RE: [Evolution] wish-list (MS-Exchange support != MAPI support)

[Gregory Leblanc <GLeblanc cu-portland edu>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dirk-Jan C . Binnema (djcb) [mailto:bulkmail dds nl]
> Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2000 12:33 PM
> To: Gregory Leblanc
> Cc: evolution helixcode com
> Subject: Re: [Evolution] wish-list (MS-Exchange support != 
> MAPI support)
>
> On Sun May 21, 2000 at 09:39:21AM -0700, Gregory Leblanc wrote:
>
> > I think that there's a fair bit of demand for MS Exchange 
> MAPI support, but
> > I think that the demand for finishing the UI and the 
> backends for storing
> > local mail are just a wee bit more.  I'd suspect that there 
> won't be a lot
> > of MAPI work until Evolution gets to be at least useable 
> for local mail.  I
> > run VMware just so that I can get at my mail through 
> Outlook 2000, stored on
> > an Exchange server.  
> >     Greg
>
> Actually, MAPI is only one of the APIs MS provides for 
> accessing 'the messaging subsystem'. It's not the only one, 
> nor is Exchange the only mail server support it. While MAPI 
> is the API, the actual 'on-the-wire' format is not MAPI, but 
> the result of some exchange-library on your system 
> translating MAPI calls into the 'on-the-wire' format and vice versa.
>
> Unfortunately, while MAPI is documented pretty well, the 
> on-the-wire format is not widely available (AFAIK). The 
> short-term solution is to convince you sysadmin to install 
> IMAP support for Exchange to be able to access it...''

That is why I said "MS Exchange MAPI", and not just "MAPI".  However,
Evolution is useless with only IMAP support on the Exchange server, as it
defeats the purpose of having Exchange.  Exchange is so much more than a
mail storage facility, it provides the framework for a "groupware" system.
It allows (relatively) easy group callendaring, messaging (email), tracking
of both email and other "office" products.  I hate to sound like I'm selling
Exchange, since I wouldn't wish that on any administrator, however, it
offers the best groupware systemt that I've seen, from the users point of
view.  I'll have to see what I can find about the wire format that
Outlook/Exchange speak, I haven't looked yet, since Evolution doesn't even
have a GUI that works.
        Greg