Account Forms

[kara]

In Outlook 2003 with Business Contact manager, I was trying to re-format the
account template/form. I clicked on the "design a form" option and proceeded
to refigure the account form. I tried to publish it, and the option to do so
was gray, it wouldn't let me. Somehow, something got published because when
I go to the account form now, it's part of the form I was attempting to make.
But, for some reason, the Account History portion is automatically linked to
my Inbox, and if I delete the messages in the History, it deletes them from
my Inbox.

Also, when I try to create a new account, i get a message that Business
Manager has to close.

I have no idea what has gone wrong, but I can't have my Inbox being linked
to the Account form, and I would like to use the Account
option..............please help. Thanks.

 

[kara]

I thought of trying this - but I am afraid of what clearing the forms cache
will do. Will it clear every form, so that the 100+ contacts I have will go
away? They're not "Business contacts," just contacts. Thank you so much for
your quick response.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

BCM sometimes has what's known as a "forms cache" problem. Clearing the
cache usually fixes it. Choose Tools | Options | Other | Advanced Options |
Custom Forms, then click Manage Forms, then Clear Cache. If simply clearing
the cache doesn't fix the issue, try the other steps detailed at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;836558

The bulk of the forms cache issues in Outlook 2003 are fixed in Service Pack
1, so you should also install Office 2003 Service Pack 1 as well as BCM SP1.

Patricia Cardoza explains how to customize BCM forms at
http://blogs.officezealot.com/cardoza/archive/2004/05/12/652.aspx

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

It removes the now-corrupted pointers to the cached copies of the forms.
Nothing happens to the original published forms themselves. See
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/formscache.htm for more info on how the forms
cache works.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[kara]

I tried clearing the forms cache, but messages coming into my Inbox are still
being linked to the account form. And I have lost my Business Tools menu
selection (I was going to go back and check to automatic linking) and I can
no longer get to Accounts from the "Go" action on the menu. I am at a total
loss here. I've looked at the link you provided, but none of the problems
described seem to apply to my situation. I am really sorry that I ever
attempted to crate a custom form. Thanks for your help, any additional info
you can provide would be so greatly appreciated.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You have bigger problems than just the form. If you don't see the Business
Tools menu, BCM probably failed to load when Outlook started. Run Regedit
and go to the
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\Microsoft.BusinessSolutions.eCRM.OutlookAddin.Connect.1
key. If the value for LoadBehavior is something other than 3, make a backup
of the registry, edit LoadBehavior to set it to 3, then restart Outlook.
Also check Help | About Microsoft Outlook | Disabled Items.

If BCM does not load even after you edit the LoadBehavior registry value,
you should initiate a support incident with Microsoft at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;incidentsubmit. You
will need a .Net Passport, but there should be no charge for filing the
request for help.


--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[kara]

What is Regedit? How do I get to the HKLM/Software...... that you mentioned?
My continued thanks.....

 

[kara]

I was able to find the regedit, and the place you mentioned. It is at 3.
I've done an incident with Microsoft and am waiting for their reply. I have
no idea how this problem escalated so badly. I appreciate your help, if you
know of any other ways to fix the problem, I'd appreciate hearing about them.
Thanks.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

See http://www.computerhope.com/registry.htm for basics on working with the
Windows registry, including backing it up.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[kara]

Can I unistall BCM and re-install it??

I was able to find the regedit, and the place you mentioned. It is at 3.
I've done an incident with Microsoft and am waiting for their reply. I have
no idea how this problem escalated so badly. I appreciate your help, if you
know of any other ways to fix the problem, I'd appreciate hearing about them.
Thanks.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Yes, through Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs.

Let us know what you hear back from your incident report.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers