Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions
General
- What is ClearContext® for Microsoft Outlook®?
- Will ClearContext alter my Outlook settings, views, etc.?
- Do I have to switch out of Outlook to use ClearContext? Will I have another application running on my desktop?
- Into what folders does ClearContext file my assigned projects?
- Does ClearContext prioritize email in all of my folders?
- Does ClearContext collect personal data from email?
Evaluation & Installation
- How do I get started using the product?
- How long is the ClearContext evaluation period?
- Can I disable the tutorial messages I am receiving after installation?
- How do I register the product?
- How do I upgrade the product?
- I have lost my registration key, how do I look it up?
- How do I backup my email data prior to install?
- How do I change back to the default Outlook inbox view?
- How do I disable or uninstall ClearContext?
System Requirements
- What are the basic system requirements for ClearContext®?
- Can I use ClearContext with Exchange?
- Can I use ClearContext with my POP3 Account(s)? Exchange Server? IMAP? HTTP? Lotus Connector? MSN Connector?
- Is there a version of ClearContext available for Apple OSX?
- Can I get ClearContext for Lotus Notes? Eudora? Netscape Mail? AOL?
- Does ClearContext work with Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail?
- Does ClearContext work with other Outlook Add-ins?
- I use multiple email profiles within Outlook, does ClearContext support them?
Setup & Configuration
- What is the ClearContext Contacts Folder that appears in my Contacts?
- Can I use subfolders within the ClearContext Projects file system?
- Configuration tips for Exchange users.
- Can I adjust the ClearContext view to show unread, prioritized messages?
- How do I adjust the color/ font for each priority level?
- How do I modify ClearContext views on the Inbox?
- How do I use ClearContext Project Assignment and Thread Management functionality without automatic prioritization and color-coding?
- How do I turn off AutoPreview?
- How do I set up a default project for a contact?
- How do I transfer my ClearContext settings to a new PC?
Known Issues
- The ClearContext Add-in has become disabled (or is not loading), how do I re-enable?
- The toolbar disappeared after changing Windows Vista User Account Properties (Rights/UAC).
- Win32 error when trying to install the product.
- No important contacts were found during setup/contact analysis.
- The ClearContext toolbar in the message windows (New, Reply, Open) are missing?
- Using online Exchange, ClearContext is slow to update messages (scoring, project assignment, etc.).
General
Will ClearContext alter my Outlook settings, views, etc.?
No. The ClearContext email organizer extends the functionality of Outlook, but does not alter it. You will see
new views in your Inbox, but switch to any default Microsoft Outlook view to restore previous email “look & feel."
(i.e. View > Current View > Messages)
Into what folders does ClearContext file my assigned
projects?
Messages that you file will be stored in
Outlook folders. See our User Guide
for information on configuring project folder storage.
Does ClearContext collect personal data from
email?
No. Personal
information is not shared with ClearContext without your consent.
See our privacy policy for more detail.
What are the basic system requirements for ClearContext®?
ClearContext is a Microsoft Outlook Add-in that runs on Windows
7, Vista or XP and works with Microsoft Outlook 2003, 2007 & 2010 (x86
and x64).
Less than 10 MB of hard drive space is required for installation. We suggest that you check the
Microsoft Windows Update page to get the latest office patches before installing.
Can I use ClearContext with my POP3 Account(s)? Exchange Server? IMAP? HTTP?
Lotus Connector? MSN Connector?
ClearContext processes data stored within the inbox in the user's default .pst or .ost file. POP3 and Microsoft Exchange Server are both supported. IMAP & HTTP mail (like Hotmail) are not supported. Lotus Connector is not supported due to some unique restrictions in place on the Domino server.
Hotmail & MSN Outlook Connectors are also not supported at this time. See our support forum for more detail.
Does ClearContext work with other Outlook Add-ins?
ClearContext follows Microsoft recommended best practices for Outlook
add-in development to ensure that the product works with the widest
range of third party add-ins.
Known add-in conflicts and workarounds are posted here.
How
do I get started using the product?
See a quick introduction to ClearContext features
here. For more detailed
information on taking control of email with ClearContext, see the
ClearContext Daily Workflow.
How long is the ClearContext Pro evaluation period?
A
fully functional trial of ClearContext
Pro can be evaluated free of charge for 30 days.
Licenses can be purchased here.
Can I disable the tutorial messages I am receiving after installation?
Yes. ClearContext automatically adds
a few tutorial messages to your Inbox after installation. These are placed there by the application - your email address has not been collected by ClearContext or communicated to the outside world.
