Comparison of OWA to the Outlook program

OWA Features in Internet Explorer

Similarities to Outlook program

The Contacts, Deleted Items, Drafts, Journal, Notes, Outbox, Sent Items, and Tasks folders operate the same as the Outlook 2003 desktop program. 

Inbox Folder

Most of the Inbox is identical to the Outlook program, so here we will only mention the differences which are in Preview Pane and Filtering:

Preview Pane

The preview pane automatically loads in Internet Explorer.  Click the Preview icon to see your options. You can choose to have it display to the right, bottom, or not at all. The default is to the right.

Filtering

The Inbox(Messages) drop down menu above the toolbar(shown in picture above) is used to change or filter what messages appear in the inbox.  For example, you can use it to show only unread messages. These filters do not delete mail. They will just temporarily hide them. These options are also available on the View menu in the Outlook program. The default setting for this is Messages, and this setting will show all the e-mails in the current folder. This setting will be saved if you log out and log back in. 

Composing Messages

When you click the new button for composing a new message, the differences between OWA and the Outlook program include Spell Check, Fonts and Colors, Addressing and Attachments:

Spell Check

Spell Check is new in this version of Outlook Web Access. The icon is identical to the Outlook program (‘ABC’ with a check mark under it). The first time you use the feature, you must specify the Language as English(United States). You may also specify whether or not to Always check spelling before sending. Click Check Document to perform the check. From then on, the spell check will not ask for a language when you click the icon. Please be aware that only the body of the message is checked. Misspelled subject lines will not be caught or fixed.

Fonts and Colors

By clicking the large A next to the font setting you will open a Font window that allows you choose from all the fonts installed on the computer. The drop down list (shown above) to the right of the Large A has 5 standard fonts. Next to those is another A with a red line underneath. Clicking it will reveal a palette for choosing a font color. 

Addressing Messages

When you click on the To:, CC, BCC or on the addressbook, a Find Names box will pop up that displays:

Find names in: Global Address List.

Until you enter information in one of the fields and click on the “Find” button, the address list will appear blank.

You can choose between the Global Address List and Contacts at the top of this form. Type in any information you know about your intended recipient.  The more information you put in the fewer matches it will find. Once it has found the recipient, click the recipient, and then click To, CC, or BCC . Once you are finished adding names, click Close to return to the message. If you search by one of the other fields such as Department you will end up with a list of everyone in that Department. 

Attachments

The paper clip icon launches this dialogue window that allows you to Browse to the file you want to attach and then Attach the file. Attached files are shown in the white box at the bottom of the page. To remove any of them, click the check box next to the name and then click Remove.

Calendar Folder

The Calendar itself is identical to the Outlook program. The only difference is how reminders appear in the web program. 

Appointment Reminders

When you enter the Outlook Web program, any Reminders you assigned for Appointments will appear in a popup window. Here you can choose to Dismiss All which will close all the reminders or you can choose Open Item to open the highlighted appointment and actually examine it. Choosing Dismiss will dismiss the highlighted. Choosing Snooze allows you to choose a length of time for the reminder to go away before reappearing. If you select Close , the reminders will remain at the bottom left of the screen for this session but will reappear as a popup the next time you login.

Junk E-mail Folder

The Junk E-mail can be used to filter e-mails from unsolicited senders. To use this option follow these steps:

1. Click Options   from the list at the left hand side of the screen.

2. Check the Filter Junk E-mail box.

3. Click the Manage Junk E-mail Lists… button.

4. From the View or Modify list select Blocked Senders . These will be the people (specific e-mail addresses) or domains (such as @junkmail.com) that you wish to filter our of your Inbox. Safe Senders are specific e-mail address exceptions to the blocked domains. Safe Recipients are receivers that you do not wish to have filtered. 

5. Click Add.

6. Type in an e-mail address or domain you wish to block.

7. Click OK Twice.

8. At the top of the Options  window, Click Save and Close.

Exiting OWA

Click the Log Off button in the upper right corner to exit OWA and log you off the system.
OWA Features in Other Browsers

If you use a browser other than IE5.0 or later, some of the features are not available.

The initial screen that appears is similar to Microsoft Outlook. You begin in the Inbox. Folders offers the familiar Folder List option from Outlook, but comes up to right hand side of the screen when you click Folders . The rest of the links work the same as the Shortcuts bar on the Outlook bar in the Outlook program. 

The Options shortcut offers features normally available by selecting Tools, Options in the Outlook program. One major difference is that drag and drop does not exist. You must use the icons at the top of the bars to move or copy any items between folders. To do this, click in the box to the left of the item(s) before clicking the corresponding function. 

Inbox Folder

Most of the Inbox is identical to the program, so we will only mention the differences here which includes Filtering.  The Preview Pane does not exist in this version.

Filtering

The view tab on the toolbar is used to change or filter what messages appear in the inbox. For example, you can use it to show just those that are unread. These filters do not delete mail. They will just temporarily hide them. 

Composing Messages

Spell Check does not exist. Text is treated as plain text without special fonts or colors. 

Addressing works exactly as in IE, but you only have the Global address list to choose from.

Attachments work exactly the same as they do in IE.

Calendar Folder

The Calendar itself is similar to the Outlook program. One difference is double click features do not work. To create a new appointment you must click New.  Reminders appear exactly the same as they do in IE.

Junk E-mail Folder

The Junk E-mail can be used to trap e-mails from unsolicited senders.  To use this option follow these steps:

1. Click Options   from the list at the left hand side of the screen.

2. Check the Filter Junk E-mail. Box. 

1. Click  the Manage Junk E-mail Lists… button. The next page is broken up into three sections: Blocked Senders will be the people(specific e-mail addresses) or domains(such as @junkmail.com) that you wish to filter our of your Inbox .  Safe Senders are specific e-mail address exceptions to the blocked domains.  Safe Recipients are receivers that you do not wish to have filtered.  For example, Group listings such as the groups on the Global list or Lyris Lists. 2. Click Add for the Blocked Senders. 3. Type in an e-mail address or domain you wish to block. 4. Click OK. 5. At the top of the window, Click Save and Close.

Exiting OWA

Click the Log Off button at the bottom of the left hand list to exit OWA and log you off the system.