HashFix Support & Documentation

Version: 1.0.0 | Author: Mark Robinson

What is HashFix?

HashFix is an Outlook add-in that automatically corrects improperly formatted hashtags in your emails before sending. It runs silently in the background and fixes common hashtag formatting mistakes without interrupting your workflow.

How It Works

When you click "Send" in Outlook, HashFix automatically scans your email and fixes any hashtag formatting issues. The process is completely automatic and happens in milliseconds.

What Gets Fixed?

Before (Incorrect)	After (Fixed)
# tag	#tag
# marketing (double space)	#marketing
# 2024	#2024
# team (multiple spaces)	#team

Features

• Automatic Correction: Fixes hashtags without requiring manual intervention
• OnSend Event: Runs when you click Send, ensuring all emails are properly formatted
• Activity Tracking: View statistics and history in the taskpane
• HTML-Safe: Preserves email formatting, links, and styles
• Soft-Block Mode: Allows sending even if processing fails (fail-safe)

Installation

Method 1: Outlook on the Web (Office 365)

New Outlook Web (Current UI)

1. Go to Outlook on the web and sign in
2. Click the Apps icon (waffle/grid icon) in the left sidebar
3. Click Get Add-ins (or search for it)
4. Select My add-ins tab on the left
5. Scroll down and click ➕ Add a custom add-in → Add from file
6. Download the manifest file: manifest.xml
7. Click Browse and select the downloaded manifest.xml file
8. Click Upload and accept the warning
9. The add-in will appear in the ribbon when composing emails

Classic Outlook Web (Older UI)

1. Go to Outlook on the web
2. Click the Settings gear icon (top right)
3. Search for "add-ins" or go to View all Outlook settings → General → Manage add-ins
4. Click My add-ins (left panel)
5. Under Custom add-ins, click ➕ Add a custom add-in → Add from file
6. Download and upload the manifest.xml file
7. Accept the warning and click Install

Method 2: New Outlook for Windows (Microsoft 365)

1. Open New Outlook (toggle in top-right corner if in classic Outlook)
2. Click Apps in the left navigation bar
3. Click Get Add-ins
4. Select My add-ins tab
5. Click ➕ Add a custom add-in → Add from file
6. Download manifest.xml from the repository
7. Browse to the file and click Upload
8. Restart Outlook

Method 3: Classic Outlook Desktop (Windows)

1. Open Outlook Desktop
2. Go to Home tab → Get Add-ins (or Store)
3. Click My add-ins in the left panel
4. Click ➕ Add a custom add-in → Add from file
   • If you see "Add from URL", you can use: https://David-Summers.github.io/hashfix/manifest.xml
5. Browse to the downloaded manifest.xml file
6. Click Install
7. Restart Outlook

Method 4: Outlook for Mac

1. Download the manifest.xml file from: manifest.xml
2. Open Finder and press Cmd+Shift+G (Go to Folder)
3. Paste this path: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/Data/Documents/wef
4. Create the wef folder if it doesn't exist
5. Copy manifest.xml into the wef folder
6. Restart Outlook

Download Manifest File

You can download the manifest file directly from:
https://David-Summers.github.io/hashfix/manifest.xml

Right-click and "Save as" or use curl/wget:

curl -O https://David-Summers.github.io/hashfix/manifest.xml

Usage

Automatic Mode (Default)

Simply compose and send emails normally. HashFix will automatically scan and fix hashtags when you click "Send". You don't need to do anything special.

Viewing Activity

1. In Outlook, compose a new email
2. Click the "HashFix" button in the ribbon
3. The taskpane will open showing:
   • Current status
   • Total fixes applied
   • Session statistics
   • Recent activity log

Troubleshooting

Add-in not appearing in Outlook

• Ensure you're using a supported version of Outlook
• Try restarting Outlook
• Check that the manifest URL is correct
• Verify your internet connection (add-in files are hosted on GitHub Pages)

Hashtags not being fixed

• Check the browser console (F12) for error messages
• Ensure the add-in is enabled in Outlook settings
• Verify that Office.js is loading correctly
• Try sending a test email with # test to verify functionality

TaskPane shows "0" fixes but hashtags were fixed

• SessionStorage might have been cleared
• Click "Refresh Activity" to reload the logs
• Note: Statistics reset when you close Outlook

Privacy & Security

HashFix processes your email content locally in the browser. No email content is sent to external servers. The add-in only:

• Reads the email body when you click "Send"
• Modifies hashtag formatting
• Stores anonymous statistics in sessionStorage (local only)

Permissions Required

• ReadWriteMailbox: Required to read and modify email content during the send event

Technical Details

Event-Based Architecture

HashFix uses the Outlook OnMessageSend event with SoftBlock mode. This means the add-in runs automatically when you send emails and allows sending even if processing fails.

Pattern Matching

The add-in uses the regular expression /#\s+(\w+)/g to find and fix hashtags. This matches a hash symbol followed by one or more spaces, then word characters or numbers.

HTML Preservation

HashFix uses DOMParser to safely parse and modify email HTML without breaking formatting, links, images, or other content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does HashFix work with plain text emails?

Yes, HashFix works with both HTML and plain text emails. The add-in reads the email as HTML (which Outlook provides even for plain text) and preserves the format.

Can I disable HashFix temporarily?

Yes, you can disable the add-in in Outlook settings:

• Go to "Get Add-ins" → "My add-ins"
• Find "HashFix On-Send" and toggle it off

Does it work in Outlook Mobile?

Currently, OnMessageSend events are not supported in Outlook Mobile. HashFix only works in Outlook Desktop and Outlook on the Web.

Can I customize what gets fixed?

The current version focuses on hashtag spacing issues. If you'd like additional functionality, please contact the developer.

Version History

• 1.0.0 (2025) - Initial release
  • Automatic hashtag spacing correction
  • OnMessageSend event handler
  • Activity tracking and statistics
  • Taskpane UI