title: Techniques for integrating an ASP.NET intranet app with the Outlook calendar
body: <p>I can ignore the braying of my users no longer. They want a task scheduling system and at some point I have to deliver. I was thinking of making my own (can't be hard), but then users would have two side-by-side task managements systems since they already use Outlook for the same thing.</p>
  
  <p>In terms of Outlook calendar / task integration, two possible approaches occurred to me:</p>
  
  <p><strong>1) Use JavaScript and Automation</strong></p>
  
  <p>I seem to remember it's possible to do automation in JavaScript.</p>
  
  <p>PROS: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>I've done automation before.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>CONS:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Automation is horrible!</li>
  <li>Some    persistence (Outlook
  entities) is the    responsibility of
  client-side code,    and the rest the
  responsibility of    server-side
  code. This feels    horrible.</li>
  <li>Possible security    concerns /<br>
  blocking from IT dept.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>2) Use some .NET API to interact with Exchange Server directly</strong></p>
  
  <p>The intranet uses single-sign on, so hopefully that should make security issues easier.</p>
  
  <p>PROS: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>All persistence code would be
  server-side.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>CONS:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>I don't even know that such an API
  exists.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>As ever, I like to stand on the shoulders of giants. Can anyone who has trodden this path before give me some guidance?</p>