Filed with Developers [Case 19702] Auto-conf newer Microsoft mail clients: Outlook 2003/2007, Windows Mail

[BobbyDouglas]

A lot of our clients are using Outlook 2007 and wonder where the "Auto config for Outlook 2007" is inside cPanel's Email area. The latest auto config version that is available right now is for Outlook 2000.

Any idea when this will be updated to include Outlook 2007?

[Infopro]

Not sure it will be. Outlook 2007 handles this much differently than it used to.

[cPanelDavidG]

Newer versions of Microsoft Outlook have security measures in place that prevent the creation of email auto-configuration scripts in newer versions of Microsoft Outlook like we were able to do for Microsoft Outlook 2000. As a result, these newer clients need to be manually configured.

[SoftDux]

Hi David,

How about putting in a link to "config Outlook 2007" which then walks the user through settings up Outlook 2007?

[msm]

Hello,

with windows7 Outlook Express is no longer used, and the version of Outlook is 2007, the automatic scritps at cpanel are for Outlook 2002 and Outlook Express, this is now outdated, whem will you be able to update it?

All the best,

[cPanelDon]

We are aware the requested need of the Mail Client Configuration feature to have support added for Outlook 2003, Outlook 2007, and Windows Live Mail; for reference, this issue is currently being tracked in the following internal case ID: #19702

[cPanelDon]

Moderator Note: Two very similar threads for this topic are now merged.

We are aware the requested need of the Mail Client Configuration feature to have support added for Outlook 2003, Outlook 2007, and Windows Live Mail; for reference, this issue is currently being tracked in the following internal case ID: #19702

To further clarify and detail, prior to the release of cPanel 11, when initially researching automatic configuration options for what was then the latest version, Outlook 2003, at the time it was determined not possible via the same method as Outlook 2000 and Outlook Express where a Windows registry (".reg") file was used. Per further research for the aforementioned internal case we now know that similar automatic configuration can be performed but using an Outlook Profile (".prf") file or PRF file as it is referred to on the Microsoft web site. This newer method is substantially different than what is currently implemented for Outlook Express and Outlook 2000.

According to the Microsoft web site (as referenced below) it appears the PRF file format can be used for Outlook 2002 (aka Outlook XP), Outlook 2003, and Outlook 2007 (aka Outlook 12). Outlook 2007 has also implemented a second possibility of using an XML file for an automatic discovery feature. Looking ahead ahead at Outlook 2010 it is noted in the Microsoft Office Outlook documentation that the PRF file format has changed but that Outlook 2010 "will work with" (import) an existing PRF file from versions as old as Outlook 2002 (Office XP).

For additional reference here are links to the official Microsoft web site resources I used while confirming the Outlook information described:

Outlook 2002:
Customizing Profiles with an Outlook Profile File - Office XP Resource Kit - Microsoft Office Online

Outlook 2003:
Customizing Outlook Profiles by Using PRF Files - Office 2003 Resource Kit - Microsoft Office Online
Whitepaper: Configuring Outlook Profiles by Using a PRF File - Office 2003 Resource Kit - Microsoft Office Online

Outlook 2007:
Customize Outlook profiles by using an Outlook Profile (PRF) file - 2007 Office Resource Kit - Microsoft TechNet Library
Apply an Outlook Profile (PRF) File to configure Outlook profiles - 2007 Office Resource Kit - Microsoft TechNet Library
White paper: Configuring Outlook profiles by using a PRF file - 2007 Office Resource Kit - Microsoft TechNet Library
Overview of Exchange Server 2007 Autodiscover Service - 2007 Office Resource Kit - Microsoft TechNet Library
Outlook 12: Let’s Start Again: Account Configuration - William Kennedy - MSDN Blogs

Outlook 2010:
Customize Outlook profiles by using an Outlook Profile (PRF) file - Office 2010 Resource Kit - Microsoft TechNet Library


Regarding Windows Mail (Windows Vista) it might be possible to have a preconfigured file to import account settings, but I could not confirm with certainty; the same may or may not apply to Windows Live Mail (Windows 7). If you find a way to do this please let us know. Here is at least one definitive resource from Microsoft that details information relating to the topic:
New Handling for Account Data - Windows Mail (formerly Outlook Express) for Windows Vista - Microsoft MSDN Library

[garrettp]

Any updates regarding the availability of the new .prf functionality's availability in upcoming cPanel releases? A customer was inquiring about this today since Outlook 2010 is now here.

[Harmonica]

I've found a workaround/kludge.

This is not going to help situations for hundreds of people, but for small scale businesss/personal:

I ran into this same problem today when trying to use cpanel's automatic scripts to configure Windows Mail and Live. The long-way-around solution I fell upon was to download the .reg files, add them to the registry on a pre-Vista computer running Outlook or Outlook Express, then open Outlook and save a .iaf file (export the account), and then import that file into Windows Mail.

I'm not sure if cPanel exports passwords, but all the other data was correct and I was finally able to update all the computers on my server with their own imap folders and so forth. Send and Receive fully working for those accounts.

Hope this helps people in this situation untill cPanel update to export a file Windows Mail can use.

Also, FYI, I believe that .oeaccount files that Windows Mail uses can be created fairly easily from the .reg files that cpanel already puts out, simply by transposing values. I managed to recreate the files manually using the fields stored in the .reg since they are identical. For any fields which aren't in the .reg, ignore, otherwise transpose values across. Hex values remove the prepended 0s.

It's a bit of a mishap that cPanel haven't already got around to updating the server software since this would take minutes for a software engineer to put together.

[hm2k]

bump++++++

[Tess76]

Has this been updated for Windows Live Mail for Windows 7?

I have been seeking solutions that doesnt involve me added to the registry etc. I am not that confident.

I have one working account in Windows Live Mail..... so why wont the others work when using the same settings??

[cPanelDavidG]

Has this been updated for Windows Live Mail for Windows 7?

Not at this time, I have added a note to case 19702 to have this accommodated when this is implemented.

[Mattlab]

Hi,

Are there any updates on this? I am very much interested in having a CPANEL that actually is up to date. It just makes me look bad when I offer my clients something that is no longer relevant and could potentially mess up their computers. Maybe something that allows us, as webmasters, to put our own links here for directions could be done? So that we can edit what is on this page?

Thanks.

[rocksolidhq]

just thought i'd add my vote for this.

i'd love to be able to just point our users to this but who uses Outlook XP anymore?

2003/07/10 are all pretty common though.

thanks,
dean