Microsoft presents a programming interface for synchronizing data from an external data source with the Outlook data file dedicated to storing data from that source. As you know, VSTO 3.0 is powerful enough to use features of the .NET technology. Linking the Outlook contacts in a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 database is one of the key features available for Outlook users. Working with your Outlook contacts in a database will keep you informed of changes to Outlook contacts and vice versa.
Let's see how to make your Outlook 2007 application interact with a relational database management system, for example, Microsoft SQL Server 2008. Let's consider a scenario where you want to import all of the contact information for your friends or colleagues that is currently managed in a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 database.
1. Open Visual Studio 2008 and create a new solution, as described earlier.
2. You need to know about the database, and the...