8
Configuration

This section describes how to set up connections to the various servers that Oracle Outlook Connector uses to provide mail and calendaring. You may omit your password from any of these dialogs to have Outlook prompt you at startup.

You may also skip any connections you wish by choosing I do not yet have a _ account.

Creating a new profile with Oracle Outlook Connector

When you create a new profile using the Oracle Outlook Connector service, you will need to provide the setup wizard with a variety of information for connecting to your mail and calendar servers.

• On the first screen of the Oracle Outlook Connector setup wizard, choose the Corporate radio button to connect to your organization's calendar server over a LAN or VPN connection. Choose the ASP radio button if your calendar and mail services are provided by a third-party reseller. Choose the I do not yet have an Oracle Calendar account radio button to skip configuring your calendar server connection and move on to your e-mail server connections. Click the Next button to proceed.
• If you chose the Corporate radio button, you will have to provide the network name or address of your server, followed by a comma, followed by the node-ID or alias of your calendar server node, in the Server name box. Specify the user name and password of your calendar account in the other boxes of this screen. Click the Next button to proceed.
• If you chose the ASP radio button, you will have to provide the Domain ID used by your service provider to identify your company, as well as the host name or names of your provider's calendar domain service hosts. Your service provider contact should be able to provide you with this information. Enter the user name and password for your calendar account in the other boxes on this screen. Click the Next button to proceed.
• Configure your IMAP4 server connection for incoming mail. If you do not have an account or wish to skip this step, check the I do not yet have an IMAP4 account check box. Otherwise, enter the host name of your IMAP4 server in the Server name box. You can check the Use same settings as my Oracle Calendar Server check box if your mail and calendar accounts have the same user name and password. Click the Next button to proceed.
• If you did not check the Use same settings as my Oracle Calendar Server check box, you will have to enter the user name and password for your incoming e-mail account. Click the Next button to proceed.
• Configure your SMTP server connection for outgoing mail. If you do not have an account or wish to skip this step, check the I do not yet have an SMTP account check box. Otherwise, enter the host name of your SMTP server in the Server name box. If your outgoing e-mail server requires a user name and password, check the The server requires authentication check box. You can check the Use same settings as my IMAP4 server check box if your outgoing and incoming e-mail accounts have the same user name and password. Click the Next button to proceed.
• If you specified that your SMTP server requires authentication and not to use the same settings as your IMAP4 server, you will have to provide the user name and password for your SMTP server. Click the Next button to proceed.
• Enter the name and e-mail address that you wish to be displayed for your outgoing e-mail. Click the Next button to proceed.
• If you wish to enable the offline capabilities of Oracle Outlook Connector, check the I will use this computer while not connected to the network check box. Check the Choose a connection type next time you log on using this profile check box to select at startup whether you want Outlook to connect to your mail and calendar servers or to work offline. Click the Next button to proceed.
• Confirm that all the information you have entered is correct, and click the Next button to proceed.
• Specify the location of your personal folder file, or choose a new location if you do not yet have a personal folders file. Click the Next button to proceed, and click the Finish button to complete your Oracle Outlook Connector setup.

When adding Oracle Outlook Connector to an existing profile, the setup wizard is not available. Instead, you will enter the same information directly in the Oracle Outlook Connector configuration dialog box. See the following help topics for details.

Connecting to the calendar server

The calendar server provides Oracle Outlook Connector with your calendar, tasks, contacts, journal and notes.

To configure a calendar server connection:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the Calendar tab, fill out the fields provided.
   • You can select the I do not yet have an Oracle Calendar account check box to use Oracle Outlook Connector for mail only.
   • You can specify your calendar server using either a Calendar Domain Service host name and Domain ID (for installations using a third-party service provider) or a host name and Node-ID (for corporate installations). Consult your system administrator for the necessary information.

     To use the third-party service provider sign-in mode, click the This server Requires a Domain Service checkbox. Click Settings to specify a Domain ID and a list of Calendar Domain Service hosts.

