CNET Editors' review
Microsoft's Outlook is the world's favorite e-mail client, used by giant corporations and Net-surfing grannies alike. Many users have more than one PC, and it's not uncommon to have several under your control: work, home, laptop, etc. Whether you're a busy executive or just someone who checks their e-mail on more than one machine, one of your biggest challenges is keeping everything together, up to date, and backed up. CodeTwo's Public Folders is a powerful application that's up to the task. It's an Outlook extension that lets users securely share Outlook documents over any network, public or private. It lets you synchronize and share e-mails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and other Outlook-compatible folders and documents in real time. It also mimics Exchange Server for seamless offline work mode.
CodeTwo Public Folders' download includes two installations, the Syncing Master and the Outlook Add-ins. You generally install the Syncing Master first, on the main PC, and the Outlook Add-ins on each target machine; however, you can also install just the Outlook Add-ins and use CodeTwo's server to try out its synchronizing features. There's also a helpful Tool Tip pop-up and other assistance for first-timers, including online video tutorials, all of which do a good job explaining how the program works. We opted for the standard installation, which quickly and seamlessly integrated itself with Outlook's add-ins toolbar. It's designed to be extremely easy to set up and use, since a productivity enhancer that takes too long to learn isn't doing much "enhancing."
This is a sophisticated tool for online collaboration, managing far-flung resources, keeping work groups up to speed, or simply bringing order to e-mail chaos and ensuring that you always have access to your Outlook resources, no matter which PC you're using. It has too many features to describe, such as Public and Private Folders options and Access Rights Management, giving a fine level of access control. If you need its considerable capabilities, it certainly delivers.
Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of CodeTwo Public Folders 4.5.9. The trial version is limited to 30 days only.Publisher's Description
From CodeTwo:
With CodeTwo Public Folders, share Outlook calendar, contacts, email, tasks, folders, and even documents in the company network or even over the Internet. Use CodeTwo Public Folders to share Outlook data with others in real-time, manage access rights, work in offline mode - exactly the same way as with Exchange Server. CodeTwo Public Folders integrates with Outlook seamlessly which means you do not have to learn new software. It lets you synchronize Outlook items between multiple Outlook clients so your data remains safe. The installation is very simple and intuitive so you can install and start using this software within a few minutes. The program also contains a built in File Sharing App, which allows users to share files outside Outlook, even through an Internet connection. During the synchronization the synchronized data is never uploaded to any external servers or Cloud accounts. Owing to this it remains always safe.
What's new in this version: Version 5.0.5 has fixed unknown error could occur when sharing of a personal folder was stopped or when a change was made to permissions to a shared personal folder or when the subscription of a folder was closed by the subscriber.
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All versions:
4.9 starsout of 9 votes
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Results 1-9 of 9
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"Simple and functional"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.6.3
Pros
Product was purchased to allow members of different departments to communicate easily and fast - share tasks, contacts, calendars, etc.
Cons
Recommended for a business environment.
Summary
We've decided to buy CodeTwo product again as the other ones from this company haven't failed and that was a good choice.
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"The best multi-user scheduling software I have used"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.5.9
Pros
Synchronisation virtually instantaneous
Fine in off-line mode
Synchronises reminders
Uses outlook
Simple setup
Works with 64 bit Windows
Since Outlook based synchronises with Android & Symbian phones
Online video tutorials very helpfulCons
None yet after several weeks of use
Summary
I have worked with mulitiuser PIM programs for 4 years and this is the best I have come across. I used WinPim for several years until I upgraded to 64 bit Windows 7 and WinPim was not compatible. So I went searching for a replacement.
I tried a range of products - don't like those that use email to synchronise and some were simply too non-intuitive.
Pimero looked good but would not synchronise reminders - which meant my PA could not set up my appointments with reminders on my laptop.
Then I came across CodeTwo Public folders and it meets all my requirements. I like MS Outlook and it uses all the strengths of Outlook. It is also competitively priced. -
"Perfect tool for teamwork - very, very simple to use"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.5.9
Pros
It's very simple to install and use. We connected 22 computers without any server software and it is working smoothly. Allows for syncing multiple calendars, Nice access rights manager. Big plus for option to sync documents.
Cons
Haven't noticed any.
Summary
We had problems organizing teamwork in my company. We were looking for a program that would let us sync tasks, calendars and mail. Since we're using Outlook, we were looking for Outlook tool that would let us share all outlook items. We googled for solution and found CodeTwo Public folders. We tested it for free for 30days and then bought the license. It's about 40 dollars for each seat - couldn't be better. The only problem I had was syncing categories - but CodeTwo offers additional freeware tool for that CodeTwo Catman. CodeTwo - it's a job well done!
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"Safe and reliable"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.5.9
Pros
Easy installation and setup. They've put a video on their YT channel explaining everything. Real-time sharing works smoothly, no issues noticed. It really integrates with Outlook perfectly - no additional windows etc..
Cons
None so far.
Summary
What I like about it the most, is that I share everything in my own network and therefore I'm sure all information is safe. It really seams to be a reliable software..
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"Easy Synchronization of Outlook Across Network"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.1.2
Pros
- Ease of Use: easy configuration (incl. custom permissions for each user)
- Flexible (Share any Outlook Tasks, Calendars incl. custom forms created in Outlook)
- Real time synchronization of Outlook clients
- Expandable (add licenses as required)Cons
- Manual is adequate, but specific tasks such as creating "custom forms" in Outlook requires specific knowledge. A video would help or a section that describes "Advanced topics" such as the one described.
Summary
Using this software in our consulting business; employees adopted new functionality quickly; cost effective yet powerful solution.
Quick and competent response of support staff to questions on configuration issues.
Updated on Nov 21, 2009 -
"Program helps share outlook data in a simple way"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.1.2
Pros
- 30-day trial with full functionality,
- sharing of folders can be easily done;
- it merges with Outlook ? no additional windows
- real time synchronization works really wellCons
Video tutorials would help me set this up, I don?t like delving into manuals
Summary
This app aids my business in having updated data on several computers in outlook.
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"Fantastically simple in use & deployment Outlook addon"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.1.2
Pros
Uncaps group work between multiple Outlook like exchange, fairly priced
Cons
no I suppose
Summary
Actually, if you want to use this software to share Outlooka data over the internet, you can connect over the Net with VPN, see their knowledgebase for more, keyword ?Internet?
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"nice piece of software"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.1.2
Pros
I can share all Outlook without Exchange server in real-time and this software doesn't send emails to sync the data!
Cons
The same as Alpha_3 wrote in his comment, security mechanism desn't allow sharing data over the Internet.
Summary
Slick application that shares all outlook items with no server, smoothly and seamlessly merges with outlook, I can sync my laptop with desktop to work on data at home.
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"Exactly what I was looking for"
Version: CodeTwo Public Folders 4.1.2
Pros
I don?t need to buy Exchange to share contacts folders and have company address book.
Cons
Unfortunately, the sharing of data over the Internet is not fully supported.
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