Title: OutlookColleagues
Author: David J. Stein, Esq.
Version: 1.0
Written: Fall, 2004


Abstract: OutlookColleagues is an extension of Microsoft Outlook to make it easier to send mail to frequently-used contacts. This software adds a toolbar to Outlook with a row of buttons labeled with the names of frequent email recipients. When the user clicks one of these buttons, Outlook creates a new mail message for that contact, or adds the name to the recipients of a message that is already being written.

Installation Instructions: Run the included Setup.exe installer application. After installation, the new toolbar should be visible once you open Outlook, but if not, you can click "View," and then "Toolbars," and check the "OutlookColleagues" option.

Operation Instructions: OutlookColleagues actually needs no configuration - it simply watches as you send email, keeps track of which addresses you most frequently use, and updates the buttons. If you stop using an email address, it will eventually be replaced with other addresses that you are frequently using. OutlookColleagues keeps track of the last 500 addresses to which you sent email; if you exceed 500 addresses, Outlook will stop tracking the addresses that you have not used in a long time to make room for the new addresses.

You may also manually change the name, label, or email address of any button. Click the "Options" button on the right side of the toolbar will display an Options window, where you can select one of the buttons and change the settings. If you want to remove a contact from the button list, you can click on the Remove Contact button. You can also change the number of buttons displayed on the toolbar, in case the toolbar is too long or too short for your Outlook window.

Application History: This application was written in Fall, 2004 to resolve a particular gap in the functionality of Microsoft Outlook. The source code is a little messy, essentially because it involves the registration of a component object model (COM) object with Microsoft Office - let's hope that Microsoft improves this capability in a future version of .NET.

Questions/Comments: Please contact David J. Stein, Esq. via email at djs10@po.cwru.edu.

Terms and Conditions of Use: Please see the enclosed "License.html" file for terms and conditions of use of this software package.