XING Outlook Plug-In
Connection of MS Outlook and Lotus Notes to XING
XING AG has commissioned eWorks to develop the "XING plug-in" (formerly: "openBC plug-in").
The "XING plugin" is a Windows application for synchronizing contacts between the XING Internet service and a local address book:
Lotus Notes
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook Express
Microsoft Exchange
Windows address book
The XING plugin offers members of www.xing.com various functions, including the synchronization of contacts with XING:
Search for your own contacts or address book entries in XING
Invite your own contacts to XING who are not yet members
Importing known contacts from XING into Outlook
Search your own emails for new contacts
Notification of new contacts in incoming e-mails
Automatic search for postal addresses in emails (heuristics)
Outlook search field for searching XING contacts
eWorks technically designed and developed the first version of the XING plug-in in July 2005, at that time still under the name "openBC Plug-In". Since its completion, eWorks has assisted the XING team with support questions, which are sent to the XING support team via contact e-mail.
The XING plug-in exists as a stand-alone application and also as an ActiveX version. The latter makes it possible to use the functions of the XING plugin without having to download and install it.
Technically, the XING plugin consists of various components such as a main program, various DLLs for accessing Outlook, Notes etc., COM controls, Outlook property pages and an ActiveX control for use via a web browser. The installation is carried out via Windows Installer and an InstallShield installation program via MSI file or via "1-Click-Install".
eWorks has specified a WebService data exchange protocol for communication between the XING plugin and www.xing.com, which was then implemented on the client and server side.
When planning and developing the XING plugin, a number of special requirements had to be taken into account due to the high number of XING users:
Modern and pleasant user interface: State-of-the-art GUI
Internationalization (German, English, Spanish, Chinese, ...)
Compatibility with Outlook 2000, Outlook XP and Outlook 2003
Support for Windows NT, 98, ME, 2000, XP and 2003
Easy and secure installation for everyone
Minimum download size
ActiveX for alternative use in the web browser ? without installation
Digital code signature of installation program and ActiveX
Function tests under approx. 50 different software configurations (!)