Nektra announces the release of the new version of WLMailApi, the most used SDK designed to develop plugins in Windows Live Mail Desktop email client.

Main features included in this version:

• Create toolbars and buttons.
• Create toolbars and buttons in message windows (Compose / Reply / Forward / Message detail).
• Access and modify folders and messages.
• Event notifying selected folder and message/s.
• Event notifying changes in local folders.
• Demo application and dll plugin developed in C# with source code.

Request trial version here! http://www.nektra.com/products/wlmailapi-windows-live-mail-api-plugin/request-trial License: Some changes were introduced to the license for WLMailApi. Now, it is necessary to purchase a license for each developer that will use the library or by each product that will be developed using the library, taking into account whichever number is greater. For more details visit license page. http://www.nektra.com/products/wlmailapi-windows-live-mail-api-plugin/license Contact us to ask any commercial question or use the technical inquiries. http://www.nektra.com/contact

Best Regards,

Business Development

Nektra has released the new WLMailApi v1.1.1

Nektra has released the new WLMailApi v1.1.1, which has many more features & functions, this allows developers to create custom Windows Live Mail plug-ins.

Nektra Advanced Computing is glad to announce the release of the new WLMailApi version 1.1.1 which you can request a download by clicking here. This new version is an update of the official WLMailApi RTM version which has been released over two years ago.

Creating addons or plugins for Windows Live Mail Desktop® demands a deep knowledge of its internal behavior, it does not have any public Application Programming Interface.

Windows Live Mail is the desktop email client promoted by Microsoft for Windows XP®, Windows Vista® and Windows 7® as part of the Windows Live Essentials free software.

Contact us to ask any commercial question or use our forum for technical inquiries. For information about pricing or special demos please call 1-(310)237-6506.

The changes for this version are:

• SendMessage now works, but only for the default account.
• Resolved On click “create message” button Hang
• Resolved WLMail hang when I imported an account
• Resolved Hang when I drag and drop emails only if AVG is installed
• Resolved Moving messages through folders hang
• Added IMailAccount::GetMailAddress
• Moved all loading code to LiveMapiLoader
• Added GetButtonRect()
• Added Message::GetBodySize
• Changed folder enumeration to using ILMFolderEnumerator
• Fixed IMessage::GetBodySize
• Changed InternalRegisterMessageNotification folder limit from 30 to 20

A new version of Nektra Deviare API Hook is now released. This version has lots of fixes to bugs that I found along the last year working with the library in Application Virtualization Solutions and Reverse Engineer. I found some stability issues, generating dead-locks, stack trace wasn’t working as defined and it has important performance improvements. Also, there are more functions in the database and some data types were not working at all: arrays and enumerations.

New C# hooking console

Highlights

• Process / Module / Function panels
• Functions that are included in the database are displayed with full parameter information.
• Execution hooks (aka: ‘Add Exec Hook’) allow the user to add hooks when an application starts. It’s useful to debug an application that crashes at startup.
• Parameter information could be displayed before and after the function is called.
• Full Stack trace information.
• Function calls can be displayed grouped by thread.
• CLSID and IID are displayed in {xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx} format and with registration information:

• Structures parameters are expanded to show all their fields. This picture shows a call to Kernel32.FindFirstFileW with parameter _WIN32_FIND_DATAW expanded.

• Lots of Windows Messages are supported. LPARAM and WPARAM parameters of user32.dll functions DispatchMessage, PostMessage, SendMessage, PeekMessage and GetMessage are interpreted as the real data type that they are. Here a LVM_INSERTCOLUMNW (ListView_InsertColumnW macro for C++) is sent and the lParam is displayed as a tagLVCOLUMNW*:

In file $INSTDIR\Bin\Database\FunctionTypes.xml you can find all the definitions. They are of the style:

<message value="442">

  <name>TB_SETBUTTONINFOA</name>

  <return value="">

    <returninfo>returns LRESULT in lResult</returninfo>

  </return>

  <wparam value="INT">

    <wname>iID</wname>

  </wparam>

  <lparam value="LPTBBUTTONINFO">

    <lname>

    </lname>

  </lparam>

</message>

This definition means that when a message 0×442 is called TB_SETBUTTONINFOA. Parameter WPARAM is a INT and LPARAM is a LPTBUTTONINFO. The code to convert one parameter to another type is very easy using Deviare:

pm = pm.CastTo("LPTBBUTTONINFO");

if(pm == null)

{

    // data type is not in the database

}

Adding other message definitions in that xml will change the C# message handling functions. This method can be used for any other function that has any variable parameter such as DeviceIoControl.

