Select the Microsoft Outlook folder in which you want to process the messages by using the Attachments Processor Options as shown in Figure A. From the Microsoft Outlook toolbar, select Tools, Options, Attachments Processor, and General Options.

FIGURE A

Here are the General and Folders and Files Options to select for processing and storing. Click picture for a larger image.

If necessary, browse to select the Target Folder where you want to store your processed attachments, and then select the message folders you want to process as shown in the Rule Options window in Figure B. Be sure to check the Use this rule with incoming messages and Enabled in automatic message processing mode boxes, if displayed. Click OK.

FIGURE B

shows the General Rule Options for selecting the attachments processing Target and Message Folders. Click picture for a larger image.

You can select the folder in which you want the attachments to be saved by accepting the default Target Folder option, or click Folders and Files Options to group attachments by subject, folder name, sender data, counter and system, or message date based format as shown in Figure C.

FIGURE C

shows the attachments Folder Grouping Options as an alternative to using the default Target Folder. Click picture for a larger image.

Now, when messages are sent to the Target Folder, they will be automatically processed and the attachments will be saved in the designated folder. Attachments Processor has some additional cool features to help you manage attachments such as overwriting existing files and deleting or replacing files with a shortcut or text description.

Zipping and blocking
MAPILab designed the Attachments Processor as a multifunctional, composite Microsoft Outlook add-in for managing attached files. The other two components are the Attachments Zip Compressor and the Blocked Attachments Management Utility.

The purpose of zipping files is to store them in a packed state and essentially reduce the size of messages while maintaining full access to the files. Attachments Zip Compressor allows you to automatically archive files attached to your incoming and outgoing messages by automatic ZIP-archive processing. It also contains a password manager for administering archive passwords. To utilize the Attachments Zip Compressor component's functionality, you have to switch the Attachments Processor into "advanced mode" and create a new rule.

The Blocked Attachments Management Utility is used for managing the list of attachment types that are blocked by the Outlook security system. This functionality is used only for Internet email. By default, Microsoft Outlook blocks attachment types considered to be insecure.

But, sometimes you might find it necessary to access these file types. That's where the Blocked Attachments Management Utility comes in. When you receive a message that contains a dangerous or non-secure file, the Blocked Attachments Management Utility informs you with a notification like that shown in Figure D.

FIGURE D

is an example of a dangerous file notification message. Click picture for a larger image.

By launching the Blocked Attachments Management Utility component, you can override the default and check the boxes of the blocked file types in which you want to gain access, as shown in Figure E.