Entourage 2008 does not retrieve all email!! Very very very big deal!

[Bill Weylock]

I have posted about this before, but I have never yet seen any of the MVPs
truly engage on the issue. Please do??

I can¹t imagine a more serious failing for an email client than not reliably
retrieving and displaying all email present on a POP server.

That is exactly what has been happening, and it is happening rather often.

At least several times a week, and often more than once a day, an email
appears in my Outlook 2007 Inbox but does not show up in my Entourage Inbox.
Checking the online access folder reveals that the email is right there on
the server. I can drag it manually into the Inbox.

But of course this means that I can¹t rely on Entourage as a business
application.

There is not the slightest doubt that this is happening, and I know it is
happening to others as well as to me.

There is not the slightest doubt that it is a core functional failure.

What can be done about this? Why am I not getting more traction with a
discussion of it? How can others use Entourage for business without getting
ulcers (or fired)?

To be a little more explicit, we are polling a POP3 server (not Exchange) in
the same way I have been polling POP servers for a generation, beginning
with Eudora. It is also the same way I used Entourage 2004 with no apparent
problems. Messages show up on Windows PDA and on Windows XP Outlook 2007 and
on the server. But if I relied only on Entourage 2008, I would never see
them!

What¹s up, what¹s being done, what¹s to do? And why is no one else talking
about this?

Before you tell me to rebuild the database, I¹ve done it. I have also
repaired permissions.

All account settings are very standard. None of the advanced receiving
options are selected. I have Options set to leave messages on the server, to
delete them if they are 20 days old, and to delete them if emptied from
trash. I use a relay server for sending mail. Standard port (110) for
receiving mail.

Help please? Thanks!



Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Ingrid Goodwin]

Hi there,
I am also using Entourage 2008 and am having exactly the same problem as
Bill has outlined here. I am frequently missing mails and the only reason I
am aware of this is I have had to request all my business contacts cc my
business partner (who operates off PC with outlook)..clearly not an ideal
scenario.

Can anyone help with this?

Please help, this cant go on!!

Thanks
Ingrid
Macbook pro 2.2 GHz 10.5.3

 

[Adam Bailey]

I can¹t imagine a more serious failing for an email client than not reliably
retrieving and displaying all email present on a POP server.

I also can't imagine that this problem is widespread. This is the first I'm
hearing of it.

That is exactly what has been happening, and it is happening rather often.

At least several times a week, and often more than once a day, an email
appears in my Outlook 2007 Inbox but does not show up in my Entourage Inbox.
Checking the online access folder reveals that the email is right there on
the server. I can drag it manually into the Inbox.

Do you have Outlook and Entourage both open at the same time? That can cause
all sorts of process lock problems.

But of course this means that I can¹t rely on Entourage as a business
application.

There is not the slightest doubt that this is happening, and I know it is
happening to others as well as to me.

There is not the slightest doubt that it is a core functional failure.

What can be done about this?

I'd want to see logs of Entourage's connection with the server. POP3 is a
tremendously simple protocol, the POP3 server reports what messages are
available and Entourage downloads them.

http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/tcpflow.html

 

[MeyerCapital]

I also can't imagine that this problem is widespread. This is the first I'm
hearing of it.



Do you have Outlook and Entourage both open at the same time? That can cause
all sorts of process lock problems.





I'd want to see logs of Entourage's connection with the server. POP3 is a
tremendously simple protocol, the POP3 server reports what messages are
available and Entourage downloads them.

http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/tcpflow.html

I have exactly the same issue. I've set up a new account. I get 3
days worth of email from January but nothing before or after. I get
my contacts but nothing from the calendar. HELP!

 

[Michael1865]

I too have this issue. I've tried to use both webmail and direct and get the same problem. Few of the emails come through. None of the calendar.

 

[Adam Bailey]

I have exactly the same issue. I've set up a new account. I get 3
days worth of email from January but nothing before or after. I get
my contacts but nothing from the calendar. HELP!

