I see and appreciate that the LF Plugin for New Outlook works good and support LF Cloud. However, for self-hosted customers we are getting questioned when they can expect LF Support for New Outlook.
Update January 28, 2025: Per https://answers.laserfiche.com/questions/216378/Laserfiche-Office-Integration-11-is-not-compatible-with-New-Outlook-for-Windows#226173:
The main dependency for bringing the new Laserfiche Outlook Add-in to self-hosted is Repository API v2 support, which is coming with the Spring 2025 API Server 12 release.
The new Office Add-in is the team's next priority after that, and I understand we'd be aiming to get it out in the following release window this year. We're very aware that Microsoft is pushing New Outlook increasingly aggressively and that more and more of our customers are adopting it.
Getting the initial Laserfiche 12 release out the door in Nov '24 was an extended all-hands effort from our development team, and we're now able to return our focus and effort to other important self-hosted initiatives like API Server 12 and the new Outlook Add-in.
Update March 12, 2024: Microsoft published an article titled New Outlook for Windows: A Guide to Product Availability that states:
Please note that the cutover stage does not signify the end of support for classic Outlook for Windows. We will continue to honor published support timelines for existing version of classic Outlook for Windows until at least 2029.
While we do expect that most organizations will end up transitioning to New Outlook for Windows before then, that should provide confidence that Microsoft is not dropping support for Classic Outlook anytime soon.
------------------------------
Chris,
Microsoft is not deprecating "Classic Outlook" in December 2024. They are replacing the built-in Mail and Calendar apps in Windows then. These: Mail and Calendar
That post you linked now contains this update:
- 8/30/2023 Important: In mid-September 2023 (previously late August), we will also begin a process of auto-migrating Mail & Calendar app users to the new Outlook for Windows with an option to go back if they choose. Users can go back to the current Mail and Calendar apps by clicking the toggle in the new Outlook for Windows. We also want to reiterate that these changes will not affect your organization’s use of classic Outlook for Windows.
Aside from the above, the latest available information on timelines comes from this Sept 5, 2023 Microsoft webinar titled Update on the new Outlook for Windows.
Here's what the Principal Group Product Manager for Outlook said there (closely paraphrased):
We want to be very clear that we're operating on different timelines for the Windows Mail and Calendar app vs the Classic Outlook Win32 app. We understand that there's a significant difference in expectations and customer requirements between those. So if you're getting nervous as you're seeing timelines being communicated around the Mail and Calendar apps on Windows, know that it's not the same as what we're talking about for Classic Outlook.
...
There is not a strict timeline on end of life for Classic Outlook. Probably on the order of a couple of years out, at least two."
https://www.xda-developers.com/classic-outlook-app-could-be-killed-in-two-years/
Microsoft has no exact answer to when it will replace the classic Outlook with the new Outlook. Based on the roadmap the company shared in the video, it looks like the removal of desktop Outlook won't happen before 2025. It could take even longer based on how things progress in making the new Outlook fully capable of replacing the classic one.
However, as Microsoft pointed out in the video, the timeline for the phasing out of the inbox Outlook app for Windows and the classic Outlook app will be different. While phasing out of the classic Outlook will take at least a couple of years, the software giant has plans to replace the inbox Mail and Calendar app for Windows with the new Outlook app in December 2024.
"Removal" also does not mean deprecation or end of support, it means it will be removed from the standard Office deployment package, and they'll provide a minimum of a year's notice before that happens.
Outlook 2021 has a formal product retirement date (end of security updates, etc.) of October 13, 2026. Microsoft is assuredly not shortening a published support lifecycle for a core product.
I've not seen much evidence that "New" Outlook is anywhere close to relevant feature parity with Classic Outlook. Ex:
List of new features and missing features in the "New" Outlook
Things to look forward to in the new Outlook for Windows from Microsoft Nov 2023, with some highlights they're working on that include:
"New" Outlook is currently an email client that doesn't support standard email file formats, doesn't work without an internet connection, and won't let you choose where to save attachments. ICS calendar file support was only just added Sept 2023.
While it's sensible for organizations to start trialing and planning for the transition to New Outlook now (including identifying 3rd party compatibility gaps like the Laserfiche Office COM Plug-in), it's not an email client I expect will be replacing Classic Outlook for most organizations by the end of this year.
Thanks for the question Jeremy. We are aware and are discussing options internally, but I have no information to provide at this time.
Andrew
I just wanted to check in to see if there was any new information regarding the Laserfiche plug-in for New Outlook and if it will be available for self-hosted users.
Hi,
I wanted to check in too, as our IT team just notified me that Microsoft is going to start forcing the update in April - any word on when this could be coming and what we can expect?
