Outlook ´03 ADM templates are "retrocompatible"?

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NeXTstep - 31 Oct 2006 12:12 GMT

I have 30 clients on a AD domain, running different versions of Outlook
(i.e. 2000, 2002, 2003).

I would like to configure them through a group policy, using an Outlook 2003
ADM template (Outlook 2003 resource kit).

Is such a template "compatible" with precedent versions of Outlook?

What will it happen to those clients running an older version of Outlook
(than 2003), and applying such a policy?

Do you have any experience to share?

TIA,

/NeXTstep

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Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 31 Oct 2006 13:17 GMT

If you open it in Notepad, you'll see that it refers to registry values related to a particular version of Outlook, some of which are not supported in earlier versions. Older versions will simply ignore any policy settings applied for Outlook 2003. If you support multiple versions, you need to use the .adm template for each version.

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Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

>I have 30 clients on a AD domain, running different versions of Outlook
> (i.e. 2000, 2002, 2003).
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> /NeXTstep

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NeXTstep - 31 Oct 2006 14:12 GMT

Sue,

>If you open it in Notepad, you'll see that it refers to registry values
>related to a particular version of Outlook, some of which >are not
>supported in earlier versions. Older versions will simply ignore any policy
>settings applied for Outlook 2003. If you >support multiple versions, you
>need to use the .adm template for each version.

Why should I use a .adm template for each version if the registry values of
the "newer" features are simply ignored by older versions of Outlook?

Couldn´t I just use only a 2003 .adm template, since older Outlooks will be
able to find out by themselves which registry settings to pick up and which
to ignore?

TIA,

/NeXTstep

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Norbert Fehlauer [MVP] - 31 Oct 2006 14:23 GMT

Hi,

> Why should I use a .adm template for each version if the registry
> values of the "newer" features are simply ignored by older versions
> of Outlook?

Because you would configure your "old" Outlooks too? If not, then you can
stick with OUTLK11.adm

> CouldnŽt I just use only a 2003 .adm template, since older Outlooks
> will be able to find out by themselves which registry settings to
> pick up and which to ignore?

Older Outlooks will ignore more or less /all/ policies set by the
OUTLK11.adm. Whats the problem with importing several versions of adms?

Bye
Norbert

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