Introduction
This document is designed to help Salesforce Administrators and IT Departments understand Cirrus Insight for Outlook email client options and feature availability. Outlook is three different platforms, each with its own set of API’s; Outlook Desktop (for Windows), Outlook Web Access (aka Outlook.com) and Outlook for Mac.
Cirrus Insight Supports:
Outlook Desktop for Windows: Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016.
Outlook for Mac, Outlook Web Access and Outlook Mobile for iOS/Android/Windows Phone: Microsoft only supports web-addins with 365 Exchange Online, Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2016
Desktop Add-ins vs Web Addins
Outlook offers two add-in types for integration. The first is a desktop add-in which is only available for Outlook Desktop for Windows. This is a program that runs locally on the Windows machine, which can be downloaded or deployed via MSI.
The second add-in option is a web add-in, which supports all three Outlook environments; Outlook Desktop, Outlook Web Access and Outlook for Mac.
MicrosoftOutlook Environments & Add-in Types
| |
Desktop Add-in |
Web Add-in |
Notes |
| Outlook Desktop 2007, 2010 |
Yes |
No |
Only desktop add-ins are supported. |
| Outlook Desktop 2013 and 2016 |
Yes |
Yes |
Web Add-ins are supported with an Office 365 Subscription using Exchange Online |
| Outlook Web Access |
No |
Yes |
Supported with an Office 365 or Outlook.com account |
| Outlook for Mac 2011 |
No |
No |
Does not support add-ins |
| Outlook for Mac 2016 |
No |
Yes |
Supported with an Office 365 Subscription |
Desktop vs Web Add-in API Availability
| Outlook Environment |
Desktop Add-in |
Web Add-in |
Notes |
| Outlook Desktop 2007, 2010 |
|
|
|
| · Preview Window |
Yes |
N/A |
|
| · Read/Inspector Window |
Yes |
N/A |
|
| · Compose |
Yes |
N/A |
|
| · Calendar |
Yes |
N/A |
|
| · Task Window |
Yes |
N/A |
|
| · Contacts Window |
Yes |
N/A |
|
| Outlook Desktop 2013 and 2016 |
|
|
|
| · Preview Window |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| · Read/Inspector Window |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| · Compose |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| · Calendar |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| · Task |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| · Contacts |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Outlook Web Access |
|
|
|
| · Preview Window |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Read/Inspector Window |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Compose |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Calendar |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Task |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Contacts |
N/A |
No |
|
| Outlook for Mac 2016 |
|
|
|
| · Preview Window |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Read/Inspector Window |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Compose |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Calendar |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Task |
N/A |
Yes |
|
| · Contacts |
N/A |
No |
|
Key Features & Notes
The Cirrus Insight for Outlook Sidebar has many Salesforce integration features, most of which are fully available. The list below is designed to call out the features which are not available via each Outlook environment. Please note these features are restricted primarily due to the differences in the Outlook API on each client environment and as soon as the API opens for each feature it will be supported by Cirrus Insight.
Key Features & Notes.
| Outlook Environment |
Web Add-in Limitations |
Notes |
| Outlook Desktop 2007, 2010 |
Does not support web-addins |
All Cirrus Insight functionality is available with the Desktop Add-in |
| Outlook Desktop 2013 |
Microsoft does not support a pinned (always open) sidebar for Outlook 2013 |
|
| OWA, Outlook 2013 and 2016, and Mac |
Microsoft Does not support multi-select on emails, shared mailboxes, or adding attachments when composing an email
|
Feature will be supported with updates to the Microsoft API |
| Outlook for Mac |
Track Emails is manual, click to track before send |
Known issues related to track emails for “reply to” actions. Outlook for Mac can error when pixel’s are injected on reply emails. |
Browser Compatibility & Requirements
For both desktop and web add-ins browser requirements is a consideration. The desktop add-in for Windows will use Internet Explorer & Edge to sign-in to Cirrus Insight and/or Salesforce. Web add-ins run 100% as a web based application whether running on Outlook Desktop for Windows, Outlook Web Access or Outlook for Mac.
| Outlook Environment |
Internet Explorer |
Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox |
| Outlook Desktop 2007, 2010 |
IE 11 or Above |
Latest Version |
| Outlook Desktop 2013 and 2016 |
IE 11 or Above |
Latest Version |
| Outlook Web Access |
IE 11 or Above |
Latest Version |
| Outlook for Mac 2016 |
N/A |
Latest Version |
Choosing Between the Desktop & Web Add-in for Windows
Companies who are running Outlook 2013 or 2016 desktop will have a choice for which add-in style to deploy. You can deploy both options with your Cirrus Insight subscription if you choose. Below are pros and cons to help you choose.
| Outlook Environment |
Pros |
Cons |
| Desktop Add-in |
|
|
| · Sidebar Activation |
The Sidebar is always active. It does not have to be activated manually by the user. |
|
| · Feature Availability |
All Features Available |
|
| · Individual Deployment |
Anyone can download with windows permissions |
Certain Windows permission configurations can prevent the user from being able to download or access the sidebar. The Cirrus Insight program must be shared with the Windows user account. |
| · Mass Deployment |
Microsoft Installer (MSI) supported. IT can prevent the upgrade |
IT may need to be involved to push updates if your Windows users do not have download/install permissions for upgrades. |
| · Desktop Performance |
|
The sidebar is running locally and therefore uses memory within the Outlook application. Older machines and large user mailboxes can be pushing the memory thresholds for Outlook even before Cirrus Insight is installed. Additional memory consumption can cause Outlook to lockup or crash. Cirrus Insight is designed to minimize memory consumption and streamline performance with Outlook, but it does require some memory to run. |
| Web Add-in |
|
|
| · Sidebar Activation |
|
Sidebar must be activated |
| · Feature Availability |
|
Some features are not available due to API limitations. See section above. |
| · Individual Deployment |
Add to 365 via URL or Microsoft Store |
|
| · Mass Deployment |
Add to Exchange online via URL. New version update automatically. |
IT does not control updates |
| · Desktop Performance |
The add-in is only activated by the user and thus there is much less potential for interference |
|
Deployment Options
| Outlook Environment |
Desktop Add-in |
Web Add-in |
Notes |
| Desktop .EXE File |
Individual |
N/A |
|
| Microsoft Installer |
IT Mass Deployment |
N/A |
By IT Admins |
| Microsoft Store |
N/A |
Individual or Mass Deploy |
User or Exchange Admin |
| Install from URL |
N/A |
Individual or Mass Deploy |
User or Exchange Admin |
| Install from XML File |
N/A |
Mass Deploy |
Exchange Admin Only |
Closing
If you have additional questions for Cirrus Insight regarding the contents of this document or related to other Cirrus Insight products, please visit, /zynbit-knowledge-base/ or email us at help@zynbit.com
