Contacts - Birthdays - Outlook - HELP!

07-03-03, 05:08 PM

Ok why in heck is not all the info from my contacts being syncronized?? birthdays or notes or anything else that I change in a contact in Outlook does not get transfered to the Ax... i check Outlook XP, make the change, sync, and its not on the AX... the Office XP is patched to SP2 ....

any ideas or settings I am forgetting?

07-07-03, 05:10 PM

anyone has any idea what could be wrong? isnt it supposed to keep everything in sync??

nosborn · 07-07-03, 05:33 PM

MentalV,

I use Outlook XP and Pocket Informant 4.5. I know that on PI4.5 all birthdays and anniversaries show up on both the ppc and desktop. Just this weekend I spent 2 hours putting my whole families bday and anniv data into both the desktop and the ax (used both methods at different times) and all data synced and worked great. Are you using PI4.5? Maybe if you are just using the crappy MS outlook on the ppc it won't do recurring bdays, etc? These are just my thoughts.

KnipKnup · 07-07-03, 08:07 PM

I found that the field mapping doesn't match if you export from outlook to a .csv (dos) file and look at it. When you import that file back in and select to 'map fields' there are spaces in one and not in the other. Example: 'Home Address' vs. 'HomeAddress'.
I found that when I mapped all applicable fields manually, then they would sync. This could be a simple thing to try.

Choose file/export from outlook.
Export to File
Comma Separated (DOS)
Save the file somewhere.
In Outlook, select 'Contacts' then View on the file menu.
Select Phone list. This will list all the contacts in a list form.
Select the first contact. Use your mouse to drag the scroll bar to the bottom of your contact list.
While holding down the shift key, click the last contact. This should result in all your contacts being selected.
Hit the delete key.
(**Note: the step above will move all your contacts into the deleted items folder of outlook - don't panic, you can move them back. Just make sure you don't have the setting to empty the deleted items folder when you quit outlook (or don't quit outlook)).
Now choose 'file'/'import from another program or file' in outlook.
browse to the file you saved earlier.
go through the screens until you get to the one that has a 'map fields' button.
You will get a window with the import file fields on the left and the outlook fields on the right. You will need to expand some in the outlook list because it will list address details under address, etc.
Map the fields by drag/drop with the mouse.
Once this is done, let 'er rip.

You should end up with all your contacts back in outlook.
Then try syncing the AX and see if birthdays/emails show up.

If they do, you can safely empty your deleted items.

Remember, you also have the .csv file you exported all your contacts to, so you shouldn't lose anything.

Hopefully that works, it is the only way I could get my contact birthdays and emails to sync. Now they always sync.

littlekevbo · 07-07-03, 08:10 PM

I am using Outlook XP and all seems to be fine.....

now, this maybe a stupid question.......but, do yuou have AS set to sync outlook? .... is it set to modify if not the same on the Ax? which version (desktop of Ax) has the final say on the "correct" version of the files in question?

07-08-03, 08:58 AM

yeah i have it syncing of course, i have it so they merge...

07-08-03, 09:04 AM

ACTUALLY!- i had them "leave unresolved" so I am going to set it to replace them on the Ax(since now i have most info in PC).. then I will make it always replace the PC(since i mostly do changes in the Ax)..

littlekevbo · 07-08-03, 04:03 PM

well alright then, I am glad I asked the stupid question.... believe me, I have been there.

07-08-03, 04:09 PM

actually its not such a stupid question... i never understood that option. I would have thought that both the PC and the AX would keep a record of when was the last time a record got changed, what did I chose last, either on the Ax or the PC and so it would use that last desition I made no? It only sounds logical...

littlekevbo · 07-08-03, 08:55 PM

yes, it does...... but computers (ie programmers) are not always logical. ;)

07-09-03, 09:04 AM

true that... reason i excaped being a programer :)