Our initial concept for distributing this ActiveX control was via Internet Explorer's built-in ActiveX installer routine -- the blue or yellow banner that appears across the top of a browser window when an ActiveX control is required for a Web page. It seemed slick and non-threatening. Unfortunately, this avenue for installing ActiveX controls is frequently blocked in corporate settings.

As a result, we settled on a conventional executable (.EXE) installer routine, surrounded by a lot of caveats -- check your IE security settings, temporarily disable anti-virus/spyware software, etc. While this isn't as "clean" as we'd like, it is proving effective in creating a successful installation for motivated users.

Conclusion
Like a government project, the cost and time involved in this development effort quickly spiraled upwards. However, the result is a truly useful extension to our old friend the mailto link. We believe that centrally managed, Web-based, email template libraries offer some unique benefits and can emerge as a valuable business tool.

Francine Otterson is the President of the San Diego Outlook User Group and a Microsoft Outlook MVP. She has been in the IT industry for over 10 years, providing technical support, software customization solutions and training in corporate settings, and as a consultant. She balances her work around her daughter and husband in sunny San Diego, California.