How can I log phone calls in Outlook 2003 with BCM...

[PM-MAN]

My question is: How can I record or log phone calls with BCM so that the call
shows up in my personal Journal and get recorded in the Business Contacts'
history of activities. I tried to connect the journal entry to the contact
in the BCM folder or list but it doesn't work. The Journal entry is recorded
but it does not connect itself to the Business History folder or list of
business activities for that contact in BCM.

Has anyone else come into this problem and is there a solution? If so I
would like to have sent to me.

 

[Guy]

I believe the journals have been replaced in BCM with tasks, phone logs,
business notes, opportunities, etc. The linking they use is for Business
Contacts and Accounts. The journals in Outlook do not link to the BCM
history.

 

[PM-MAN]

If I understand you correctly, I have to log my phone in my personal journal
to keep track of my work efforts and then log the phone call again in my BCM
to keep track of client history?

If this is the case WHAT A PAIN !

 

[Guy]

Why not log it in BCM only as a phone call?

Although BCM is part of outlook, to my knowledge, it is designed to separate
"personal" from business. So personal journals and contacts are not part of
BCM by design.

 

[Jeeslawees]

Like you, I'm finding that Outlook 2007 w/BCM is not the easiest bear to
wrestle with!

Now for some good news! When you make a call in BCM the New Call dialog box
pops open and in it there is a place to check that you want to create a
Journal Entry when call is dialed. All Journal Entries appear in the Journal
(located under "Go" in the Main Menu), and they all will show the link to the
Business Contact that was called. And, at any time, you can search the
Journal to extract/display all the calls made to a particular Business
Contact.

Now the bad news! There appears to be no way to have the record of the call
automatically placed in a Business Contact's Communication History, which is
where it should also be, in my opinion. I also have a question into MSoft
about this. I have also asked MSoft if there is anyway I can copy/move a
Journal Entry into a Contact's History. I'll keep ya posted if I get any
good responses.

Now for some help! In order to get the best of both worlds, my current work
around is as follows (have no fear, it looks worse then it is):
- Go to any view of your Business Contacts.
- Find and open (double click) the Contact you wish to call.
- Click Call (phone icon) in the Contact window; a New Call window will pop
open.
- Click New History Item in Contact window and from the drop down list
select Phone Log; a Untitled Phone Log window will pop open.
- At this point you can fill in all the Subject, Call Type, etc. stuff or
you can wait until later and do it during the call, or even after the call is
over.
- If you wish to use the Phone Log Timer, click the Start Timer icon now (or
you can simply enter a duration after the call is over).
- Click the Start Call button in the New Call window***.
- After the call is over, remember to click the Pause Timer icon (if you
started it) and fill out any other pertinent information in the Phone Log
window.
- The real plus of using the Phone Log is that you can link it to other
Contacts, Accounts, etc. by clicking the Link To ... button
- When you're all done, click the Save & Close icon.
(PS >> you can reopen the Phone Log long after the call is over and add
additional links if warranted).

*** If you want to ALSO record the call in the Journal, BEFORE you click
Start Call, check the box in New Call box that says to create a Journal Entry.

Good Luck,
Rick