Entourage Notifications not appearing

[DK Gorrell]

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

OS-10.4.11 and Entourage 11.3.6 on PB 15" Aluminum.

Thanks for any help! ~~ David G.

 

[Diane Ross]

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

Check Preferences --> Notifications, be sure you have selected "Display an
alert on my desktop"

 

[David Gorrell]

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

Check Preferences --> Notifications, be sure you have selected "Display an
alert on my desktop"

Thanks, Diane, but as I noted in my post, that option is selected.

 

[Diane Ross]

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

Check Preferences --> Notifications, be sure you have selected "Display an
alert on my desktop"

Thanks, Diane, but as I noted in my post, that option is selected.

Sorry, I didn't see that. If you test in a new User or a new Identity does
it work?

 

[David Gorrell]

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

Check Preferences --> Notifications, be sure you have selected "Display an
alert on my desktop"

Thanks, Diane, but as I noted in my post, that option is selected.

Sorry, I didn't see that. If you test in a new User or a new Identity does
it work?

Ahh - good idea !

so - I tried a new Identity in my regular User account; same result. Icon
bounces, New Mail tone sounds, but no preview. Then I switched to my Admin
User account, set up the Entourage with all the notification choices and got
the same result! So - the problem is not in the Identity folder and
apparently not in the User library either. That seems to narrow it down to
the application itself but I can't figure out how to modify it other than
the Prefs dialogs.

 

[Diane Ross]

so - I tried a new Identity in my regular User account; same result. Icon
bounces, New Mail tone sounds, but no preview. Then I switched to my Admin
User account, set up the Entourage with all the notification choices and got
the same result! So - the problem is not in the Identity folder and
apparently not in the User library either. That seems to narrow it down to
the application itself but I can't figure out how to modify it other than
the Prefs dialogs.

Some users have found that applying the combo updater from Apple will fix
some odd problems they are having with Entourage. The combo updaters
overwrite files that could have become corrupted. The incremental updaters
you download via Software update do not overwrite files.Combo updaters will
install on the same version as they¹re applying‹no need to roll back or do a
clean install.

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (PPC)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html>

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)

<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411updateintel.html>

Let me know if this helps.

BTW, if you are interested in having a special sound like a ringtone for
certain messages see this page for using custom sounds with Entourage. You
can even create your own sounds or use computer voices to announce your
mail. For example, you could have the AppleScript say ³Mail from Dad².

Rule to Play Sound

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/rules/sounds.html>

 

[David Gorrell]

Previously>>>

Some users have found that applying the combo updater from Apple will fix
some odd problems they are having with Entourage. The combo updaters
overwrite files that could have become corrupted. The incremental updaters
you download via Software update do not overwrite files.Combo updaters will
install on the same version as they¹re applying‹no need to roll back or do a
clean install.

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (PPC)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html>

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)

<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411updateintel.html>

Let me know if this helps.

BTW, if you are interested in having a special sound like a ringtone for
certain messages see this page for using custom sounds with Entourage. You
can even create your own sounds or use computer voices to announce your
mail. For example, you could have the AppleScript say ³Mail from Dad².

Rule to Play Sound

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/rules/sounds.html>

OK, Diane, that sounds like a good idea. I'll try the Combo updater and see
what that does. I should be receiving 10.5 this week and will probably do
either an Archive and Install or a Clean Install reformat and see what that
does. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Diane Ross]

OK, Diane, that sounds like a good idea. I'll try the Combo updater and see
what that does. I should be receiving 10.5 this week and will probably do
either an Archive and Install or a Clean Install reformat and see what that
does. Thanks for your suggestions!

I suggest an "Erase & Install". This takes a bit more time, but in the end
you'll have a clean install. It also forces you to do a bit of housekeeping.
Users that do the upgrade method see to have the most problems.

Use CCC or SuperDuper (both free for backup clone) to backup your data to a
separate volume/drive. Erase your current install and install and update
Leopard. Install Office from the CD and update. Unless you update, Entourage
will not open. Drag your Microsoft User Data folder from your backup to your
new install, then open Entourage.

I suggest you not use Time Machine to backup the Entourage Identity folder.
Use the exclude feature under Options in Time Machine to add the Identity
folder along with other folders and volumes you don't want backed up with
Time Machine.

This is not to say you shouldn't be backing up your Identity folder. It's
just that Time Machine does this hourly and it can really fill up a drive.
You can use a task to remind you to backup. See "Organize Your Backups
Chronologically"

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/backup.html#folderorg>

In Leopard, I have an Automator workflow that does this for me
automatically.

 

[David Gorrell]

Previously>>>

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

Check Preferences --> Notifications, be sure you have selected "Display an
alert on my desktop"

Thanks, Diane, but as I noted in my post, that option is selected.

