ATOI365D#Office365Challenge Yes we’re trying to change culture. Yes we want to collaborate more and be more efficient, but most of us still hang around in Outlook, right? Bad habits are hard to break – and there is a place for everything, for a reason. So, Microsoft brings SharePoint right into your Outlook – to make your life easier. AND to make the transition easier.

Day:  353 of 365, 12 left
Tools:  Office 365, SharePoint
Description: Connect to Outlook in SharePoint
Audience:  All

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What does Microsoft say: You can synchronize a SharePoint library, contact list, task list, Project task list and a certain types of SharePoint external lists with Microsoft Outlook. Because many SharePoint users also use Outlook to collaborate and coordinate activities and projects, the ability to synchronize these libraries and lists can help you become more efficient, especially if you work offline or don’t have convenient access to your SharePoint sites all the time. Read more…

Connect to your Outlook:

As mentioned above, there are a variety of apps in SharePoint that allows you to “Connect to Outlook”. In this example you’ll see the “Connect to Outlook” button under my Calendar Tab. Depending on how your authentication is setup – you might be asked to allow the link and to enter your credentials. You know it’s your SharePoint site – trust it.

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Once the Calendar is linked (for example), you’ll now see the Calendar in your Outlook. You no longer have to go to Sharepoint to update events, you can add them – right there in your Outlook. You can also drag items from your calendar to the SharePoint Calendar.

Keep in mind:  If you drag an item from your Outlook Calendar to the SharePoint Calendar – IT’S ONLY A COPY. if you change the one in your own calendar – it will not update SharePoint.

Any changes you make on the SharePoint Calendar in your Outlook will update to the SharePoint calendar.

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Many of the apps in SharePoint can be “synced” with your Outlook – have a look and try them out. Be careful though, the more apps you sync with your Outlook – the longer it will take to synchronize.

I have 12 days left of my 365 days Challenge. I have not even written about Teams, Groups & Planner yet. On day 2 I thought I was gonna run out of content – guess I didn’t. If you’re not convinced by now that Microsoft is the next best thing to sliced bread – then I give up. 🙂

Overview of my challenge: As an absolute lover of all things Microsoft, I’ve decided to undertake the challenge, of writing a blog every single day, for the 365 days. Crazy, I know. And I’ll try my best, but if I cannot find something good to say about Office 365 and the Tools it includes for 365 days, I’m changing my profession. So let’s write this epic tale of “Around the Office in 365 Days”. My ode to Microsoft Office 365.
Keep in mind that these tips and tricks do not only apply to Office 365 – but where applicable, to the overall Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint.