Description:

KnockOut is a free Microsoft Outlook companion product that allows you to easily monitor the state of Outlook on your computer. From a notification area icon, KnockOut can show you if Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Word are running on your computer (even if no windows are showing on your taskbar). If one of these applications is in a hung state, you can terminate them right from the KnockOut menu. This will help clear up rare mystery situations, in which you think Outlook is not running because you see no windows on your taskbar, but when you launch Outlook again nothing happens because it is actually running in the background.

KnockOut also can help you control the Outlook notification area icons, allowing you to remove them from your taskbar. KnockOut can pop up optional balloons (Windows 2000 or later required) which can also be configured to show you what version of Outlook you are running on your computer.

In addition, KnockOut lets you create Outlook items (mail messages, appointments, contacts, tasks, etc.) from anywhere you are in Windows, whether Outlook is running or not. Simply click the KnockOut icon in the taskbar, select the type of item you would like to create, and it comes up immediately. The KnockOut menu is customizable, so that you can easily get to your favorite items as quickly as possible.

Microsoft Outlook power users and developers can't afford to be without Knockout.