How to retrieve Free/busy into Outlook 2003 sp1

[Stefan van Aalst]

I searched all over internet on information on how to retrieve free/busy
information from contacts with just using Outlook 2003 sp1 and a server where
one can publish/retrieve VBF data.

I manage to do it ONLY by specifying the global search path as very specific
(to a specific VBF-file). Why does the local search path not work in
Contacts? And more importantly ...how to make it work.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

IKt works from the calendar appointment item - why are you trying to make it
work from the contact item?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After furious head scratching, Stefan van Aalst asked:

| I searched all over internet on information on how to retrieve
| free/busy information from contacts with just using Outlook 2003 sp1
| and a server where one can publish/retrieve VBF data.
|
| I manage to do it ONLY by specifying the global search path as very
| specific (to a specific VBF-file). Why does the local search path
| not work in Contacts? And more importantly ...how to make it work.

 

[Stefan]

By accident I ran in the following website:
http://www.saas.nsw.edu.au/solutions/outlook/free-busy.html

For all of you that have problems with free-busy, here might lie your
answer.

In short:
the vbf-file address stored in the contacts MUST, AND THIS IS A MUST, have
the same name as it is EXACTLY WRITTEN in the e-mail address.
E.g. my name e-mail address is:
(e-mail address removed)
My vbf-file must be published as: stefan.vanaalst.vbf ....nothing else will
work!!!
In my contact must therefore say: http://myserver/stefan.vanaalst.vfb

It might be (I didn't verify it) that there is a need to fill in the global
search path (can be found in OPTIONS), anything like:
ftp://%SERVER%/Freebusy/%NAME%.vfb

But more details can be found at
http://www.saas.nsw.edu.au/solutions/outlook/free-busy.html

Here goes hopefully months of my frustration going through ill-written white
papers (especially if you look how many posted the question).

Stefan van Aalst