> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.draftable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Draftable Legal Outlook add-in

> The Draftable Legal Outlook add-in integrates directly into your Microsoft Outlook ribbon, giving you quick access to document comparison workflows from within your emails. You can compare attachments, run a 1-Click Compare, or compare highlighted text — all without leaving Outlook.

<Warning>
  **We recommend the JavaScript add-ins instead of this one.**

  The COM add-ins are fully supported, but they install per user onto each endpoint and depend on the Microsoft VSTO runtime being present, which makes them more sensitive to how a Windows estate is built and managed. Across the environments we most often work in, the JavaScript add-ins are markedly more reliable to deploy and to keep working.

  If your organization meets all three prerequisites below, we strongly encourage you to deploy the JavaScript add-ins instead:

  * A Microsoft 365 tenant, with Global Administrator rights or equivalent permission to use **Integrated apps** in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
  * Endpoints that can reach `dl.draftable.com`, where the add-in manifests and runtime are served from.
  * A Draftable Legal desktop version at or above the minimum stated in each add-in's installation article.

  If you cannot meet those, the COM add-ins remain supported and this article still applies.

  [Moving from the COM add-ins to the JavaScript add-ins](/hc/en-us/articles/Moving-from-the-COM-add-ins-to-the-JavaScript-add-ins) is the step-by-step process, and [COM add-ins vs JavaScript add-ins](/hc/en-us/articles/COM-add-ins-versus-JavaScript-add-ins) explains the difference in full.
</Warning>

<Note>
  This add-in is what we refer to as the **COM add-in** for Outlook. For our JavaScript-based add-ins, which offer completely different and more advanced workflows, see [Draftable in Outlook](/hc/en-us/articles/Using-Draftable-in-Outlook) and [Draftable for Outlook](/hc/en-us/articles/Using-Draftable-for-Outlook).
</Note>

## Where do I find the Draftable add-in within Outlook?

Open any email that contains the documents or text you wish to compare. In the Outlook ribbon, select the **Draftable** tab to reveal the available comparison options.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/draftable/images/Draftable%20outlook%20comm%20add%20in/1.png" alt="" />
</Frame>

You will see three options:

* **Compare attachments** — Select email attachments to load into the New Comparison window
* **1-Click Compare** — Instantly run a comparison using your preferred default workflow
* **Compare text** — Highlight text in the email body and load it into the New Comparison window

Each option is covered in detail below.

## Compare attachments

Use this option when you want to compare documents that are attached to the email.

<Note>
  From version 26.9.1, the add-in only sends attachments that Draftable can compare: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, CSV, PDF, RTF, ODT and TXT files. Anything else is skipped, including images, archives and forwarded messages, along with images embedded in the email body such as signature logos. This applies to both **Compare attachments** and **1-Click Compare**. If an email has attachments but none of them can be compared, you see the message "There is nothing here that Draftable can compare".
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step>
    In the Draftable tab, click **Compare attachments**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/draftable/images/Draftable%20outlook%20comm%20add%20in/2.png" alt="" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    A prompt will appear asking you to select two files from the list of attachments on the email. Select the files you wish to compare, then click **Select**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    The New Comparison window will open with the selected documents loaded. Choose your comparison type and click **Compare** to start.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## 1-Click Compare

Use this option to run a comparison immediately using your default workflow settings, without needing to manually configure the New Comparison window.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    In the Draftable tab, click **1-Click Compare**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/draftable/images/Draftable%20outlook%20comm%20add%20in/3.png" alt="" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Draftable will automatically compare the email attachments using your preferred default comparison settings. The comparison runs straight away without opening the New Comparison window first.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  For more details on configuring your 1-Click Compare defaults, see [1-Click Compare: Run comparisons with your preferred default workflow](/hc/en-us/articles/31611819497754-Using-1-Click-Compare-to-run-comparisons-with-your-preferred-default-workflow).
</Note>

## Compare text

Use this option when you want to compare text from within the email body rather than file attachments.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    In the email, highlight the text you want to use for comparison.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/draftable/images/Draftable%20outlook%20comm%20add%20in/5.png" alt="" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    In the Draftable tab, click **Compare text**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/draftable/images/Draftable%20outlook%20comm%20add%20in/4.png" alt="" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    The New Comparison window will open with the selected text loaded into one of the document fields. Simply add your second document or text input and click **Compare**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/draftable/images/Draftable%20outlook%20comm%20add%20in/6.png" alt="" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>


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