Select ClearContext > Options > Preferences > Misc and check "Disable ClearContext Inbox tutorial messages"
to disable.
How do I register the product?
To use
ClearContext Pro beyond the 30 day trial period, purchase a registration key here and follow instructions
here to enter the key into the application's About screen. Registered ClearContext customers receive
priority email support and upgrades for 90 days after purchase.
How do I upgrade the product?
ClearContext Pro licenses include priority email support and upgrades
for three months from date of purchase.
ClearContext Connect, available to users who have purchased ClearContext Pro within the last 90 days, provides an additional 12 months of priority email support, upgrades, and priority access to beta releases ($50/year).
We are currently offering existing Pro customers a 5.0 upgrade for $49.95 that includes the same three months of support as new license purchases. Future upgrade schedule and pricing is subject to change.
I have lost my registration key. How do I look it up?
If you have previously registered the product, follow directions here to look up your registration key.
How do I backup my email data prior to install?
See the instructions below to optionally backup your email
data prior to installing ClearContext software.
To back up a local POP account or offline folders:
Locate the .pst file (or .ost for offline folders) that your email is delivered to and copy it. For most users, the default outlook.pst file is located under C:\Documents and Settings\{USER NAME}\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.pst, where {USER NAME} is the local user name that you use to log onto the computer.
To back up an online Exchange mailbox:
Select File > Import & Export > Export to a File and click Next. Select Personal Folder File (.pst) and click Next. Highlight the mailbox, select include subfolders, and click Next. Give a file name for the exported data and click Finish.
How do I disable or uninstall ClearContext?
To disable ClearContext
in Outlook 2003, select Tools > Options > Other > Advanced Options... > COM Add-Ins... and uncheck the box next to ClearContext. To disable ClearContext
in Outlook 2007, select Tools > Trust Center > Add-ins >
Manage COM Add-Ins... and uncheck the box next to ClearContext.
To disable ClearContext in Outlook 2010, select File > Options > Add-ins >
Manage COM Add-Ins... and uncheck the box next to ClearContext. To remove ClearContext go to the Windows Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs
(XP) or Programs (Vista/Windows 7), and click the remove button on the ClearContext entry.
Configuration tips for Exchange users.
When using Exchange in both online and offline mode, it is important to keep your local Outlook data file synchronized with the server. When entering/exiting online and offline modes, please perform a synchronization to ensure data integrity. We suggest that you configure Outlook options to automatically synchronize on both startup and shut down of the application. Also, after you first install ClearContext, be sure to enable the ClearContext Contacts folder for offline use.
We also recommend that Exchange customers download their corporate address book locally to ensure that ClearContext can resolve Exchange addresses correctly. To download, go to Tools > Send/Receive > Download Address Book and select "Download changes since last send/receive" and "Full Details."
Can I adjust a ClearContext view to show unread, prioritized messages?
Certainly. Use the filter functionality within the Customize Current View
menu to show only unread items. In Outlook 2003 this is found via View > Arrange By > Customize Current View. In Outlook 2007 go to View > Current View > Customize Current View.
How do I adjust the color/ font for each priority level?
While in the ClearContext View you want to modify, select the Automatic Formatting function underneath the View menu in Outlook (View > Customize Current View > Automatic Formatting). Alter the font of the ClearContext fields
CC-VIP and CC-OK
to display messages in different colors, styles, etc.. In Outlook 2003 this is found via View > Arrange By > Customize Current View > Automatic Formatting. In Outlook 2007 go to View > Current View > Customize Current View > Automatic Formatting.
In Outlook 2010 go to View > View Settings > Automatic Formatting.
How do I turn off AutoPreview?
You can manually turn off AutoPreview under the Customize View Menu in native Outlook. Click Other Settings and select the No AutoPreview
radio button. In Outlook 2003 this is found via View > Arrange By > Customize Current View. In Outlook 2007 go to View > Current View > Customize Current View.
In Outlook 2010 go to View > View Settings.
How do I set up a default
project for a contact?
Use AutoAssign to automatically assign a project based on sender. Select the AutoAssign button, give the rule a name (i.e. Mom), check “Sender” and enter a sender email address (i.e. mymom@myhome.net), and select the default project (i.e. Personal) in the Assign to Project: drop down list box.
How do I transfer my ClearContext settings to a new PC?
