Sending Email from External Applications Through Outlook

[btriem]

We have had a lingering problem since 4.5.1. I tried resolving this through Zimbra support 2 or 3 months ago with no resolution so I would like to throw this at the community.

Scenario with Zimbra connector 4.5.1 through 4.5.6:

1. Outlook 2003(latest updates applied) is open.
2. Adobe Reader(ver. 6,7,8) or Adobe 6.0 standard is open.
3. Send adobe PDF using the adobe send option, through outlook.
4. The email sends just fine.
5. Switch back to outlook and select a mail folder.
6. The folder view pane is grey and Outlook cannot display the folder information. I.e., inbox, etc.
7. Restart outlook and everything is fine again.

This also happens with ACT when sending mail from ACT through Outlook.

Uninstall the Zimbra connector and use POP3 or IMAP and it works normal.

It appears that the external program is grabbing a process from outlook to send the email and Outlook fails to regain permissions to that process. As stated, this only fails to work with the Zimbra connector installed so I have to think it has something to do with the Zimbra Connector.

I have actually lost one customer because of this issue and how much they rely on using the Adobe send PDF option.

Anyone have any thoughts to add to this? I didn't find anything concrete in the Forum's. Perhaps I wasn't searching with the correct key words.

Thank you,
Brad
Zimbra staff you can refer to Support Case 00011002, I will reopen.

[btriem]

This problem, through Adobe 8, occurs as soon as I close Adobe after sending a PDF through it. This was using the pre-release 4.5.7 of the outlook connector.

Prior to this it would happen right after sending the PDF through Adobe. Now, you have to exist Adobe Reader before the problem surfaces.

Thanks again for your support Zimbra community.

Brad

[cswihart]

I can confirm what Brad is saying as several of our users who send email through external applications experience this problem as well. This error is easily replicated when sending a .pdf from within Adobe Reader or a .doc file as an attachment from within Word. This is not a huge problem for us as we can easily work around it, but may be something support would like to correct in order to prevent future issues. Especially considering this occurs with widely used application such as M$ Word and Adobe Reader.

As Brad said the error only occurs after you exit the application you have sent the email from and then return to outlook and move to another folder. I have attached a screenshot of the error.

Thanks,

Chris

[phoenix]

You should also check bugzilla for outstanding problems, this is fixed in 4.5.7

[btriem]

Thanks Chris.

Zimbra has opened a bug(19814) on this issue now. Here it is if you wish to follow it.

Bug 19814 - Sending adobe attachments through adobe email function leaves Outlook unusable

[cswihart]

Bill & Btriem

Thank you both for the information.

Sorry, I missed the bug, Bill. I also wanted to make sure Zimbra was aware that this problem affects Word as well. This post and the bug pertain only to Adobe.

Thanks Again.


Chris

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by cswihart

Bill, Would this issue be resolved by installing by installing the Pre-Release 4.5.7 Outlook Connector, or does will it require the full 4.5.7 upgrade?

In a short while you'll need to upgrade to 4.5.7 (it's not a connector issue).