This article describes the most frequent Outlook add-in and attachment upload failures in GhostPractice®, covering certificates, bindings, services, Outlook visibility, networking, and configuration.

Resolving Outlook add-in issues and email attachments upload errors is essential for smooth legal workflows in GhostPractice®. The following are the most common root causes and proven fixes: 

Verify Department Email Folder Configuration

• Open your Dye & Durham application and navigate to the department document setup.
• Confirm a designated email folder exists under department storage locations. If missing, add one and Save.
• Retry the Upload or Add-in action after saving the folder settings.

Diagnose Certificates and Bindings

1. Missing or expired certificates: 
   • Generate a new certificate, import it into the server certificate store. 
   • Bind to required ports using the HTTP tool or the Command line.
2. Valid certificate, but the browser shows errors: 
   • Replace the certificate, rebind to ports, and retest the add-ins.
3. Local PC trust issues: 
   • Add the personal and root certificates to the user machine stores. 
   • Retest Outlook add-ins.
4. After binding, restart the application service and gateway service, then confirm the URL responds in a browser.

Validate Port Bindings and SSL Listeners

1. If add-ins fail after certificate renewal, check SSL bindings with a command-line inspection and confirm the expected port is listening.
2. If the port is not listening, rebind the certificate, restart the application and gateway services, and retest.
3. If listeners remain inactive, adjust the service logon to a local account where appropriate, restart services, and verify the listener is active.

Confirm Required Services Are Running

If the web URL does not respond, verify application and web services are started. Start any stopped services and retest the add-in.

Check Protocol Support on the Server

1. If a browser reports unsupported protocols when accessing the URL, review server TLS settings.
2. Disable insecure protocols such as SSL 3.0 using a supported configuration tool, reboot the server, and retest.

Verify Time and Regional Settings

1. If certificates validate but add-ins still fail, check server time and time zone. Correct any drift and retest.
2. Ensure user PCs match local regional settings and correct time. Restart if changes were applied.

Network Resolution and Firewall Rules

1. If the domain URL does not resolve on a PC but the server IP works, add a hosts file entry for the add-in URL and verify connectivity.
2. If the add-in uses a custom port, create inbound Windows Firewall rules on the server for the required TCP port, and apply them to Domain, Private, and Public profiles.
3. If resolution points to an old server, update DNS or hosts entries so clients reach the correct IP, then retest.

Outlook and Registry Configuration

1. Add-in disabled by Outlook: re-enable the add-in and create a policy or registry entry to prevent automatic disabling.
2. Missing or incorrect web URL in registry: update the URL value to the correct service endpoint and test from a VPN-connected PC.
3. Wrong server IP in registry: correct the IP-based URL, save, and retest the add-in.

Outlook Add-In Visibility

1. Save and Send not visible: 
   • Expand the Outlook ribbon to show all icons. 
   • Confirm the Send to GP button is displayed.
2. Send to GP inactive on a calendar item: 
   • The feature applies to emails only. 
   • Test with a standard email to confirm expected behaviour.
3. Add-in not installed: 
   • Reinstall GhostPractice on the PC. 
   • Start Outlook, confirm the add-in loads, and run a test upload.

Application Start-up and Database Target

1. GhostPractice start-up Ref 7 error: 
   • Verify the configured SQL instance and database. 
   • Correct the database setting if it points to the wrong target.
2. After correcting the database, relaunch GhostPractice and validate a successful sign-in and module access.

Certificate Scenarios Summary

• New or missing certificates: 
  • Generate, import, bind, restart services, and retest.
• Expired certificates: 
  • Renew, rebind, restart services, and retest in Outlook.
• Valid certificates but browser errors: 
  • Replace and rebind, or add root and personal certs to the PC store, then retest.

Final Attachment Upload Test

1. From Outlook, select a standard email and use the Send to GP action to upload an attachment.
2. Confirm the item reaches the correct department email folder and that no certificate or connectivity errors appear.