Outlook features and help please

[Dave Lee]

Is there anyway of providing feedback or sending enhancement requests to
Microsoft? I have been a GroupWise user for about 8 years and we have
migrated to Exchange / Outlook..... I like it and it has much more
functionality but I also find it lacking in some features and some things
that where easy to in GW are extremely cumbersome in Exchange....

Maybe you can help me out?


1:- Why does Outlook 2003 have no NNTP?

2:- In GroupWise you had a "Cabinet". Within the "Cabinet" you could create
any folder structure you liked. You also had the ability to share any folder
at any level. Upon Sharing the folder the user would get an e-mail and
within a few clicks they had access to the folder and could place it
anywhere they like within there folder structures. As far as I can tell you
have to import every account that shares a folder with you and you have to
apply right throughout the folder structure. In a large firm like ours this
could mean having many accounts imported. Is there another way and are there
plans to change the functionality?

3:- Public folders are bewildering.... If the above worked more simply there
I cannot see a need for them. I have also heard that MS doesn't plan to
develop these anymore as the work is going into sharepoint... Is this true?

Thanks for reading!

 

[Brian Tillman]

Is there anyway of providing feedback or sending enhancement requests
to Microsoft? I have been a GroupWise user for about 8 years and we
have migrated to Exchange / Outlook..... I like it and it has much
more functionality but I also find it lacking in some features and
some things that where easy to in GW are extremely cumbersome in
Exchange....

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support or send mail to outwish
at microsoft dot com.

Maybe you can help me out?


1:- Why does Outlook 2003 have no NNTP?

Because it doesn't need it. Outlook Express is used by Outlook as the NNTP
client. If you have Exchange, you can also use it to present newsgroups as
public folders.

2:- In GroupWise you had a "Cabinet". Within the "Cabinet" you could
create any folder structure you liked.

True with Outlook as well, for the most part. You don't have any control
over the default folder names, but you can create your own folders and
subfolders.

You also had the ability to
share any folder at any level.

Outlook can do that, too, with an Exchange server as the backend.

Upon Sharing the folder the user would
get an e-mail and within a few clicks they had access to the folder
and could place it anywhere they like within there folder structures.

If someone allows you to access their mailbox, you see the folder structure
they want you to see.

3:- Public folders are bewildering....

What bewilders you?

 

[Dave Lee]

Thanks Brian.... I appreciate your help through the "learning curve" ;-) and
I not knocking the product in anyway.....

BTW we are on 2003 at both ends

First a question... Have you experianced shared folders in a GW environment?

Outlook can do that, too, with an Exchange server as the backend

I have found that in a deep folder structure if I want to share a personal
folder at the lowest level it does not appear to the user until I have
issued rights on every folder above this.

If someone allows you to access their mailbox, you see the folder
structure they want you to see.

You are correct. My issue is that previously someone could share a folder
(at whatever level) and I could place this single shared folder within my
folder structure at any level. I have many people sharing individual folders
with me. Wouldn't you agree that being able to simply accept the offered
share and place it wherever you like in you own folder structure is a neat
feature. I currently have about twenty mailbox's setup with my client which
is a nightmare to navigate.

What bewilders you?

The level of administration involved. Maybe a guide on how to create a
correct structure in the first place might be useful.
Our users previously just setup a folder within cabinet and shared that out
to colleagues. There was no importing of accounts and very little to do.

Also do you know if there is a feature roadmap available for future
versions?

 

[Brian Tillman]

First a question... Have you experianced shared folders in a GW
environment?

Nope, sorry. I have no experience with GroupWise.

I have found that in a deep folder structure if I want to share a
personal folder at the lowest level it does not appear to the user
until I have issued rights on every folder above this.
Naturally.

You are correct. My issue is that previously someone could share a
folder (at whatever level) and I could place this single shared
folder within my folder structure at any level. I have many people
sharing individual folders with me. Wouldn't you agree that being
able to simply accept the offered share and place it wherever you
like in you own folder structure is a neat feature.

I'll agree, sure, but since you are accessing another's mailbox, I would
prefer the folder structure appear as the _owner_ wants it.

The level of administration involved. Maybe a guide on how to create a
correct structure in the first place might be useful.

I doubt you'd find much agreement on what's a "correct" structure. For
example, some like to subdivide their Inbox. others like to have their
folders on the same level as Inbox. I'm a firm believer in the correct
structure being whatever works for the individual.

Our users previously just setup a folder within cabinet and shared
that out to colleagues. There was no importing of accounts and very
little to do.

There's no importing of accounts in Outlook, either.

Also do you know if there is a feature roadmap available for future
versions?

I don't know of any, but there are others in this group who are in contact
with Microsoft developers from time to time and maybe one of them might
know. I've never seen Microsoft publish much in the way of roadmaps.