Office 365 (Apple Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Reminders on OS 10.8) - Client Capabilities

Best Effort Support Only

This document contains instructions on using a non-Microsoft email client, such as Apple Mail or Thunderbird. Microsoft does not recommend these clients for use with Office 365, and there are often significant limitations in client functionality as a result.

Because of this, the DoIT Help Desk is only able to offer best effort support for these clients, and certain issues may require the use of a Microsoft client in order to be resolved. For more information on Office 365 client support, please see: Office 365 - Which clients/protocols will be supported?.

This document provides an overview of a range of functions and behavior when interacting with Office 365 using Apple Mail on Mac OSX 10.8 The functionality considered pertains to the Email, Calendaring, and Contacts portions of the Office 365 suite.

Key
This client is able to perform these functions very well, with few or no issues. This client is able to perform these functions very well, with few or no issues.
This client has some issues performing these functions. Certain tasks may require a different client or additional steps. This client has some issues performing these functions. Certain tasks may require a different client or additional steps.
This client is not able to perform these functions; a different client is needed to complete these functions. This client is not able to perform these functions; a different client is needed to complete these functions.
These functions have not yet been tested using this client. These functions have not yet been tested using this client.

Email Functions Yes/No Notes
Client accessible per ADA guidelines This client is able to perform these functions very well, with few or no issues.
Configure for access plus_green
Send and receive plus_green
Move message to a folder plus_green
Create, rename, and delete folders plus_green
Set sharing permissions for entire mailbox minus_red Are no default options to share mailbox
Set sharing permissions for folder(s) minus_red Are no default options to share folder(s)
Interact with a shared mailbox exclamation_yellow Only by using a shared account can mailbox/folder information be shared
Interact with a shared folder minus_red
Authenticate and send as another user minus_red
Send on behalf of another user (change identities) minus_red
Set and modify server-side filters This client is not able to perform these functions; a different client is needed to complete these functions.
Set and modify client-side filters plus_green Client uses "smart mailboxes" to filter out emails based on certain criteria
Expand recipients from server-side distribution list question_blue
Forward email inline plus_green Default Forward option
Forward email as attachment plus_green Can right-click on message and choose option to "forward as attachment"
View full headers of a message plus_green With email highlighted, select the "view" drop down menu -> choose "message" -> "all headers"
Export email (to import elsewhere) plus_green
Detach attachments from email messages plus_green
Set tags, flags, or categories on email plus_green Color categorization flags with 7 color categories.
Print a message plus_green
Auto-complete email addresses from server Global Address List plus_green Contact list auto-syncs with global address list on account configuration.
Auto-complete email addresses from server Personal Address Book plus_green
Auto-complete email addresses from local Personal Address Book plus_green Yes, account can be synced with the Contacts program
Recover deleted emails from Deleted Items plus_green
View emails in threaded or conversation view plus_green "View" drop down menu lists the "conversation view" as the third option
Set reminder on email messages. plus_green Can sync account with Reminders program.
Create an event from an email message minus_red
Use a Digital ID to digitally sign an email question_blue
Set a priority on an email message plus_green Can set message priority upon sending
Send as alternate address plus_green

Calendar Functions Yes/No Notes
Configure for access plus_green Configured through iCal
Create a meeting/appointment/event plus_green
Modify or delete an event that you created plus_green
Modify or delete an event that another person created exclamation_yellow Can't modify an event created by someone else, but can delete it without an issue.
Modifications to event by organizer overwrite modifications by attendee(s) minus_red Cannot edit another person's event.
Delete a meeting/appointment/event plus_green Right-click on event, choose "delete" option.
Set recurrence on events plus_green
Create a task plus_green Can sync account with Reminders program
Modify a task (update status, change details) plus_green
Delete a task plus_green
Invite attendee(s) to events (within the system) plus_green
Invite external attendee(s) to events (other systems, e.g. Gmail) plus_green Gmail is the only external system tested
Provide attendance response to non-recurring events plus_green
Provide attendance response to single instances of recurring events plus_green System prompts user the moment they respond to a recurring event by clarifying is responding to single event or all
Provide attendance responses to all instances of recurring events question_blue System prompts user the moment they respond to a recurring event by clarifying is responding to single event or all
Check schedule availability of another user plus_green When creating an event "shown as busy", the system provides a "available meeting times" option just below the list of event invitees
Create a new calendar plus_green
Delete an existing calendar plus_green
Display multiple calendars in one view question_blue iCal program display as many calendars as are checked on the left-hand column.
Change calendar views (e.g. daily, weekly) plus_green
Change calendar colors plus_green
Set default calendar view exclamation_yellow Options are in "view" drop down menu, the default view option is the last one used. A permanent default view option is not available.
Show or hide declined events minus_red Declined events are removed from the calendar.
Set popup notifications for events plus_green Use Reminders program
Set email notifications for events minus_red
Set other calendar options or preferences minus_red
Set sharing permissions for calendars question_blue Can give access of own account to others, and others likewise. Only way to share calendar information outside of scheduling assistant or invites.
Set privacy settings for calendars question_blue Can set events as "private". Events are public by default.
Create events with limited visibility (e.g. show date and time only) plus_green Set "show as" when creating/editing events
Subscribe to shared Office 365 calendars plus_green
Subscribe to external .ics calendars question_blue
Remove a subscribed calendar plus_green
Invite/schedule a resource (conference room, projector, equipment, etc) question_blue
Create an event on behalf of a resource question_blue
Set sharing permissions for a resource question_blue
Set privacy permissions for a resource question_blue
Print calendars or events plus_green
Manage attachments on events plus_green
Auto-complete email addresses from server Global Address List plus_green
Auto-complete email addresses from server Personal Address Book plus_green
Auto-complete email addresses from local Personal Address Book plus_green

Contacts Functions Yes/No Notes
Configure for access plus_green
View and use the Global Address List (GAL) plus_green
Create a personal contact stored on the server plus_green
Modify a contact stored on the server plus_green
Delete a contact stored on the server plus_green
Create and modify local contacts plus_green
Auto-complete addresses from contacts plus_green
Create server-side distribution list minus_red
Modify server-side distribution list minus_red


Keywords:microsoft office 365 office365 o365 features capabilities capability functionality grid technical breakdown client name and version o365 mac mail.app email tasks address book   Doc ID:28774
Owner:Help Desk KB Team .Group:DoIT Help Desk
Created:2013-02-25 09:50 CDTUpdated:2017-11-30 11:41 CDT
Sites:DoIT Help Desk, DoIT Tech Store, Office 365
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