windows messenger and OE integration

[jw72253]

i am running windows XP professional and office 2007 with Outlook 2007.
recently i configured outlook to use Outlook Express as the default
newsgroup reader by adding the Go/News command to the standard toolbar in
outlook. i do not have OE configured for any other purpose than to read
newsgroups, and i have never used it for mail on this machine. i did not
set up a mail account in OE. when i click the News command in outlook, OE
fires up and does what i would expect. i believe that i have set up OE
properly as the default newsreader.

however, i have noticed something peculiar happening with OE when i do not
start it from within outlook; say, for example, when i am web browsing in IE
and click on a newsgroup link. although OE starts up, it appears a little
differently. at the same time, i can see that windows messenger, which i
have configured to work on my machine but not to start up automatically with
windows, also loads. furthermore, i can see the IM contacts listed in the
folders of OE.

i read somewhere that there was a tight integration between these two
programs (OE and windows Messenger), but i never observed it. when i start
OE from within outlook, nothing like this happens. furthermore, what would
be the purpose of haveing these two programs operate simultaneously like
this? can anyone tell me what is happening? thank you.

john

 

[N. Miller]

i am running windows XP professional and office 2007 with Outlook 2007.
recently i configured outlook to use Outlook Express as the default
newsgroup reader by adding the Go/News command to the standard toolbar in
outlook. i do not have OE configured for any other purpose than to read
newsgroups, and i have never used it for mail on this machine. i did not
set up a mail account in OE. when i click the News command in outlook, OE
fires up and does what i would expect. i believe that i have set up OE
properly as the default newsreader.

however, i have noticed something peculiar happening with OE when i do not
start it from within outlook; say, for example, when i am web browsing in IE
and click on a newsgroup link. although OE starts up, it appears a little
differently. at the same time, i can see that windows messenger, which i
have configured to work on my machine but not to start up automatically with
windows, also loads. furthermore, i can see the IM contacts listed in the
folders of OE.

i read somewhere that there was a tight integration between these two
programs (OE and windows Messenger), but i never observed it. when i start
OE from within outlook, nothing like this happens. furthermore, what would
be the purpose of haveing these two programs operate simultaneously like
this? can anyone tell me what is happening? thank you.

When you start MSOE from within Outlook, you only invoke the news reader.
When you invoke MSOE from a newslink in your browser, you invoke the full
email and news client. Quite possibly, you also have Windows Messenger
configured as your system default IM program. You need to check your system
links in Windows Messenger, and make sure that you have disabled any
integrations. Possibly change your system default so you don't have a
default IM client. You should also open MSOE full (not from Outlook), and
close your Contacts pane. And double check that MS Outlook is configured as
your defaul mail client; MSOE should only be your defaul news client if you
are using Outlook for email.

--
Norman
~Shine, bright morning light,
~now in the air the spring is coming.
~Sweet, blowing wind,
~singing down the hills and valleys.

 

[Michael Santovec]

If you are going to start OE outside of Outlook and just want to use the
newsgroup features, then see:

Command Line Options for Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=177233

Also see:
To prevent MS Messenger from loading with OE
http://www.fjsmjs.com/OE/disabmes.htm

As for why? Apparently someone at Microsoft thought it was a nifty
feature to integrate them. No doubt, some users like it, and others
hate it.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Start here: http://kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_messenger.htm

 

[jw72253]

based on the responses, it appears as if i implied that i do not want the
integration between OE and windows messenger. this was not my intention. i
was only trying to ask a question about why there is an integration. as far
as i can tell, the main benefit is that one can consolidate their contact
lists in one place, the address book, and, furthermore, that one could
easily switch between IMing and emailing one of these contacts "on the fly"
if one chose to do so. aside from these two consequences, i understand no
other purpose or advantage. if there were more to it, then i may think it
is nifty too. i could better judge whether i want or like it.