     Clear the This server Requires a Domain Service checkbox to use the corporate sign-in mode. Specify your server host name and node-ID, separated by a comma, in the Server name box.

   • Click the Save this password in your password list check box to avoid having to provide your calendar server password each time you connect.
   • The Advanced button provides the ability to specify a port for your calendar server if required, and your preferred display format for the names of other calendar server users. For details, see "Choosing a name format".

Connecting to the IMAP mail server

The IMAP server receives and stores your incoming mail.

To configure an IMAP server connection:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the IMAP4 tab, fill out the fields provided.
   • You can select the I do not yet have an IMAP4 account check box to use Oracle Outlook Connector without the ability to access incoming mail.
   • Specify the IMAP server name in the Server Name box.
   • Specify your account name and password in the fields provided. Click the Use same settings as my Oracle Calendar Server check box to use the same user name and password you provided for your calendar server. Click the Save this password in your password list button to avoid having to provide the password each time you connect.
   • Click Advanced to provide a port number for the IMAP server or specify a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection.

     If Transport Layer Security (TLS) is set up on your IMAP server, Oracle Outlook Connector will take advantage of it automatically unless you specify an SSL connection. If you do, Oracle Outlook Connector will use SSL instead of TLS.

Connecting to the SMTP mail server

The SMTP server sends your outgoing mail.

To configure an SMTP server connection:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the SMTP tab, fill out the fields provided.
   • You can select the I do not yet have an SMTP account check box to use Oracle Outlook Connector without the ability to send outgoing mail.
   • Specify the SMTP server name in the Server Name box.
   • If your SMTP server requires a user name and password, click the The server requires authentication check box. Click Settings to specify your user name and password. You can click the Use same settings as my incoming mail server check box to automatically use the same account name and password you provided for your IMAP server. Click the Save this password in your password list button to avoid having to provide the password each time you connect.
   • Enter your display name and e-mail address. You may also specify an organization and reply-to addresses you would like to include in your outgoing mail. These two fields are optional, and will not be prompted for if left blank.
   • Click Advanced to provide a port number for the SMTP server, specify a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection, and configure how often the SMTP server will automatically attempt to resend undelivered messages for you.

     If Transport Layer Security (TLS) is set up on your SMTP server, Oracle Outlook Connector will take advantage of it automatically unless you specify an SSL connection. If you do, Oracle Outlook Connector will use SSL instead of TLS.

Using POP instead of IMAP

You can configure Oracle Outlook Connector to use a POP mail server instead of IMAP using Microsoft's Internet E-mail service provider. For more on the difference between POP and IMAP, see "IMAP vs. POP".

For instructions on setting up Microsoft's Internet E-mail service provider, see http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q195/5/00.asp.

The following limitations apply when using Oracle Outlook Connector with POP mail instead of IMAP:

• Your mail items will be stored in your offline folders.
• You will not be able to share or subscribe to server-based mail folders, or use delegate rights for mail folders.
• You will not be able to view public folders.

Making Oracle Outlook Connector your default service provider

Oracle Outlook Connector works best when it is installed as your default service provider for mail.

To make Oracle Outlook Connector your default mail provider:

1. From the Tools menu, select Services.
2. Select the Delivery tab.
3. In the Deliver new mail to the following location list, click Oracle Connector - <your user name>.

Setting the server refresh interval

You can specify a time interval at which Oracle Outlook Connector will automatically query the mail and calendar servers for new and modified items.

To set the refresh interval:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the Other tab, enter the desired refresh interval in minutes in the Check for new entries every field.

Note that your mail and calendar servers may have settings that will override the value you specify here.

Configuring Add-ins

Service providers like Oracle Outlook Connector or Exchange supply the Outlook client with Add-Ins and COM Add-Ins that extend the range and functionality of the application. To maximize the features and performance of Oracle Outlook Connector, certain Outlook Add-Ins and preferences must be modified. You should also make sure to remove Add-ins specific to Microsoft Exchange when running Oracle Outlook Connector.

