While there are benefits to using Oracle Connector for Outlook, there are also changes to how you have been using Microsoft Outlook with Microsoft Exchange, or even another e-mail service provider, in Internet Mode Only (IMO). Most of these changes are minor and most users do not notice them when performing their day-to-day activities, but, if you are what is known as a "power user," then it will take some time to adjust to some of the differences. Understanding what the differences are ahead of time will help ease the transition to using Oracle Connector for Outlook.
The following table compares some of the similarities and differences between Microsoft Outlook and Oracle Connector for Outlook. The core functionality of Microsoft Outlook is not affected, although some features are not currently supported by Oracle Connector for Outlook.
Feature |
Microsoft Outlook Compared to Oracle Connector for Outlook |
|---|---|
INTERFACE |
|
| Outlook Today | Same |
Show two time zones |
Same |
Customizable toolbars, navigation, shortcuts |
Same |
Folder hierarchy and favorites |
Same
|
Task list and appointment list views |
Same |
| Daily, weekly, and monthly views | Same |
Reminder window |
Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: All reminder features are supported for events and tasks. |
| Unified Inbox | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: With Oracle Collaboration Suite, e-mail, voice-mail messages, fax messages, and meeting invitations are all sent to your Inbox. |
| MESSAGES - Reading | |
| Navigating URLs in messages | Same |
| Opening attachments from the Preview Pane | Same |
| Accept/decline appointments in Preview Pane | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: You receive one item, even if a meeting is modified many times. This reduces Inbox cluttering. |
| Retrieving mail | Difference: With Oracle Connector for Outlook, you can set a refresh rate to check for new entries. You can also click Send/Receive to refresh. |
| MESSAGES - Sending | |
| Ability to select which e-mail account to send from when using multiple accounts in a profile (supported with Microsoft Outlook 2002, 2003) | Same |
| Automatic e-mail address completion/name completion | Same |
Sending and receiving attachments |
Same |
| Inserting other e-mail messages as attachments | Same |
| Embedding documents in messages | Same |
| Requesting read or delivery receipt | Same |
| Spelling and grammar check | Same |
| HTML e-mail: receiving and editing | Same |
| Plain text e-mail: receive and edit | Same |
| Automatic formatting of messages with color, based on criteria | Same |
| Automatic text corrections (Word e-mail) | Same |
| Distribution lists can also be used as calendar groups when sending invitations to a meeting |
Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: Distribution lists can also be used as calendar groups when sending invitations to a meeting. |
Automatic signature, insert signature, multiple signatures |
Same |
| Including vCard in signature | Same |
| Setting message importance, sensitivity, expiration | Same |
| Tracking delivery and read receipts with original message | Same |
| Oracle Mail, Oracle Voicemail & Fax | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: More advanced features are offered to complement the unified Inbox. |
| RECEIVING/REPLYING to MESSAGES | |
New e-mail notification |
Same |
| Full support for Microsoft Outlook reply options | Same |
| Read as plain text option | Same |
| SEARCHING for MESSAGES | |
Find (e-mail, calendar, tasks, notes, journal) |
Same |
| Advanced Find | Same |
| Search folders | Difference: Supported by Oracle Connector for Outlook, but indexing searches is not supported. |
| ORGANIZING MESSAGES | |
Quick flags, message flags |
Same |
| Drag and drop messages | Same |
| Multiple views | Same |
| Arranging by conversation | Same |
| Sorting message list by standard fields | Same |
| Public Folders | Difference: Public Folders are supported in Oracle Connector for Outlook, but differ slightly in function and management. |
| Permissions for configuring Public Folders | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: With Oracle Connector for Outlook, you can set up a shared e-mail folder, completely self-serviced. |
| COLLABORATION | |
| Live attachments | Difference: Although not supported in Oracle Connector for Outlook, you work collaboratively on data through Oracle Content Services. |
| CALENDAR | |
Calendar views of different time periods |
Same |
| Calendar preferences | Same |
| Notifications for meeting reminders (minutes, hours, days in advance) | Same |
| Notification of adjacent or conflicting appointments | Same |
| Ability to use calendar offline | Same |
Real-time scheduling |
Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: All entries are updated in one repository. You have instant access to new and updated entries. Conflicts are significantly reduced. |
| List of recently opened calendars | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: With Oracle Connector for Outlook, you can quickly access recently opened calendars from the File menu. |
| SCHEDULING MEETINGS | |
Planning a face-to-face meeting |
Same |
| Viewing other users' free/busy status | Same |
| Proposing a new meeting time | Same |
| Including attachments in appointments and meeting requests | Same |
| Attendee list is visible to all attendees | Same |
| Using the address book to select attendees | Same |
Tracking attendees' acceptances to a meeting |
Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: Attendees' responses are reflected instantly. You do not have to wait to receive attendees' e-mail messages anymore. |
| Planning an online meeting | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: You can start an online meeting through the Outlook interface with Oracle Web Conferencing. You can also join a meeting and access Web Conference archives. |
| Free and busy view | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: Free/busy information is reflected instantly, ensuring the most current updates and excellent performance when scheduling meetings. |
| Reserving meeting resources | Advantage in Oracle Connector for Outlook: Oracle Connector for Outlook offers the same functions as Outlook, but with the added benefit of real-time access to meeting resource availability. |
| Downloading another user's calendar for offline viewing | Difference: Not supported with Oracle Connector for Outlook, but available with the Oracle Calendar desktop client. |
| ADDRESS BOOK and GLOBAL ADDRESS LIST | |
Address Book |
Same |
| Synchronizing the offline Global Address List | Same |
| Personal distribution lists | Same |
| Access to general Global Address List properties | Difference: Oracle Connector for Outlook interface and properties differ slightly. |
| CONTACTS | |
Using e-mail properties to add data to contacts |
Same |
| Tracking contact activity | Same |
| Saving important dates (birthdays, anniversaries) in contact listings | Same |
| Multiple addresses in contact entries | Same |
| Attaching files with contacts | Difference: Not currently supported in Oracle Connector for Outlook. |
| TASKS | |
Creating and manage tasks |
Same |
| Creating a task from an e-mail message | Same |
| Displaying simple and detailed task views | Same |
| Viewing tasks by category | Same |
| Viewing tasks by active, overdue, or completed status | Same |
| Editing tasks in view | Same |
| Task reminders | Same |
| Task delegation and assignment | Difference: Not implemented in this release of Oracle Connector for Outlook. |
| CLIENT SERVICES | |
Alerts |
Same |
| Importing and exporting files | Same |
| Out of Office Assistant | Same |
| SECURITY and CONTENT MANAGEMENT | |
Junk e-mail filters |
Same |
| Junk e-mail folders | Same |
| Trusted senders and trusted recipients list | Same |
| Blocking external content | Same |
| Blocking attachments | Same |
| Antivirus enhancements | Same |
| Digital signature | Same |
| Personal Folders | Same |
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