even so, however, it seems to be a moot point because this integration, from
what i can see, only occurs when OE is also configured to allow mail. in my
case, since i have
not so configured OE, windows messenger does not fire up automatically when
i start it from within outlook. in fact, this feature under Tools/Options
is actually greyed out
(inoperative) as it also is under View/Layout. I can see no reference
to mail when OE loads from outlook, and it only says Outlook Newsreader.
the first time i ever started OE on my system, windows asked me questions
about
setting up mail, etc., which i answered saying that i was not intending it
for mail.

on the other hand, when OE starts up not from within outlook, as when i
click on a newsgroup link in my browser, the appeareance is different and it
does have the email functionality options available, even though i have not
set up a mail account in OE.

Michael, your link related to Command Line Options is great. if i could
make OE open using the command line for newsgroup only whenever i click on a
newsgroup link within my browser, this would be the perfect situation. in
addition, i was able to configure it not to invoke the windows messenger
program at startup using the method described in the other link you prvided.
thank you for this information.

 

[jw72253]

i have to agree that there is certainly a lot of good information at this
link for disabling windows messenger. unfortunately, i somehow implied that
i was dissatisfied with WM when in fact i am not. i am using version
windows messenger version 5.1 within windows xp professional, and i find it
sufficient for my purposes. now that i have learned how to keep it from
starting automatically when OE is started, i have no issues with it.

i suppose there may be a benefit in having it integrated with OE. however,
aside from the fact that these two programs can share one contact list, i do
not see how the link between them is helpful.

mostly, however, i would prefer that OE operate and appear the same way when
i open it outside of outlook as it does when i open it from within outlook.
thanks.

john

 

[Michael Santovec]

As regards using the newsgroup links, you could try altering the file
association for "URL News Protocol" to add the command line switch. But
the command line already has a command line switch. So I don't know if
adding a second one will cause problems.

See the Identifying Attachment File Types and Setting File Associations
section of
Decoding Internet Attachments - A Tutorial
http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/decode.htm#identify

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

=> The functionality you're describing is that of Windows Live/MSN
Messenger, not Windows Messenger. See the link I cited in my first reply
('Remove MSN Messenger from Outlook Express...') to disable this
functionality.

=> HOW TO properly set up Outlook for Mail and Outlook Express for News

A. Set the defaults to use Outlook Express to access Newsgroups:

1. Control Panel | Internet Options | Programs | Newsgroups | Select Outlook
Express and OK your way out;

2. Do not let Outlook or Outlook Express let themselves set to the default
newsreader:

a. Start Outlook Express to access news. When OE prompts you to make it
your default newsreader the next time you launch it, click the "Don't ask me
again" box and then click the "No" button;

b. Close Outlook Express and start Outlook. When it asks whether you
want to set Outlook as your default mail and news handler choose "No".
Leave Outlook open and continue to the next section.

3. Set the Outlook Toolbar:

a. Choose View > Toolbars> Customize*;

b. Select the Commands tab;

c. From the Categories list select "Go";

d. From the Commands list select "News" and drag & drop it to any place
you want on the Toolbar. The default location is in the "Go" menu.

e. Press Close to return to Outlook.

*Not seeing the News option in Customize? Choose View > Toolbars > Customize

Toolbars (tab) > Select Menu Bar and press Reset > Start again from #3

above.

B. Start Outlook Express as Newsreader from a shortcut

1. Copy the following line to your clipboard (CTRL+C):

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /newsonly

2. Right click on an empty area of your Desktop and choose New > Shortcut;

3. Paste the contents of your clipboard (CTRL+V) into the "Type the location
of the item" box;

4. Press Next;

5. Type a name for the shortcut (e.g., Newsreader);

6. Press Finish and your shortcut will be created. You can drag & drop this
shortcut to anywhere you want (e.g., Quick Launch toolbar, Shortcuts section
of the Navigation Pane in Outlook 2003).

Freely adapted from http://www.sparnaaij.net/Faq/news.htm and
http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2004/up040122.htm#news
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/