Getting data from OVC, Outlook View Control, with a webpage

[Jpgoyen]

Hello,

I am working on a web-hosted software, and I m searching a way to share
information between my software and outlook.
Could someone tell me if outlook view control (embedded in my webpage) can
help me to exchange or synchronise my software database with outlook (after
user's agreement, of course).

If so, would it be possible to indicate me the best environment to develop
such a solution?

One last thing: would the ovc functionnality be the same for all outlook
versions (from 2000 to 2007)?

Thank you very much for any help or reference,

Jean-Philippe Goyen

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

No, it can't. All the OVC does (in all versions from 2000 to 2007) is display what the user can already see in their Outlook folders. It has no synchronization functionality.

 

[Jpgoyen]

Thank you very much Sue for your quick answer.
I am now trying to imagine to add a plugin to outlook who could make the
synching job. Would it be possible to bring the addin buttons in ovc, on user
webpage? What could fullfill my needs...

Again, if this is possible, is there any recommended environment? Vsto
2005....?


Thank you

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

VSTO 2005 supports only Outlook 2003 and 2007.

An Outlook add-in doesn't place buttons on an OVC control or add any functionality to a web page. It can place buttons on the Outlook Explorer and Inspector windows and can expose public methods that other client-side applications can call. .

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[Jpgoyen]

Thank you for your answer,

So, do you think I could proceed this way: ?

1- Programming an add-in, who creates (after user installation) buttons on
outlook explorer and Inspector,(my buttons would be dedicated to
interoperability with an online database, I saw such things with linkedin or
skype outlook plugins...).

2- Write a web page who 'contains' ovc (I perfectly understood it would
display my client outlook data), and display my new add-in buttons inside
ovc, fully functionnal, when my add-in is installed on client computer. So It
would be possible to launch synchronisation (of all or selected items) from
an IE window...?

In fact I ve just found a service very similar to what I hope:
http://solutions.corasworks.net/sho.../winter06main/OutlookIntegration/default.aspx

But they only limit to one way synchronizing, data only go from their
application to outlook, not in the other direction.

Do you think that proceeding my two steps way it would be possible for me to
programm a double way to synchronise (all or selected items) with a nice (ovc
embeddable) plug/add-in?

I apologize for my english and the length of my question,hope it is clear,
but as I 'm just starting this project, and my new job, I am afraid to spend
time on impossible things.

Thank you very much.

Jean-Philippe

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

1) Yes, that would work.

2) Again, there is no "inside" of the OVC that you can customize with your own buttons. Displaying buttons related to your add-in's functionality would not be part of the OVC. What you could consider is building your own downloadable control that would use the OVC as part of its interface and also include the buttons you want to display.

I think any synchronization application is a lot more work than anyone ever realizes when they first envision it, which explains why you probably won't find any related sample code. Don't forget about the security issues related to Outlook, too.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[Jpgoyen]

Thank you ,

I promise I won't try anymore to put anything in ovc , I 'll just work
around.
And will document myself fully about outlook security issues.

I would be glad to inform you here of next steps of my project,

Thanks,

Jean-Philippe