To configure Oracle Outlook Connector Add-Ins:

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Other tab, click Advanced Options.
3. Click Add-In Manager.
4. Clear the Exchange Extensions property pages check box in the list.
5. Make sure the Oracle Connector check box is selected, as well as any other Add-ins you want to install.

If the Oracle Connector Add-In is not listed, you must install it.

To install the Oracle Connector Add-in:

1. In the Add-in Manager, click Install.
2. In the Install Extension dialog box, click the file cstms.ecf. If this file is not present, you may have to re-install Oracle Outlook Connector.
3. In the Add-In Manager list box, ensure that Oracle Connector is available in the list and that its check box is selected.

To configure COM Add-Ins (Outlook 2000 only):

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Other tab, click Advanced Options.
3. Click COM Add-ins.
4. Select all available Oracle Connector check boxes.

Configuring offline support

You can configure Oracle Outlook Connector to download specified mail and calendar folders to your hard drive so you can work with them when you are not connected to the mail and calendar servers.

To configure offline support:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the Startup tab, click the Enable offline use check box.
   • Select whether you prefer to connect to the network automatically on startup, work offline automatically, or be prompted for your choice.
   • Click the Synchronize button to set whether you want Outlook to synchronize your folders automatically when you sign out, and to set an automatic refresh interval at which Outlook will automatically synchronize your offline folders while you are online.
   • Click the Offline Folders Settings button to specify a path for your offline information, assign a password and encryption if desired, and optimize your offline folders by compacting or purging messages.

Selecting folders for automatic refresh

Oracle Outlook Connector automatically refreshes the contents of your folders periodically as you work. You can choose which folders to include in these automatic refreshes.

To select folders for automatic refresh:

1. Click the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Oracle Connector tab, click Calendar Preferences.
3. In the Include these folders during idle refreshes box, check the folders you wish to refresh automatically.

Setting a time range for other users' Calendar folders

In order to speed up opening other users' Calendar folders, you can specify a time range for the information you will see.

To set a time range for other users' Calendar folders:

1. Click the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Oracle Connector tab, click Calendar Preferences.
3. In the When opening other users' calendars show data box at the bottom of the dialog, set the start and end points for the time range desired.

The calendar server user and resource lists

Oracle's calendar server provides an Address Book listing all calendar users and resources available for booking and mail delivery. You can access these lists the same way as any other Outlook Address Book, but you may not modify the lists themselves.

If the calendar server user and resource lists are very large, you may choose to disable them, and not load them into your Outlook client.

To enable or disable the calendar server user and resource lists:

1. Click the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Oracle Connector tab, click Calendar Preferences.
3. Check or clear the Load Oracle Calendar address lists when working online check box.

You will have to close and re-open Outlook for your change to take effect.

Displaying an icon for unavailable servers

You can choose to have Outlook display a small information icon in the lower right corner of the window when a server is unavailable or a connection is skipped.

To display the unavailable servers icon:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the Other tab, check the Display icon when a server is not configured check box.

Slow network connections

To optimize performance when using a slow network connection, you can choose to automatically disable certain features of Oracle Outlook Connector including automatic folder refreshes and synchronization and client-side e-mail rules when operating below a specified network speed.

To automatically detect slow connections:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Click the Windows Start button, and select Settings.
3. Select Control Panel from the pop-up list, and double-click the Mail icon.
4. Select Oracle Outlook Connector and click Properties.
5. On the Other tab, check the Check for slow or latent network conditions check box.
6. Use the slider to set the network speed threshold below which to disable automatic refreshes and other network-intensive operations. Move the slider to the Low end of the range to set the threshold at higher network speeds. Move the slider to the High end of the range to set the threshold at much lower network speeds.
7. Select the Prompt radio button to have Outlook ask for confirmation before disabling network-intensive features. Select the Automatically radio button to have Outlook disable network-intensive features without a prompt.