Then this can't be the same problem, because there is no Contacts or
Calendar with a POP3 account.

Please post a new message with the specifics of your issue and your setup.

 

[Adam Bailey]

I too have this issue. I've tried to use both webmail and direct and get
the same problem. Few of the emails come through. None of the calendar.

There is no Calendar in POP3. Please post a new message with the specifics
of your issue so that it can be separately diagnosed.

 

[Diane Ross]

I can¹t imagine a more serious failing for an email client than not reliably
retrieving and displaying all email present on a POP server.

That is exactly what has been happening, and it is happening rather often.

At least several times a week, and often more than once a day, an email
appears in my Outlook 2007 Inbox but does not show up in my Entourage Inbox.
Checking the online access folder reveals that the email is right there on the
server. I can drag it manually into the Inbox.

If you set up Entourage as IMAP rather than POP this should take care of the
problem. I've trying to find out why this is not working.

 

[Bill Weylock]

Diane -

This is the second time someone has suggested that, but I have multiple
accounts with rules assigned all over the place. I¹m not really eager to rip
apart my entire email setup.

Am I hearing that an IMAP account has no trouble polling POP servers? I
thought the whole purpose of the account ³type² was compatibility with the
protocol. Curious why it would work, but more curious why the other doesn¹t.

Thanks for not doubting that it happens, though. That¹s a blessed relief!


Best,


- Bill

If you set up Entourage as IMAP rather than POP this should take care of the
problem. I've trying to find out why this is not working.

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Adam Bailey]

Am I hearing that an IMAP account has no trouble polling POP servers? I
thought the whole purpose of the account ³type‚ was compatibility with the
protocol.

It's not a given, no. These days, many (if not most) providers offer both
POP3 and IMAP. But you'd need to check with them.

Curious why it would work, but more curious why the other doesn¹t.

POP3 is best when used with a single computer. You may be confusing the
server by accessing your mail from multiple machines. Multiple machine
access is what IMAP is ideal for.

 

[Bill Weylock]

Lets not sidetrack this thread as well.

I want Entourage to work with POP3.

The merits of IMAP should be a different thread.

Thanks.

It's not a given, no. These days, many (if not most) providers offer both
POP3 and IMAP. But you'd need to check with them.


POP3 is best when used with a single computer. You may be confusing the
server by accessing your mail from multiple machines. Multiple machine
access is what IMAP is ideal for.

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Bill Weylock]

Diane -


Please stay with the thread and let me know what you find out. IMAP is not
an option as far as I know. Thanks.


Best,


- Bill

If you set up Entourage as IMAP rather than POP this should take care of the
problem. I've trying to find out why this is not working.

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Adam Bailey]

Lets not sidetrack this thread as well.

I want Entourage to work with POP3.

The merits of IMAP should be a different thread.

Except you're asking POP3 to do something it is not ideal for. If you want
POP3, stick with one computer. I'd be interested to know if you continue to
have this problem if you access your POP3 account exclusively with Entourage
for a day.

 

[Guest]

Bill,

You may not be running up against a problem or limitation with Entourage,
but with POP itself, which is why people are suggesting you try IMAP. If you
access mail with more than one client then you may have the kinds of
problems you¹re seeing with Entourage not pulling in emails. Any number of
things could be happening. You don¹t need a better email client, you need a
protocol that was made for synchronizing email across clients, like IMAP, or
Exchange.

 

[Bill Weylock]

I wish we didn¹t have to argue about a peripheral issue. Entourage should
not be neglecting to retrieve emails. I use four computers to check email.
Three are XP Pro, two use Outlook 2007, one uses Windows Mobile 6, one uses
Entourage.

The one with the problem is Entourage. It¹s quite clear that using more than
one computer to poll POP3 servers is not remotely an issue. For the rest of
this, please please please stop it.

News flash: An IMAP account can not poll a POP3 server.

