Problem
One of the conditions below apply:
- A JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion user is having accessibility problems in Outlook that are not expected.
- A customer not using AT software encounters frequent problems with Outlook being unstable or freezing/crashing a lot.
Resolution
- Microsoft use a system of COM+ add-in third-party modules to extend its functionality with Microsoft Outlook. Typically more of these may be enabled than any one user actually requires. Temporarily disabling some or all may help with troubleshooting if the problem is caused by one of such add-ins.
- Where a customer experience problems using Outlook with Freedom Scientific BLV software JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion some add-ins themselves are known to create accessibility issues, disabling them may help identify which cause the problem.
- Below is a list of those that may be typically found. Using this information one can assess whether their presence is essential to a user. If they are not essential they can be disabled.
Disable add-ins for troubleshooting
Using the mouse
- In Outlook click File > Options. On some systems you may have to navigate through More and then to Options.
- Then click Add-ins in the category list.
- Then click the Manage drop list and select Com Add-ins, then click Go button.
- In the list of add-ins click to check or uncheck add-ins as required. You can refer to the list below for common add-ins to assess whether they are needed.
Using the keyboard
- In Outlook press ALT+F and down arrow to Options, then press ENTER. On some systems you may have to navigate through More and then to Options.
- Then in the Options dialogue press down arrow to Add-Ins.
- Then press ALT+A and use arrow keys to select Com add-ins.
- Then press TAB to reach Go button and press spacebar.
- A new window will pop up with a list of add-ins, you can press spacebar and any of the entries to disable the add-in.
- When done with adjustments press ENTER, then close and restart Outlook to see if problem is fixed.
Common add-ins
If you are not sure whether the add-in is needed refer to the list below for reference.
Acrobat PDF Maker
Allows creation of PDF file from Outlook mail.
Adobe Document cloud for Microsoft Outlook
Allows direct access from Outlook to Adobe Documents cloud
service.
Ai Squared MS Office COM Add-in
This add-in may showing a number after the name. These are ZoomText AHOI support modules for Outlook and are only ever useful when using ZoomText, there may however be times when disabling them might help if a ZoomText user faces particular problems when using Outlook.
Microsoft Access Outlook add-in for data collection
Seems to collect data from email messages into a remote
database.
Microsoft Exchange add-in
Necessary for those who us Exchange mail accounts
connected with a business or organisation customers using conventional domestic
mail services may be able to operate with this disabled.
Microsoft SharePoint Server Colleague import Add-in
(Unknown)
Microsoft Teams meeting add-in for Microsoft Office
For creating/scheduling Teams meetings from within Outlook.
Send to OneNote add-in
This add-in allows collection of information in Outlook
to be sent to Microsoft Notes app.
OneNote Notes about Outlook add-in
Allows information and tasks created in Notes to show up
in Microsoft Outlook.
Outlook Social connector 2016
This add-in has been deprecated. It is for updating contacts in in My Contacts
folder from Global Address Book.