Outlook Add-ins
Outlook add-ins - are special extensions for Outlook, which allow you to add extra features to the main program. Interest in the add-ins can be easily explained by the fact that Outlook does not have some features that are implemented in other mail programs.
Here are examples of popular Outlook add-ins types:
- spam filters,
- connectors to other mail services,
- e-mail schedulers,
- reminders,
- notifiers,
- modules for print/view images, etc.
Outlook Backup Add-ins
Currently there are several popular backup add-ins for Outlook, such as Personal Folders Backup Add-In and Backup Exec Outlook Add-In. Instead of manual copying or use Import/Export options, it is better to use Outlook backup addin for an automatic backup. You can try Outlook backup plugin from Handy Backup, for example.
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Version 8.6.4 , built on June 09, 2025. 153 MB
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To add backup add-ins in Outlook 2021, you can follow these steps:
- Open Outlook and click on the "Home" tab.
- In the "Add-Ins for Outlook" dialog box, you can browse through the list of available add-ins. If you are looking for a specific add-in, type its name in the search box. Once you find the add-in you want to install, select it to learn more about it and review its privacy policies.
- When you're ready to install the add-in, click "Add".
Remember, the availability of certain add-ins might depend on your email administrator's settings. If you cannot find the "Get Add-ins" option, it's possible that your administrator has disabled this feature for your organization. If that's the case, you may need to contact your IT department for further assistance.
Creating Outlook Addin
- To create a new Outlook add-in you need Visual Studio program. On the File menu, select New, and then click Project.
- In the templates pane, select programming language, and then expand Office/SharePoint. Select the Office Add-ins.
- In the next step you need to choose Outlook 2010 Add-in or Outlook 2013 Add-in (to create outlook backup add in 2013).
- In the Name box, enter the name of your new AddIn. Click OK. Now add code to your new code file.
Note that add-ins can be specialized for one or several Outlook version. For example, the special Personal Folders Backup Add-In does the backup Outlook 2007, 2003 and 2002.
Outlook Object Model
Outlook has a special object model, based on the Component Object Model (COM) technology, which can be used by programmers to create their own solutions using Visual C # or Visual Basic languages.
Such a module can be created by virtually any author, so they may have widely different capabilities limited by author’s fantasy only. Using add-ins allows user to customize a program “personally for himself”, so “more add-ons, better” principle might nicely work here.
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