Sorry, I didn't see that. If you test in a new User or a new Identity does
it work?

OK, Diane, that sounds like a good idea. I'll try the Combo updater and see
what that does. I should be receiving 10.5 this week and will probably do
either an Archive and Install or a Clean Install reformat and see what that
does. Thanks for your suggestions!

Some users have found that applying the combo updater from Apple will fix
some odd problems they are having with Entourage. The combo updaters
overwrite files that could have become corrupted. The incremental updaters
you download via Software update do not overwrite files.Combo updaters will
install on the same version as they¹re applying‹no need to roll back or do a
clean install.

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (PPC)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html>

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)

<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411updateintel.html>

I suggest an "Erase & Install". This takes a bit more time, but in the end
you'll have a clean install. It also forces you to do a bit of housekeeping.
Users that do the upgrade method see to have the most problems.

Use CCC or SuperDuper (both free for backup clone) to backup your data to a
separate volume/drive. Erase your current install and install and update
Leopard. Install Office from the CD and update. Unless you update, Entourage
will not open. Drag your Microsoft User Data folder from your backup to your
new install, then open Entourage.

I suggest you not use Time Machine to backup the Entourage Identity folder.
Use the exclude feature under Options in Time Machine to add the Identity
folder along with other folders and volumes you don't want backed up with
Time Machine.

This is not to say you shouldn't be backing up your Identity folder. It's
just that Time Machine does this hourly and it can really fill up a drive.
You can use a task to remind you to backup. See "Organize Your Backups
Chronologically"
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/backup.html#folderorg>

In Leopard, I have an Automator workflow that does this for me
automatically.

Good tips - - Thanks!

 

[David Gorrell]

Previously>>>

When I first installed Office 2004 (over a year ago) arriving email would
announce itself in the corner of the screen as it was being dl'd into
Entourage. That behavior stopped some time ago and I wonder if it was
because of an OS-X upgrade or an MS Update - - or for some other reason.
[Preferences:Notification is set to 'Display an alert on my desktop' and
'Display Message Subject and Preview']

Check Preferences --> Notifications, be sure you have selected "Display an
alert on my desktop"

Thanks, Diane, but as I noted in my post, that option is selected.

Sorry, I didn't see that. If you test in a new User or a new Identity does
it work?

OK, Diane, that sounds like a good idea. I'll try the Combo updater and see
what that does. I should be receiving 10.5 this week and will probably do
either an Archive and Install or a Clean Install reformat and see what that
does. Thanks for your suggestions!

Some users have found that applying the combo updater from Apple will fix
some odd problems they are having with Entourage. The combo updaters
overwrite files that could have become corrupted. The incremental updaters
you download via Software update do not overwrite files.Combo updaters will
install on the same version as they¹re applying‹no need to roll back or do a
clean install.

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (PPC)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html>

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)

<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411updateintel.html>

I suggest an "Erase & Install". This takes a bit more time, but in the end
you'll have a clean install. It also forces you to do a bit of housekeeping.
Users that do the upgrade method see to have the most problems.

Use CCC or SuperDuper (both free for backup clone) to backup your data to a
separate volume/drive. Erase your current install and install and update
Leopard. Install Office from the CD and update. Unless you update, Entourage
will not open. Drag your Microsoft User Data folder from your backup to your
new install, then open Entourage.

I suggest you not use Time Machine to backup the Entourage Identity folder.
Use the exclude feature under Options in Time Machine to add the Identity
folder along with other folders and volumes you don't want backed up with
Time Machine.

This is not to say you shouldn't be backing up your Identity folder. It's
just that Time Machine does this hourly and it can really fill up a drive.
You can use a task to remind you to backup. See "Organize Your Backups
Chronologically"
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/backup.html#folderorg>

In Leopard, I have an Automator workflow that does this for me
automatically.

After I installed OS-10.5 (Erase and Install option,) I also installed a new
copy of Office 2004. The screen notifications of incoming email have now
returned. It must have been something in the User Library that was
preventing the notifications - or in one of the MS Office upgrades. I any
case, all is OK now.
~ David G.

 

[Diane Ross]

After I installed OS-10.5 (Erase and Install option,) I also installed a new
copy of Office 2004. The screen notifications of incoming email have now
returned. It must have been something in the User Library that was
preventing the notifications - or in one of the MS Office upgrades. I any
case, all is OK now.

Thanks for the feedback. Glad to see you did the "Erase & Install" option.
If you are using Time Machine be sure to exclude the Identity folder from
your backups. Time Machine backs up hourly and if you are using Entourage
throughout the day that will make for a lot of backups.

I'll be posting a tutorial soon on how to make your own Time Machine for
Entourage. It will work for Tiger users too.