).

    I can even take my laptop on business trips and remote access into the console to get my mail (the Console app is much more powerful from a programmer’s perspective than a simple web page could ever be). If that’s not something you’d need, then WHS Outlook surely isn’t for you.

    The program does have some limitations set forth by the WHS console itself (like it’s not really good for your whole family to use since WHS doesn’t allow individual user access to the console). As long as you understand those limitations beforehand then it’s not a problem.

    Also, a web interface is indeed planned for a future release of the program. I just started off with the console app because it was a really nice platform to use in order to get acquainted with WHS.

    Thanks again.

    – MIKE (not Mark )

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  • http://www.lacommunautehomeserver.org Webjojo

    Hello,

    I’m french and I’m the administrator of the website LCFWHS (The French Community about WHS) – http://www.lacommunautehomeserver.org – All the french community is interested about this add-in but we wish (if it’s possible) access to outlook by a web interface of Outlook.

    Best Regards,

    —- French translation — En Français —-

    Il est clair que nous ne sommes pas très bon en Anglais ;)
    Nous administrons le site Français de la Communauté Francophone Windows Home Server et notre communauté serait très intéressé par un tel Add-in mais serait-il possible de pouvoir accéder à sa messagerie avec une interface Web d’Outlook.

    Cordialement,

  • Jerry

    I agree with what you said Office Maven. I believe in progress and I think it is great we have some developers doing what they can for the WHS community through their addins. I just don’t agree with the charge for a WHS console over a pre-existing app. May even write my own for free. I do agree with charging a small fee for the web interface portion. As for facilitating email for those out of the office. There are many free methods for achieving this easily and free.

    Maybe my opinion is just that, too opinionated. Maybe I should it keep it to myself. Either way, I applaud your support for the WHS community.

  • The Office Maven

    All I can tell you guys is that I currently have nearly three months of 12-14 hour days worth of work into WHS Outlook. It took a HUGE amount of work to put the app together and so I don’t feel that charging a small fee to use the program is asking too much. If someone feels they can do better, and still give it away for free, then more power to them. I’ll be the first one standing in line to use their add-in.

    I make my living off of writing and selling add-ins for Microsoft Office applications (I’ve been doing it for well over a decade now – along with my great friend Woody Leonard). In order for me to survive (and continue to support, maintain, and update my programs) I have to charge for my work just as everyone else does for theirs in one form or another.

    I knew that this was going to be an uphill battle going in seeing as the WHS community is used to getting their add-ins for free. I appreciate free stuff just as much as the next guy does, but I’m also more than willing to reward authors who put lots of hard work into their applications by purchasing a license for a reasonable dollar amount.

    The last thing I’ll say about this is to address the comment put out there by the guy who stated that just because he already paid for Office/Outlook he doesn’t feel that he should have to pay for an add-in that brings its functionality into WHS. I’m just plain flabbergasted by that comment. Based on that kind of rational, we should never pay for any software that works on the Windows O.S. as all programs are really just add-ins that work on top of Windows. We already paid for Windows when we bought our PC and so all additional programs should be made available for free right? Not!

  • Jerry

    Come on Office Maven, that is not what I said and not what I meant. Software running on Windows are all addons. As a developer myself, I find that statement ridiculous. I am sure you have put a great amount of time into your application. I don’t have a problem with rewarding a developer for his/her time. I was merely voicing my opinion, as a blog is meant to allow, and I still applauded you for your work. It is sad you cannot seem to handle criticism and/or opinion. I will end my discussion and wish you well on your venture.

  • The Office Maven

    Sorry Jerry, but that’s exactly the way I interpreted your comments (especially from your very first post where you said “Especially charging for this plugin so someone can use an application they already own as an app.”). If I misunderstood you then I do apologize.

    If you don’t have a problem with rewarding a developer for his/her time, then why do you seem to have such a problem with me charging for my hard work? Simply because my program brings the functionality of an app you already own into the WHS Console? I’m afraid that I’m a bit confused on how you are drawing your lines there as without my app you certainly can’t use Outlook from the WHS Console even if you already own it. No?

    No worries though as I don’t want to get into a huge debate about any of this stuff (more so than we already have I guess). Thus, let’s just leave it at you disagree with me. I’m totally okay with that as I know that I can’t please everyone.

    Take care and thanks again for your comments.

    – MIKE

  • Jerry

    Thanks Mike. I may have come on too strong. Because I can be hard-headed, I may not change my entire thoughts but I would like to change how I project them. So let me turn over a new leaf and say this, “I do like the look and idea of your application. As a matter of fact, in the interest of peace, and because I meant no real harm, and to show that I do support fellow developers, I might be one of the first to buy your addon.”

    Jerry

  • http://www.pedroinnecco.com pmdci

    Well it looks like a good exercise but… sorry but I don’t see the practical use. To install Outlook on the WHS legally might be an issue (for those with retail copies).

    Plus… What the heck: Just access the PST file through the network drive.

    OR

    Use the PST backup add-in for Outlook (search for it at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads) and have the PST file backed up to the server once outlook is closed.

    OR

    Use Sync Toy

  • http://www.widgetslab.com Avatar

    Love the idea. i think it great but 30 dlls? make it a impulse buy of 9.99 and see it fly. 30dlls is just too much for a plugin.

  • The Office Maven

    The price has not been set in stone yet (assuming I even decide to release the add-in at all). However, it’s more likely to be under $25 USD. The $25.95 listed in the above article is a typo. It should have read $24.95.

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  • Robert D

    I hav been running Outlook as a program in WHS for a lohg time. I have it installed on the server na can run all Office programs thru the console. Why pay for something I laready have paid for and can use with out a hitch.

  • Simon

    So to get things right. In a company for example I would have acces to all the information (mails, addresses…) which is stored in one place, right? If I haven´t messed up anything I have a question: Does this programm work with the search tool lookeen, because this is able to search in such places where all data of one company is stored (at least that is what I have been told recently).

  • http://www.gearknobs.net Gear Knobs :

    is there a good free french translation tool on the internet ?..`