I cannot retrieve Free/Busy Information no matter what

[Curious_2k3]

Greetings,
First some background info.

I have clients with Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003.
I have Windows Server 2003 EE
I do not have Exchange Server

I have tried a couple of experiments with my Outlook 2000 and I am able to
publish my .vfb file to the freebusy folder
I setup on my server, permissions set accordingly.

As I stated, I can publish the information running IMO mode, but when I test
another OL2000 user setup in IMO mode, Free/Busy data is published, but no
information is available at all when I update.

My machine is XP Pro, the other is 2K Pro. Both are set to publish 2 months,
and both have been set at varying intervals of length published, but always
equal.

Both machines have been setup (for test purposes) to publish data every 1
minute to 15 minutes with no change.

I have tried the following:
Publish Settings, individually tested - Both publish fine as the .vfb's
exist on our server in the correct folder:

http://address:port/freebusy/username.vfb
and
http://address:port/%SERVER%/freebusy/username.vfb

********************************************************

Search Settings, individually tested:
http://address:port/%SERVER%/freebusy/%NAME%
http://address:port/freebusy/%NAME.vfb
ftp://addressort/%SERVER%/freebusy/%NAME.vfb
ftp://addressort/%SERVER%/freebusy/%NAME%

********************************************************

Nothing I have tried allows me to retrieve the free/busy information and I
am beyond perplexed.

I can publish my calendar as a web pagel however this is not an acceptable
countermeasure.

Also, our Internet e-mail addresses are provided by our ISP. They should be
able to be resolved through my server as I have DNS setup properly.

I have exhausted every search in order to troubleshoot this dilemma to no
avail. It doesn't seem that it should be so difficult.

What can I possibly be overlooking?

Thank you in advance,

Curious_2k3

 

[Curious_2k3]

Any thoughts on this post? Anyone...?

 

[LaurexGroup]

Curious_2k3,

I am having the same issues that you are.

I can post the free busy file using Outlook 2003 by using either the FTP
format or HTTP format. I am not able to get the individual contact to
retrieve the free busy file and use it for appointment scheduling.

I have read every thread on this subject and I have also read the
information at slipstick.com. I am not able to get this to work either.

Regards,

LaurexGroup

 

[Curious_2k3]

Hi LaurexGroup,

I have also read everything available from slipstick to M$, to
experts-exchange...to no avail.

I am continuing the quest between other projects. If I find a solution I
will pass it along.

 

[LaurexGroup]

Curious_2k3,

To add a little more information to the issue:

- We are even able to pull up the VFB file information by using the
ftp://USERNAME[email protected]/freebusydirectory/freebusyfile.vfb
command from the web browser.
- That tells us that the file is being published correctly.
- Our publishing setup is even publishing it every 15 minutes like ti is
supposed to.

* The issue is that the contact is still not picking up the freebusy
information and using it with the calendar.

Regards,

Laurex Group

 

[Curious_2k3]

I too am able to get the VFB file info via FTP with the browser. I have
experimented with different publishing times, identical on both test
stations...to no avail.

While retrieving the free busy information without investing in Exchange is
supposed to work, I cannot imagine how. It seems that we are in a fruitless
pursuit.

Sigh.

 

[LaurexGroup]

Curious_2k3,
I only wish a Microsoft MVP or someone else with knowledge would read this
thread and provide some support.
Regards,
Laurex Group

 

[greenofrls]

I'm having the same trouble as both of you are. I don't get it. I'm doing
everything that I have read.

I'll keep an eye on this forum and keep testing my stuff out.

Greenofls

 

[Curious_2k3]

It appears to be a dead subject. Too Bad, would have been nice to get this
working.

 

[greenofrls]

I agree.

 

[Peter Brady]

I wonder how much revenue Microsoft pulls in by not publishing
information, and waiting for the users to exhaust their resources and
fork over $245 for a support call?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Product Support Services is a loss leader for Microsoft - that is why they
have published almost 1 million support articles, to keep you guys from
having to call them for assistance.

--
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, Peter Brady asked:

| I wonder how much revenue Microsoft pulls in by not publishing
| information, and waiting for the users to exhaust their resources and
| fork over $245 for a support call?

 

[Curious_2k3]

They should publish 1 more and explain why free /busy doesn't work when every
step was followed to the letter.

Most likely they would rather people run out and purchase Exchange Server
rather than beat a dead horse. Too bad.

 

[omfgjlee]

They should publish 1 more and explain why free /busy doesn't work whe
every
step was followed to the letter.

Most likely they would rather people run out and purchase Exchang
Server
rather than beat a dead horse. Too bad.

I have the same problem. OL2000 and OL2003 do not want to wor
concurrent with each other. Only OL2003 is working with my clients.

My view on this: Free/Busy is garbage. Anybody know of any low cos
alternatives that works like this software... but actually works?!

-JLe

 

[montgomerymouse]

I doubt this is your problem, but I spent the last few days trying to solve a
similar issue so I thought it might be worth posting as I found no other
posting with a solution to my problem. I just happened to stumble across the
answer while fumbling about for a solution.

I had sporadic ability to retrieve others free/busy information. My IT guy
said it was because I was using XP Home which our configuration wouldn't
support it. In reality, the problem was that I was in "Offline Mode." This
is not as obvious a state as it might seem for two reasons. First, in
"Offline Mode" you can still retrieve and send email. Secondly, it's not
obvious that one is in offline mode. To get out of offline mode, you simply
have to go to "File" and click on "Work Offline." Once I did that I could
see all the free/busy information I could ever want.

Let me know if this helps anyone.

Happy Calendaring,
MM

 

[Robert]

I am working though some issues with freebusy one thing I found is that
when the file name is being resolved when setting up a meeting if the
"Display As" does is not include the actual email address then the
calendar information is not retrieved. Note we are using a server path
name and only the %name% to resolve individual calenar references -- if
you have two entries one with say only the proper name and one that has
the email address once the file location is resolved BOTH entries see
the file. Finally, we are using the .VCF extension not the .VBF as
listed in Microsoft's KB

Robert

 

[Lura]

I've used Free/Busy very successfully at other companies (OL2002 & OL2003)
but my new company uses OL2000 and (plain & simple) ....it doesn't work. We
don't have an Exchange Server. I've read everything I can, purchased old Que
and Bible books on OL2000. Even the old books don't have much info on it. It
just wasn't programmed right and like other Microsoft stuff...they were
getting ready for it to work in the next software version.

I've talked to techs, talked to internet guys and our systems people. I'm
doing everything I'm supposed to do, it simply doesn't work. Upgrade or
forget it!