News flash: millions of business users have been reliably using POP3
accounts polled from more than one computer for a generation. There is no
issue there, zero, none, nada. Please don¹t say it again.

News flash: business users do not have the option of changing their entire
company email configuration. Nor is it necessary or even marginally
reasonable to suggest such.

I have been using an XP ThinkPad and Mac desktops to access POP3 email for
many years. This problem did not exist until Office 2008.

Except you're asking POP3 to do something it is not ideal for. If you want
POP3, stick with one computer. I'd be interested to know if you continue to
have this problem if you access your POP3 account exclusively with Entourage
for a day.

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Bill Weylock]

What world are you people living in?

I need to poll POP3 servers. I can¹t use IMAP to do that.

What on earth are you all talking about?????

I¹ve been doing this for years and there has never been an issue.

I am not ³synchronizing email across clients.²

I am doing something that Eudora and Mail do perfectly well and Entourage
screws up.

It boggles my mind that you all are attacking my business process instead of
addressing a core malfunction in this product.

You act as if these are easy options. They are not. Phooey!

Bill,

You may not be running up against a problem or limitation with Entourage, but
with POP itself, which is why people are suggesting you try IMAP. If you
access mail with more than one client then you may have the kinds of problems
you¹re seeing with Entourage not pulling in emails. Any number of things could
be happening. You don¹t need a better email client, you need a protocol that
was made for synchronizing email across clients, like IMAP, or Exchange.

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Adam Bailey]

I wish we didn¹t have to argue about a peripheral issue. Entourage should
not be neglecting to retrieve emails. I use four computers to check email.
Three are XP Pro, two use Outlook 2007, one uses Windows Mobile 6, one uses
Entourage.

The one with the problem is Entourage. It¹s quite clear that using more than
one computer to poll POP3 servers is not remotely an issue. For the rest of
this, please please please stop it.

I cannot help you if you will not answer my diagnostic questions. I cannot
help you if you insist on using technologies ill-suited to your needs. (I
realize this may not be your choice, but you are defending the practice
rather vociferously and refusing to consider alternatives.)

 

[Bill Weylock]

Michael -


I¹m confused too. What do you mean that ³none of the calendar² come through?
Are you talking about invitations to attend calendar events by any chance?

I too have this issue. I've tried to use both webmail and direct and get the
same problem. Few of the emails come through. None of the calendar.

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Bill Weylock]

You are frying my mind, Adam! I don¹t want your help!

Don¹t you understand that I have no control over the protocol my company
uses for email?

Your suggestion is a non-starter and your assertions are ridiculous. Leave
me alone!

Your contention that POP3 can¹t be used perfectly well by multiple computers
polling the same account is simply incorrect. I have done it for years with
no mishap bobbles or any other problem remotely like this.

IMAP is not an answer because it is not an option.

Your patronizing and infuriating ³insist on using technologies ill-suited to
your needs² is well.... Patronizing and infuriating. The fact that it¹s also
weirdly wrong probably won¹t bother you either.

Please stop contributing to this thread. You¹re not helping me, and you¹re
not enhancing your reputation with anyone who understands business email.

Your stuff makes about as much sense as having some Windows nerd tell me I
should use a real computer instead of a Mac.

I cannot help you if you will not answer my diagnostic questions. I cannot
help you if you insist on using technologies ill-suited to your needs. (I
realize this may not be your choice, but you are defending the practice
rather vociferously and refusing to consider alternatives.)

Best,

Bill
Imac 2.8Ghz -10.5.3
Office 2008 12.1.1/2007 - Windows XP Pro SP3

 

[Diane Ross]

Thanks for not doubting that it happens, though. That¹s a blessed relief!

Bill we are all doing our best to help you. I¹m still waiting on word and
will get back. Many are on vacation right now and patience is required.

What I don¹t understand is why IMAP is not an option. I can see redoing
rules would be a pain, but what is the real obstacle to IMAP?