COM Interception

Now Deviare COM Spy is part of Deviare Package, so you can get it downloading Deviare. I’m not very happy with the application and I would like to make big changes in this area.

Deviare Services

Deviare is a very specific tool and it can take a special effort to get acquainted with its mechanism. We have a team of professionals that can help so Just ask.

• Examples of interception code
• Parameter retrieve and change
• Ad-hoc interception techniques for complex problems
• COM Interception (with or without the interface)
• Interception of undocumented API
• 64 bits interception
• Debug server with interception techniques
• Server monitoring
• Sever performance boost

More information in API Hook Services

Download

Request the package in Deviare download section.

Nektra has released the new WLMailApi v1.0.2

Nektra has released the new WLMailApi v1.0.2, which has many more features & functions, this allows developers to create custom Windows Live Mail plug-ins.

Nektra Advanced Computing is glad to announce the release of the new WLMailApi version 1.0.2 which you can request a download by clicking here. This new version is an update of the official WLMailApi RTM version which has been released over 6 months ago.

Creating addons or plugins for Windows Live Mail Desktop® demands a deep knowledge of its internal behavior, it does not have any public Application Programming Interface.

Windows Live Mail is the desktop email client promoted by Microsoft for Windows XP®, Windows Vista® and Windows 7® as part of the Windows Live Essentials free software.

Contact us to ask any commercial question or use our forum for technical inquiries. For information about pricing or special demos please call 1-(310)237-6506.

The changes for this version are:

* Fixed: Memory leak when moving or deleting many messages left wlmail.exe process running after closing it
* Fixed: WLMail crashed when having an IMAP account
* Fixed: Getting a Toolbar object during the WLMailApiEvents::OnFolderSelectionChange event freezed WLMail
* Fixed the way WLMailApiAgent hooks the WLMail.exe process to avoid WLMailApiLoader.dll to be loaded in every process
* Implemented WLMailApiEvents::OnNewMessageInOutbox event that allows to modify and commit outgoing messages
* Implemented IWLMailApiEvents::OnSendButtonMsgWndClicked which is triggered when a new message window is set to be sent
* Implemented MsgWnd::GetTo(), GetCc(), GetBcc(), GetSubject(), SetTo(), SetCc(), SetBcc() and SetSubject()
* Added IMailAccountManager and IMailAccount interfaces to get the Default Account
* Implemented FolderManager::GetInboxFolder(), GetDraftFolder(), GetSentFolder(), GetJunkFolder(), GetDeletedFolder() for the Default Account
* Implemented Folder::IsInbox(), IsDraft(), IsSent(), IsJunk(), IsDeleted() functions for Default Account special folders
* Implemented FolderManager::GetOutboxFolder() and Folder::IsOutbox functions
* Added Unicode support to main API functions:
IFolderManager::CreateFolder() and RenameFolder()
IFolder::GetName(), Rename(), CreateFolder() and CreateMessage()
IMessage::GetSubject(), GetAllBody(), GetBody(), GetBodyText(), GetBodyDisplayName(), GetFilename() and SaveAsFile()
IMessage: For GetBodyProp() and SetBodyProp() functions, the message must be already encoded in Unicode

How to migrate NK2 Recipient AutoComplete cache lists “suggested contacts” from Microsoft Outlook 2003 or 2007 to Microsoft Outlook 2010

Note You must exit Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010 before starting the following procedure. The names will be included in AutoComplete when you restart Outlook.

