MS Outlook Environments

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About Outlook Direct

Installed from the FaxPress 9.x CD, the FaxPress Outlook Direct service software provides a convenient, client-based way for Microsoft Outlook users to send and receive faxes as easily as email, right from their Outlook client. Client rather than server-based, Outlook Direct can operate independently of an Exchange server, making it ideal for smaller networks.

Outlook Direct allows the use of familiar Outlook commands to create, address, and send faxes right from the Outlook inbox. Attachments are rendered into fax file format for most applications, letting you send attached files to both fax and email recipients simultaneously.

The Castelle FaxPress Transport, a service added to your email profile, connects Outlook to the FaxPress server. The FaxPress Transport delivers messages to the FaxPress for faxing, enables viewing of FaxPress’s list of inbound and outbound faxes, allows the user to set faxing parameters, and notifies users of personal incoming faxes.

FaxPress Outlook Direct periodically polls the FaxPress for incoming faxes. When you receive a new fax, Outlook Direct will, by default, dispatch a notice to your client mailbox with the incoming fax attached. You can also configure Outlook Direct to deliver only the fax notice, then use the Castelle>FaxPress Tools>View Incoming Faxes option Outlook Direct creates in your Outlook Tools menu to view the fax. In either case, you can view incoming faxes right from your Outlook inbox.

Outlook Direct and Exchange

Although no Exchange server is required, Outlook Direct can be used with Exchange server 5.5, 2000 or 2003 when a client-based rather than server-based solution is preferred. Exchange Administrators who prefer not to have the Exchange Connector running on their Exchange server may decide to deploy Outlook Direct on client workstations instead.

Network and Client Requirements

Outlook Direct is designed to operate in network environments running Microsoft Outlook. Outlook Direct is not supported by and cannot be used with Outlook Express.

FaxPress Outlook Direct is designed for use with these operating systems:

For Outlook Direct to function, client machines must have:

Outlook Direct in an Exchange Server Environment

The Outlook mail client must be fully operational (i.e., able to send and receive email successfully), and also configured:

For more information, please see Configuring the Mail Client in an Exchange Environment.

Outlook Direct in a Non-Exchange Server Environment

The Outlook mail client must be fully operational (i.e. able to send and receive email successfully), and also configured:

For more information, see Configuring the Mail Client in a Non-Exchange Environment.

Native Attachment Applications

Outlook Direct converts your clients’ fax-addressed email attachments to faxable format, then passes them to the (Undefined variable: FPGatewaysSMTPW.Product name) server for processing. Outlook Direct opens the file in its native application, then converts the file to a format the (Undefined variable: FPGatewaysSMTPW.Product name) can process and fax.

For Outlook Direct to provide native attachment support, the client workstation must have:

Output files from applications that support the Shell execute method may also be successfully attached. To determine which native attachments will be supported by FaxPress:

If the associated application is launched and the file prints, then it is likely to be supported as a FaxPress native attachment.