If you are moving to a new machine, follow the instructions in this batch file to back up and transfer your AutoAssign rules
and your user database (AutoFile rules, stats and project suggestions). The project
list is
automatically populated from the folders in your mail file. Assuming you are transferring your mail file to the new machine, no further configuration is necessary to transfer your
projects to the new setup.
The ClearContext Add-in has become disabled (or is not loading), how do I re-enable?
If Outlook terminated during operation, the ClearContext add-in could be disabled. The first step is to restart Outlook and see if that fixes the problem. If this does not work, follow the instructions below to re-enable.
**Please note that there are two places to check listed below - COM Add-ins and Disabled Items**
Outlook 2010
-
Select
File > Options > Add-ins. In the bottom of the Window select Manage: Disabled Items and click Go.... Select the checkbox next to add-in:clearmail.dll.
Click Enable.
-
If that doesn't
work, select File > Options > Add-ins. In the bottom of the Window select Manage: COM Add-ins and click Go.... Enable the checkbox next to ClearContext.
Outlook 2007
-
Select Tools > Trust Center. Click Add-ins. In the bottom of the Window select Manage: Disabled Items and click Go.... Select the checkbox next to add-in:clearmail.dll.
Click Enable.
-
If that doesn't
work, select Tools > Trust Center. Click Add-ins. In the bottom of the Window select Manage: COM Add-ins and click Go.... Enable the checkbox next to ClearContext.
Outlook 2003
-
Select Help > About Microsoft Outlook > Disabled Items and select the checkbox next to add-in:clearmail.dll.
-
If that doesn't
work, select Tools > Options > Other > Advanced Options... > COM Add-Ins... and ensure the box next to ClearContext
is checked.
If neither of these work and you are running Windows Vista or greater, see the item below.
The toolbar disappeared after changing Windows Vista User Account Properties (Rights/UAC).
Windows Vista introduces some new security features that will disable ClearContext if you change your user account settings to Administrator and turn UAC off. If you are running ClearContext and you change these properties, you may find that the add-in fails to load. If this happens, you have two options:
- Turn UAC back on or switch your user account rights back to Standard.
- Switch back to the original UAC/Rights configuration that you installed ClearContext under. Uninstall ClearContext via Add/Remove Programs. Switch to the desired configuration, then reinstall v3.1.0 or greater. The installer will recognize your account settings and install ClearContext for all users, ensuring that it will run the next time you open Outlook.
If this doesn't help, you may need to re-enable the application.
Win32 error when installing the product.
A
win32 error when installing the product (for example, "ccims is not
a valid Win32 application") indicates that the download is corrupted
and/or did not complete properly. Your browser has likely
cached a corrupted version of the download. Clear your browser
cache (in Internet Explorer via Tools > Internet Options >
Delete). Once complete, download the file to your hard drive
(right-click the download link and select Save Target As)
and run it from there to install.
No important contacts were found during setup/contact analysis.
If important contacts are not found, Exchange users may need to take these extra steps:
- Select Tools > Send/Receive > Download Address Book, check "Download changes since last send/receive," press the radio button next to "Full Details," and hit OK.
- When this process is complete, restart Outlook.
The ClearContext toolbar in the message windows (New, Reply, Open) are missing?
This is likely due to another add-in, such as Adobe
Professional, overwriting the ClearContext toolbar.
See this list of known add-in conflicts and workarounds.
After clicking to sort by a header field, the ClearContext prioritized view is no longer sorting correctly.
ClearContext prioritized views will stop functioning if a header field (such as Subject or Received) is clicked within the inbox. To restore, click the Reset
Views button on the misc tab in ClearContext Options.
We recommend using Outlook in Cached Exchange Mode. If you choose to run in Online Mode instead, in some cases, firewall software interferes with Outlook's ability to effectively communicate to the Exchange server. This can result in sluggish performance in Outlook overall, particularly in conjunction with ClearContext scoring and project assignment functionality. Add Outlook to your firewall's list of accepted programs to mitigate this issue. For users of Windows XP SP2 native firewall software, this is done as follows:
- Go to Start > Control Panel and run Security Center
- Click on Windows Firewall and the Exceptions Tab
- Click Add Program
- Select Microsoft Outlook if it is listed, if not click Browse
- Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Outlook xx (where xx = Outlook version number) and select Outlook.exe
- Click Open, OK, OK, and close the Control Panel
If your questions have not been answered in this FAQ, look in the Features & Support Forums. If the answer isn't there, feel free to post the issue. In addition, we welcome commentary on ClearContext features and would like your feedback on ways to improve the product.