1. On the computer (Office 2003 or 2007) with the saved AutoComplete names, go to “drive: \Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook”.
Note Depending on your operating system (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000) or the folder options, the folder might be hidden. To view the files in this folder, do one of the following:
Windows 7
1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab, and then, under Advanced settings, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
4. Uncheck hide extensions for known file types.
Windows Vista
5. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
6. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
7. Click the View tab, and then, under Advanced settings, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
8. Uncheck hide extensions for known file types.
Microsoft Windows XP
9. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
10. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
11. Click the View tab, and then, under Advanced settings, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
Microsoft Windows 2000
12. Double-click My Computer on your desktop.
13. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
14. Click the View tab, and then click Show hidden files and folders.
2. Right-click profile name.nk2, and then click Copy.
Tip You can copy the file to removable media, such as a USB key (Pen drive) or a CD (DVD), and then copy the file to the correct location on the other computer. Or you can attach the file to an e-mail message and send the message to yourself. On the new computer, open the attachment, and then save it to the correct location.
Note You must exit Outlook before starting the following procedure. The names will be included in AutoComplete when you restart Outlook.
3. On the Office 2010 where you want to migrate the AutoComplete feature too, Paste the NK2 file to drive:\%user name%\%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook
4. If prompted about replacing the existing file, click “yes”.

1. Note that the .nk2 file must have the same name as your current Outlook 2010 profile. By default, the profile name is “Outlook.” To check the profile name, follow these steps:

2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Mail.
4. In the Mail Setup dialog box, click Show Profiles.
5. Click Start, and then click Run.
6. In the Open box, type outlook.exe /importnk2, and then click OK. This will import the .nk2 file into the Outlook 2010 profile.

Nektra Advanced Computing is developing a tool that will auto create an .NK2 file from Outlook Express (using OEAPI), Windows Mail (using OEAPI), Windows Live Mail (Using WLMAPI), an the export to Outlook 2003, Outlook 2007 & Outlook 2010. We also offer a solution service from any legacy environment/platform to any new environment/platform. For information about pricing or demos please call 1-(310)237-6506.

Outlook Plugin Development

We have a team of experts developing plugins for Outlook. We have a wide experience using Outlook API and we are able to go beyond Outlook API when you need something that cannot be developed using the startdard API.
Our team works in US time, that’s what makes Nektra the best decision for US companies.
Our sales team can be contacted any time in our office in Callifornia (310) 237-6506.
For more information visit Outlook plugin development

Migration and Reverse Engineer Services

Nektra has a wide experience building ad-hoc migrations for applications that doesn’t provide importing and exporting mechanism. We have researched a large number of applications looking for undocumented interfaces to use for this purpose. A prove of these skills are our products and a big amount of articles researching different technologies.
We have a team of professionals that can help so Just ask.

Top Areas:

• Reverse engineer services
• Application virtualization
• API interception

Complete list of Nektra High Tech Services

Nektra Advanced Computing is glad to announce that we are always working on Windows Live Mail API improvements from all your feedback. Now in our Windows Live Mail API Trial you are able to access the storage folders with read, write, delete, move, rename and clone capabilities. We are also able to append text and or HTML code inside each cloned message. Here is a screen shot of the Message Bodies in our WLMailApi C# Demo and below a video showing more capabilities of our product.

Contact us to ask any commercial question or use our forum for technical inquiries.

Nektra has released the new WLMailApi v1.0.1, which allows developers to create custom Windows Live Mail plug-ins.

Nektra Advanced Computing is glad to announce the release of the new WLMailApi version 1.0.1 which you can request a download by clicking here. This new version of WLMailApi left the Beta stage and is now an official RTM version.

Creating addons or plugins for Windows Live Mail Desktop® demands a deep knowledge of its internal behavior. Its Application Programming Interface (API) is undocumented and there is not a SDK available. Even the public interfaces IStoreNamespace and IStoreFolder supported in both Outlook Express® and Windows Mail® are not present in this new email client.

Windows 7® will not include Outlook Express or Windows Mail; its users will be forced to move to Windows Live Mail. Your product can be one of the first that plugs in!!!

Contact us to ask any commercial question or use our forum for technical inquiries.

