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Add-ins are programs that can be "added-in" to Outlook to provide new features or enhance the way existing features work. They are programs that integrate themselves right into Outlook, sometimes adding new controls or menu options, and sometimes working quietly in the background. Here are a couple of examples from my own system: - I have McAfee VirusScan installed on my computer. One element of that program is the McAfee VirusScan Outlook Email Scanner, a great tool that monitors email messages for spam-like behavior. It is normally invisible, with no controls or menu options in Outlook. The only time I know it is there is if it finds a problem or if I take a look at Outlook's Add-In Manger.
Some add-ins remain hidden.
- I also have Lookout installed on my computer. It's an Outlook add-in that adds Google-like search capabilities to Outlook. To do its job, it adds its own toolbar to Outlook, and displays results in its own search window.
And some add-ins are quite visible.
Enhancing Outlook might sound silly at first. Outlook is an incredibly powerful and sophisticated program with more features and capabilities than any one person is likely to be able to use. But that doesn't mean that enhancing Outlook is out of the question. There are many programs out there that add capabilities, extend existing features, integrate Outlook with other tools and systems, and generally customize the program to meet your individual needs. Microsoft makes enhancing Outlook relatively easy. Programmers can write code that interacts with Outlook in several ways. We won't go into the details of how add-ins are written or anything like that. Instead, we're going to take the pragmatic approach of focusing on the individual add-ins, and giving you the information you need about them when you need it. I've gathered a collection of add-ins that you may want to try, or at least learn more about. They are a mixed bag. For some, I am just reproducing information the publisher provided to me. I've used some of them myself. I've even reviewed and recommended a few of them in my books, magazine articles, and online courses. Some of these add-ins are free, and listed on the Free Stuff pages. Others you have to pay for. You can usually get a trial version of those, and I've included that information as well.
Add-Ins To Consider
Here's are some add-ins that you may find useful:
- ReplyAll (NEW!). VBOffice's free ReplyAll add-in notifies you when you select the "Reply To All" option instead of the "Reply" option. The goal is to prevent you from blasting out an ill-advised message to a bunch of people when you really only meant to send it to certain individuals.
- Sent Items Organizer. Sperry Software's tool for automatically managing and filing your sent items. If you've ever had to dig through the hundreds or thousands of messages in the Sent Items folder to find one crucial piece of correspondence, you'll recognize the value of this one. See my
Sent Items Organizer
review. And don't forget to use the discount code listed in the P.S!
- Getting Things Done Outlook Add-In. If you want to use Outlook to get more work done and clear your head for more important stuff than remembering the grocery list or that you need prices for tires, you should
check this out
- Lookout. Lookout is a free add-in that gives Outlook a Google-like search capability. Fast, efficient, and easy to use.
Learn more
- SpamBully 4.
SpamBully 4
is a junk email filter. It uses Bayesian algorithms, along with your training, to determine which messages are legitimate and which are junk mail. It adds to the anti spam Outlook capabilities already there, and can efficiently catch spam that Outlook's built-in filter might miss.
From here you can:
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