Outlook Web Access and Public Calendars
Hello all,
I hope someone can help me with an odd problem. We are running Exchange Server 2003 and use Outlook 2003 clients. We've created public calendars to keep track of on-call schedules for our doctors and use Web Access to access these calendars all over the network as not all the computers have the Outlook 2003 client installed. We started hearing complaints a couple of weeks ago about certain entries in the calendars not appearing on the calendars accessed through web access. They show up just fine on the actual Outlook client. Each month someone goes into the calendar, edits the doctors name for that particular day (they open just the occurance, not the series) and then saves & closes. It seems anytime an edit is made to any of the calendars, the whole series will vanish from the web. About the only thing I can think of is that I've installed Service Pack 2 on the Exchange server and since then we've been having these issues. I don't think it's a rights issue, since I've signed on through web access (I have administrator rights) and am unable to see the edited entries. Has anyone heard of any problems with SP2? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Jana
I hope someone can help me with an odd problem. We are running Exchange Server 2003 and use Outlook 2003 clients. We've created public calendars to keep track of on-call schedules for our doctors and use Web Access to access these calendars all over the network as not all the computers have the Outlook 2003 client installed. We started hearing complaints a couple of weeks ago about certain entries in the calendars not appearing on the calendars accessed through web access. They show up just fine on the actual Outlook client. Each month someone goes into the calendar, edits the doctors name for that particular day (they open just the occurance, not the series) and then saves & closes. It seems anytime an edit is made to any of the calendars, the whole series will vanish from the web. About the only thing I can think of is that I've installed Service Pack 2 on the Exchange server and since then we've been having these issues. I don't think it's a rights issue, since I've signed on through web access (I have administrator rights) and am unable to see the edited entries. Has anyone heard of any problems with SP2? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Jana
I remember something about a problem with public folders, particularly calendars not working in OWA 2003. I will search thru my links and KB I have collected to see if there is much you can do about it.
It is entirely possible that you got lucky and then it went back to 'normal' when you applied the latest SP.
It is entirely possible that you got lucky and then it went back to 'normal' when you applied the latest SP.
You can also delegate control of a generic user's calander to use like a public one. I have that set up and it works pretty well.
Never heard of this problem before - which is why you have had close to no response on the problem.
If it is causing problems with the business then you only have one choice. Call Microsoft.
Simon.
If it is causing problems with the business then you only have one choice. Call Microsoft.
Simon.
Can I ask how you are publishing the OWA?
Is there any form of caching/proxy/reverse proxy service in the mix?
It might be a little 'off the wall'... apart from that, Simon's option is the only way forward for this.
Keith
Is there any form of caching/proxy/reverse proxy service in the mix?
It might be a little 'off the wall'... apart from that, Simon's option is the only way forward for this.
Keith
When you say that they show up in the actual Outlook client, are you checking more than one computer for this? I have a hunch that there may be one or two people that have their Outlook configured to store items in a local folder instead of Exchange. This would mean that if they viewed the changed recurring event, which was now a single item, it could have been transfered to their local folder.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
Thank you for all the answers given. Nothing so far has worked so we are abandoning using Outlook Web client as a schedule for our doctors and looking into buying something specific for healthcare on-call calendars. Thanks again!
I have to admit to being a little surprised by your decision. The cost of placing a support call to Microsoft is minimal against the cost of purchasing specific software (for which you have already paid within your Exchange licences). Your costs will also be compounded as you will still have to integrate the software into your networking environment for remote access etc.
Between Simon, Jeff and the rest of EE, I would anticipate we would be able to move this forward for you. I would also point out that if this scenario is causing you problems then whether you buy seperate software or not, you will still have a residual issue with your network/Exchange/client environment. An issue which may also impact on your new software.....
Between Simon, Jeff and the rest of EE, I would anticipate we would be able to move this forward for you. I would also point out that if this scenario is causing you problems then whether you buy seperate software or not, you will still have a residual issue with your network/Exchange/client environment. An issue which may also impact on your new software.....
ASKER
Keith,
Regarding decision to not pursue using Outlook as an on-call calendar: I was overruled. I gave my recommendations on how to proceed with this problem, based on what the Experts here suggested (calling Microsoft) and the upper management felt that that money would be better spent towards a new on-call software program. The biggest problem is that the Doctors have never liked using Outlook as their on-call calendaring program. They can't run reports off it, they can't run comparisons against other doctors schedules, they don't like the looks of it and, they already have a software package picked out. Anyway, probably more than you cared to know, but thank you for all the suggestions. I'm going to continue to monitor the web for this problem to see if there is a solution. Surely I can't be the only person in the world to have this happen. :)
Jana
Regarding decision to not pursue using Outlook as an on-call calendar: I was overruled. I gave my recommendations on how to proceed with this problem, based on what the Experts here suggested (calling Microsoft) and the upper management felt that that money would be better spent towards a new on-call software program. The biggest problem is that the Doctors have never liked using Outlook as their on-call calendaring program. They can't run reports off it, they can't run comparisons against other doctors schedules, they don't like the looks of it and, they already have a software package picked out. Anyway, probably more than you cared to know, but thank you for all the suggestions. I'm going to continue to monitor the web for this problem to see if there is a solution. Surely I can't be the only person in the world to have this happen. :)
Jana
Thanks for the update Jana and the clarification. Obviously we wish you well with whatever route you finally select and adopt.
Regards
Keith
Regards
Keith
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ASKER
I've never heard anything on this question, so I guess we can go ahead and close it out. Thanks anyway.
Jana