This is the change log from previous version:

* Exiting from the system tray icon’s context menu crashed WLMail
* A stack overflow was produced when many database notifications were triggered
* There was a memory leak when handling database events
* C# DLL Demo solution made WLMail freeze after the evaluation expiration message when it was executed in Debug mode
* First events could get lost at startup before the first folder/message selection change event
* WLMailApi::GetCurrentMessageID() always returned -1 at startup until message selection was changed
* WLMailApi::GetCurrentMessageID() and NktWLMailApi::GetFirstSelectedMessageID() responses were not updated after current/selected message was deleted
* The WLMailApiEvents::OnDatabaseChange NKT_TR_INSERT_MESSAGE case was not triggered when messages were inserted in the Deleted Items folder
* Message.Delete(0) did not work when the message was in the Deleted Items folder
* WLMailApiEvents::OnCurrentMessageChanged event was not triggered if the current message was changed by selecting another message using “Ctrl + Click”
* When an unread message was selected in WLMail and was automatically marked as read, two WLMailApiEvents::OnDatabaseChange events (first NKT_TR_UNREAD_MESSAGE and then NKT_TR_READ_MESSAGE) were triggered instead of just one (NKT_TR_READ_MESSAGE)
* ToolbarButton::SetName and SetTooltip did not work if were called after the button was created
* Message::SaveAsFile() output file was corrupt if Message::GetHeader() was previously called
* Improved and corrected C++ and C# DLL Demos
* The solutions of the package now require Visual Studio 2008

The Nektra staff wishes you all a happy new year!

Best regards,

Nektra’s WLMailApi Team

We all remember when Ole Automation came out. We were all impressed how simple it was to implement a few COM Interfaces, place a toolbar and interact with the office package. Soon the competition began to show who could create the best and most creative Add-on. How many times did you wonder how that other plug-ins “did that”? What if now you can even know how Outlook, or any Office application operates? Well, my friend, take a closer a look…

This Deviare example is implemented as an Outlook Add-on. We have used C# .Net, but you can use any language that supports Component Object Model.

We are using 2 threads to avoid freezing the application. The first one is the standard thread where Outlook report its events to us. The second is our worker thread where we create an output window to print our messages and a Deviare Event Proxy to process functions’ calls.

From the events Outlook provides us to work with we are only interested in OnStartupComplete. Here we know that Outlook is done with all its initialization and we can start hooking its interfaces. As a regular plug-in we ask for the Outlook Application, Active Explorer, CommandBars and create a CommandBarButton. We are going to intercept all of them and see how their members are used.

Notice that to obtain the interface we don’t use the class implementation, but the underlying interface definition. That’s why, when calling HookInterface, we send the Type of Outlook._Application and not Outlook.Application. The second one, is the .Net wrapper, and the first one is the Ole Interface.

To intercept these objects, Deviare needs some information. The necessary elements are the COM Object Interface (that would be its virtual table), which members we are interested in (specified by index), and the name of the Interface. Identifying the interface by name, will let Deviare find all the information it needs during the call, so you can handle its parameters the same way we did with any function hook. To gather all this the .Net Framework provides us with marshaling facilities (System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal), this makes our lives pretty easy .

And that’s all. We print our calls, and see our results:

Cheers, and happy coding!

We have published an extensive article about Live Messenger applied research in the field of plugin development, entitled “Windows Live Messenger Plugin Development Bible” at the CodeProject website.

The article carefully explains several reversing and  hooking techniques to extend the application functionality:

• Proxy DLL implementation
• API hooking through our Trappola library
• Applied window subclassing to add ‘skinned’ window classes
• Runtime resource addition and modification (i.e. toolbar buttons and bitmaps)
• Contact information through Live Messenger COM Interface
• Contact selection interception with Active Accessibility COM objects

Although focused at Windows Live Messenger, the article is useful for anyone interested on the topic of  reversing for extending applications, querying internals or implementation of interoperability solutions on the Windows platform.

The code is available in both in binary and source format and is released under the GNU General Public License.

Download binary DLLs – 123.47 Kb

Download source code (VS 2005 Solution) – 241.36 Kb

Enjoy it and tell us what you think about it.

We offer development services to build Windows Live Mail Plugins