Google Apps vs Exchange Part 3: Outlook Sync Compatibility
By now, you have heard about Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook. You may also hear rumblings about less than 100% compatibility.
Yes, there are limitations. That said, the ability to use Outlook with Google Apps Premier Edition is an easy, powerful way to help companies transition from Exchange services (in-house or hosted) to Google Apps.
So you know …. the tool does not sync:
- Tasks (a shame since Google Tasks integrate with the inbox and calendar so well)
- Notes
- Journal
- Public Folders
Additionally, installing Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook may change the way searching works within Outlook. According to Microsoft, it disables Outlook’s use of Windows Desktop Search, which Outlook uses to “any and all Outlook data”.
While the registry bit was not changed by the Google sync tool installation on any of our systems, here is the fix.
- Run REGEDIT
- Browse to: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindows Search”
- Reset the value of “PreventIndexingOutlook” to “0” (without the quotes). To do this, right click on the “PreventIndexingOutlook” key, select “Modify…”, then change the value data to “0”.
- Exit REGEDIT
Finally, Google is publishing a list of other Outlook Add-ins that may not be compatible with the sync tool. We are reviewing the information and will post an update later this week.
While some companies may find one or more of these limitations a “show stopper”, our experience tells us that most companies will still benefit from being able to use Outlook and Google Apps via the MAPI connection.
