Outlook Add-ins

Outlook add-ins - are special extensions for Outlook, which allow you to add extra features to the main program. Interest in the add-ins can be easily explained by the fact that Outlook does not have some features that are implemented in other mail programs.

Here are examples of popular Outlook add-ins types:

  • spam filters,
  • connectors to other mail services,
  • e-mail schedulers,
  • reminders,
  • notifiers,
  • modules for print/view images, etc.

Outlook Backup Add-ins

SolutionCurrently there are several popular backup add-ins for Outlook, such as Personal Folders Backup Add-In and Backup Exec Outlook Add-In. Instead of manual copying or use Import/Export options, it is better to use Outlook backup addin for an automatic backup. You can try Outlook backup plugin from Handy Backup, for example.

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To add backup add-ins in Outlook 2021, you can follow these steps:

  • Open Outlook and click on the "Home" tab.
  • In the "Add-Ins for Outlook" dialog box, you can browse through the list of available add-ins. If you are looking for a specific add-in, type its name in the search box. Once you find the add-in you want to install, select it to learn more about it and review its privacy policies.
  • When you're ready to install the add-in, click "Add".

Remember, the availability of certain add-ins might depend on your email administrator's settings. If you cannot find the "Get Add-ins" option, it's possible that your administrator has disabled this feature for your organization. If that's the case, you may need to contact your IT department for further assistance.


Creating Outlook Addin

  1. To create a new Outlook add-in you need Visual Studio program. On the File menu, select New, and then click Project.
  2. In the templates pane, select programming language, and then expand Office/SharePoint. Select the Office Add-ins.
  3. In the next step you need to choose Outlook 2010 Add-in or Outlook 2013 Add-in (to create outlook backup add in 2013).
  4. In the Name box, enter the name of your new AddIn. Click OK. Now add code to your new code file.

Note that add-ins can be specialized for one or several Outlook version. For example, the special Personal Folders Backup Add-In does the backup Outlook 2007, 2003 and 2002.

Outlook Object Model

SpecialOutlook has a special object model, based on the Component Object Model (COM) technology, which can be used by programmers to create their own solutions using Visual C # or Visual Basic languages.

Such a module can be created by virtually any author, so they may have widely different capabilities limited by author’s fantasy only. Using add-ins allows user to customize a program “personally for himself”, so “more add-ons, better” principle might nicely work here.



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Backup Terms Glossary

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