Hi Hannah, you can find our latest update on the topic here: https://answers.laserfiche.com/questions/216378/Laserfiche-Office-Integration-11-is-not-compatible-with-New-Outlook-for-Windows#226173
I also updated the pinned answer in this thread with that info.
Just to add to this, Microsoft seem to be deprecating the old Outlook in December 2024. Is there any update to this from a Laserfiche perspective?
Cheers!
Update January 28, 2025: Per https://answers.laserfiche.com/questions/216378/Laserfiche-Office-Integration-11-is-not-compatible-with-New-Outlook-for-Windows#226173:
The main dependency for bringing the new Laserfiche Outlook Add-in to self-hosted is Repository API v2 support, which is coming with the Spring 2025 API Server 12 release.
The new Office Add-in is the team's next priority after that, and I understand we'd be aiming to get it out in the following release window this year. We're very aware that Microsoft is pushing New Outlook increasingly aggressively and that more and more of our customers are adopting it.
Getting the initial Laserfiche 12 release out the door in Nov '24 was an extended all-hands effort from our development team, and we're now able to return our focus and effort to other important self-hosted initiatives like API Server 12 and the new Outlook Add-in.
Update March 12, 2024: Microsoft published an article titled New Outlook for Windows: A Guide to Product Availability that states:
Please note that the cutover stage does not signify the end of support for classic Outlook for Windows. We will continue to honor published support timelines for existing version of classic Outlook for Windows until at least 2029.
While we do expect that most organizations will end up transitioning to New Outlook for Windows before then, that should provide confidence that Microsoft is not dropping support for Classic Outlook anytime soon.
------------------------------
Chris,
Microsoft is not deprecating "Classic Outlook" in December 2024. They are replacing the built-in Mail and Calendar apps in Windows then. These: Mail and Calendar
That post you linked now contains this update:
- 8/30/2023 Important: In mid-September 2023 (previously late August), we will also begin a process of auto-migrating Mail & Calendar app users to the new Outlook for Windows with an option to go back if they choose. Users can go back to the current Mail and Calendar apps by clicking the toggle in the new Outlook for Windows. We also want to reiterate that these changes will not affect your organization’s use of classic Outlook for Windows.
Aside from the above, the latest available information on timelines comes from this Sept 5, 2023 Microsoft webinar titled Update on the new Outlook for Windows.
Here's what the Principal Group Product Manager for Outlook said there (closely paraphrased):
We want to be very clear that we're operating on different timelines for the Windows Mail and Calendar app vs the Classic Outlook Win32 app. We understand that there's a significant difference in expectations and customer requirements between those. So if you're getting nervous as you're seeing timelines being communicated around the Mail and Calendar apps on Windows, know that it's not the same as what we're talking about for Classic Outlook.
...
There is not a strict timeline on end of life for Classic Outlook. Probably on the order of a couple of years out, at least two."
https://www.xda-developers.com/classic-outlook-app-could-be-killed-in-two-years/
Microsoft has no exact answer to when it will replace the classic Outlook with the new Outlook. Based on the roadmap the company shared in the video, it looks like the removal of desktop Outlook won't happen before 2025. It could take even longer based on how things progress in making the new Outlook fully capable of replacing the classic one.
However, as Microsoft pointed out in the video, the timeline for the phasing out of the inbox Outlook app for Windows and the classic Outlook app will be different. While phasing out of the classic Outlook will take at least a couple of years, the software giant has plans to replace the inbox Mail and Calendar app for Windows with the new Outlook app in December 2024.
"Removal" also does not mean deprecation or end of support, it means it will be removed from the standard Office deployment package, and they'll provide a minimum of a year's notice before that happens.
Outlook 2021 has a formal product retirement date (end of security updates, etc.) of October 13, 2026. Microsoft is assuredly not shortening a published support lifecycle for a core product.
I've not seen much evidence that "New" Outlook is anywhere close to relevant feature parity with Classic Outlook. Ex:
List of new features and missing features in the "New" Outlook
Things to look forward to in the new Outlook for Windows from Microsoft Nov 2023, with some highlights they're working on that include:
"New" Outlook is currently an email client that doesn't support standard email file formats, doesn't work without an internet connection, and won't let you choose where to save attachments. ICS calendar file support was only just added Sept 2023.
While it's sensible for organizations to start trialing and planning for the transition to New Outlook now (including identifying 3rd party compatibility gaps like the Laserfiche Office COM Plug-in), it's not an email client I expect will be replacing Classic Outlook for most organizations by the end of this year.
Thanks for the detailed answer Sam. I think this has confused a lot of people looking at various forums, but this is a solid answer. Cheers!