Classic Outlook Task Manager

Question

I manage a staff of attorneys at an appellate state court. For the last 15 years, we have used the Outlook task manager to track and keep notes on all our cases. The task manager serves as a powerful record-keeping tool and research database.

I was distraught to learn that Microsoft is planning to discontinue classic Outlook and that the new Outlook lacks any of the database functions that make it so useful.

PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR CLASSIC OUTLOOK OR ADD THE DATABASE FUNCTIONS TO THE NEW OUTLOOK.

Specifically, we need the task manager to: (1) have customizable/sortable fields; and (2) allow for notetaking within each entry. This allows for searching later and is incredibly useful for looking up past cases where the same/similar issues have arisen.

We keep records for each staff member’s cases and for different classes of cases using folders, which can be shared in classic Outlook. In this way, each attorney is kept up to date on the status of their cases. The new version should keep all these useful functions.

Thank you!

If this fails, does anyone know of any other software that has the same or similar functionality? We need to be able to share and work on the tasks simultaneously and search through the notes for each entry.

I can set up Excel spreadsheets for the record-keeping, but I do not know any clean way to keep extensive notes for each entry in Excel. Using a column is clunky and not realistic for lengthy notes, which are often necessary. I like the way classic Outlook allows you to open the notes for each entry as a separate, formatable document.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help.

Answer 1

The new Outlook for Windows does not support the same features as classic Outlook, particularly regarding the task manager and its database functions. Specifically, the new Outlook does not currently support customizable or sortable fields in the task manager, nor does it allow for extensive notetaking within each entry as you described. This change may impact users who rely on these features for record-keeping and case management.

For users transitioning from classic Outlook, Microsoft encourages the use of Outlook web add-ins to extend functionality, but these may not fully replicate the capabilities of the classic task manager. Unfortunately, there are no indications that Microsoft plans to continue support for classic Outlook or add the requested database functions to the new Outlook.

As for alternatives, while you mentioned Excel, it may not meet your needs for extensive notes. You might consider project management software like Microsoft Teams, Trello, or Asana, which offer task management features with more flexibility in note-taking and collaboration. These platforms allow for sharing tasks and notes among team members, which could be beneficial for your staff of attorneys.

---

References:

• Overview of the new Outlook for Windows
• VBA, Macros, and Custom Flows Alternatives

Answer 2

@Outlook User said

I was distraught to learn that Microsoft is planning to discontinue classic Outlook

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5554339/when-will-classic-outlook-end

support for classic Outlook will continue until at least 2029 for users who installed it via perpetual licensing (Office Home & Business 2024 , Office 2024 LTSC) or Microsoft 365 subscription plans that include desktop apps. This extended support ensures that organizations relying on classic Outlook for business-critical workflows can continue using it safely and securely for several more years.

Microsoft 365 subscription that includes downloadable Desktop Apps

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/outlook/get-started/licensing-options#frequently-asked-questions

As of May 2025 this is all plans except "Microsoft 365 Basic" and "Microsoft 365 Business Basic".

Office Home & Business 2024

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7

Note - None of this applies to Outlook for Mac. You can only get New Outlook for Mac. No Legacy.