Outlook add-in

The Outlook add-in opens your CompassDocs workspace in a task pane, right in Outlook: search documents, ask AI questions, and — while composing — insert a document link or a full answer at the cursor. It works in Outlook on Windows, Mac, and the web (Microsoft 365, Outlook 2016 or newer).

Everything runs against your own CompassDocs install: the pane is served from your workspace’s address, uses each person’s normal account, and shows only documents they’re allowed to see.

Requirements

• Your CompassDocs workspace served over HTTPS (see custom domain) and reachable from users’ machines.
• Microsoft 365 mailboxes (Exchange Online). Classic perpetual Outlook (pre-2016) and bare on-prem Exchange without the add-in framework are not supported.

Install for the whole company (recommended)

1. In CompassDocs, go to Settings → Workspace → Outlook add-in and click Download Outlook manifest. The file is generated for your workspace’s address.
2. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Settings → Integrated apps → Upload custom apps, choose Office add-in, and upload the manifest file.
3. Assign it to everyone (or a pilot group) and finish the wizard. The CompassDocs button appears in the Outlook ribbon within a few hours (Microsoft’s rollout can take up to 24).

Re-downloading and re-uploading the manifest later updates the add-in in place — its identity is stable for your workspace.

Install just for yourself

Outlook (web or new Outlook) → Get add-ins (Apps icon) → My add-ins → Add a custom add-in → Add from file → pick the downloaded manifest.

Using it

• Read mode — open the pane from the ribbon while reading mail: search or ask, open documents in the browser.
• Compose mode — the same pane adds Insert link on every result and Insert answer into email under AI answers. The insert lands at your cursor; recipients click through to the document (their own permissions apply — CompassDocs sign-in is still required to read).
• Sign in once — the pane keeps your session. If your team uses single sign-on, use the “full sign-in page” link in the sign-in window, then click Sign in again.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Fix
Ribbon button never appears	Central deployments can take up to 24h; check the add-in is assigned to the user in Integrated apps
Pane shows a blank page	The workspace must be HTTPS with a valid certificate, and reachable from the user’s network
Sign-in window loops	Third-party cookie settings in old Outlook builds — sign in via the mini form (username/password) instead of SSO
“Couldn’t insert” message	Click into the email body first, then Insert — the cursor must be in the message