What's the risk of Outlook add-ins corrupting the mail database?

[Alan]

Hello,

Just wondering. Our internal developers are starting to write Outlook
add-ins, some of which change sent messages' MAPI properties, e.g.,
activating the Tracking tab, setting its status to "Read" or
"Delivered" with the corresponding date, putting Read or Delivered in
the Tracking Status column in the message list, etc.

In general, do add-ins like that run any significant risk of
corrupting the mail database? I have read about corrupted MAPI
properties causing mailbox-move problems...

Thanks,

- Alan.

 

[Andy David {MVP}]

Hello,

Just wondering. Our internal developers are starting to write Outlook
add-ins, some of which change sent messages' MAPI properties, e.g.,
activating the Tracking tab, setting its status to "Read" or
"Delivered" with the corresponding date, putting Read or Delivered in
the Tracking Status column in the message list, etc.

In general, do add-ins like that run any significant risk of
corrupting the mail database? I have read about corrupted MAPI
properties causing mailbox-move problems...

It can cause item corruption at times, but most likely will cause
problems with Outlook itself if its not well-behaved.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Just wondering. Our internal developers are starting to write Outlook
add-ins, some of which change sent messages' MAPI properties, e.g.,
activating the Tracking tab, setting its status to "Read" or
"Delivered" with the corresponding date, putting Read or Delivered in
the Tracking Status column in the message list, etc.

In general, do add-ins like that run any significant risk of
corrupting the mail database? I have read about corrupted MAPI
properties causing mailbox-move problems...

I don't recall reading any instance of an add-in corrupting the mail
database itself, only individual items.