SDK-orama: Exchange SDK

Did you know that Exchange has a Software Developer's Kit (SDK)? It'scurrently in Beta 2, but here are some things you can expect to find on this CD.

Sample gateway application: The Exchange SDK includes a samplegateway that uses two new conversion Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). These DLLs,IPM_IN and IPM_OUT, convert messages to and from a text-based message format.This gateway application also supports backboning and the transport-neutralencapsulation format (TNEF).

Gateway configuration management: Service configuration informationno longer uses the Registry to store its information. Messaging ApplicationProgramming Interface (MAPI) calls access it directly. The SDK includes a sampleapplication, CFGCODE, which creates extension data from a text-based data file,and a sample data file. Look for SAMPLE.INI.

Gateway queue clean-out tool: The GWCLEAN utility is useful. It letsgateway administrators and developers dump the contents of any gateway queue.This tool could come in handy if you do a lot of testing.

MAPI-based list server: One of the coolest tools is a MAPI-basedlist server. It's similar to the list servers you subscribe to on the Internet(e.g., MAJORDOMO and LISTSERV), but it's totally MAPI-based. The setup for thisprogram takes advantage of the Windows GUI. You won't see any command-lineoptions here!

Installation utilities: Several installation utilities help supportthe installation of Microsoft Exchange Server. They are

Personal Folder utilities: The added NEWPST library and POPPSTutility support the creation of new Personal Folders and populate them withmessages described in a text-based data file.

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): Some additional APIs inrelease 2 are Public Folder Rules, Public Folder Access Control Lists,Schedule+, Backup/Restore, and Message security and encryption.

File Save common dialog: New code supports the Windows 95 FileOpenand FileSave common dialog boxes. The modified code includes the Exchange ServerPublic Folders in the container list. A sample application, ITP.EXE,demonstrates the use of this code.

Improved EDKMAPI library: This library now supports Rich TextFormat and MAPI property caching. Programs that rely heavily on the MAPIfunctions GetProps and Set Props should see improvements in programexecution.

MAPI directory access: You can now use MAPI to access an object inan Exchange Server directory, including objects that aren't part of the normaladdress book. An example of MAPI directory access is in the EDKCFG library.

C++ support for administrator extension DLLs: The added EXADMINlibrary is for developing extensions to the Exchange Server administratorprogram. EXADMIN implements the CAdminDialog class, as you can see in the sampleapplications SGWAdmin, SMBAdmin, and QueView.

This SDK is a must for anyone developing Exchange-aware applications,add-ons, or gateways. For an Exchange Server administrator, this SDK might beworthwhile--for the list server program alone!