Loss of Categories

[Dan2]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel
Email Client: pop

I recently replaced my PowerPC iMac with a new Intel iMac and ported over all my programs and data. All my calendar entries and most of my contacts were associated with categories. I believe this initially worked fine on the new iMac, and I've since synced my iPhone, but now the contacts and calendar items are not associated with any categories on the iMac (I'm aware the categories don't work on the iPhone).

Sync Services is set to synchronize contacts with Address Book and events and tasks with iCal.

So I'm not sure why I lost the association with the categories (which are still visible, just unassigned). I still have the old iMac, so perhaps I should port it back over and merge the data.

I'd appreciate any help. Thanks.

 

[William Smith [MVP]]

I recently replaced my PowerPC iMac with a new Intel iMac and ported
over all my programs and data. All my calendar entries and most of my
contacts were associated with categories. I believe this initially
worked fine on the new iMac, and I've since synced my iPhone, but now
the contacts and calendar items are not associated with any
categories on the iMac (I'm aware the categories don't work on the
iPhone).

Sync Services is set to synchronize contacts with Address Book and
events and tasks with iCal.

So I'm not sure why I lost the association with the categories (which
are still visible, just unassigned). I still have the old iMac, so
perhaps I should port it back over and merge the data.

I'm not sure how you ported your Entourage information to your new
machine but the easiest way (and this also preserves categories) is to
simply copy your Microsoft User Data folder from the old machine and put
it in the same place on your new machine.

In your home folder locate the Microsoft User Data folder found in your
Documents folder. Copy this to your new machine.

If your information doesn't appear the first time you use Entourage then
use the Entourage menu --> Switch Identity... command to select your
old identity.

Hope this helps!

--

bill

Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/meck>

 

[Dan2]

Thanks for the reply but that didn't work. When I set up my new iMac I connected it to the old iMac via FireWire and let OS X automatically transfer the files.

I made a copy of the Microsoft User Data folder on the new iMac then deleted the original. I then connected to the old iMac and copied the entire folder to the new iMac and restarted Entourage, but nothing has changed.

 

[Diane Ross]

I made a copy of the Microsoft User Data folder on the new iMac then deleted
the original. I then connected to the old iMac and copied the entire folder to
the new iMac and restarted Entourage, but nothing has changed.

If you copied the original Identity folder to the new iMac, it would contain
exactly the same info. Can you verify that the categories are still showing
up on the old machine? If yes, then rename that Identity so when you drag it
over you'll know exactly which Identity you are opening.

--
Diane
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Dan2]

Thanks, Diane, that did the trick, though I don't understand why. I named my identities New iMac and Old iMac and when I switched the identity to the Old iMac it worked properly. I don't understand, though, how it was able to load up New iMac when I had deleted the Microsoft User Data folder. Perhaps it created a new identity when it didn't find any? Actually until I read your post I didn't even know there was such a thing as switching identities, not ever having had an occasion to do so.

Dan

 

[Kerry]

Thanks, Diane, that did the trick, though I don't understand why. I namedmy identities New iMac and Old iMac and when I switched the identity to the Old iMac it worked properly. I don't understand, though, how it was able to load up New iMac when I had deleted the Microsoft User Data folder. Perhaps it created a new identity when it didn't find any? Actually until I read your post I didn't even know there was such a thing as switching identities, not ever having had an occasion to do so.

Dan

If you replace an active identity with say a backed up identity (main
identity backup over writes current main identity) you need to switch
identities from main identity to main identity. For some reason
Entourage will start up with the original identity information until
you do this. Possibly the original identity information is cached
(don't know) but this is the case. To test this, just make a copy of
the active identity (compressing it makes a copy if you want) then
open Entourage, add a couple of entries to the Calendar say, close
Entourage, make a copy of the identity with the entries added if they
were important, delete the active identity, uncompress the original
backed up active identity without the new entries, open Entourage and
you will probably see the two new entries. Now switch identities and
choose main identity, open and the new entries are gone.

 

[Diane Ross]

Thanks, Diane, that did the trick, though I don't understand why.

I'm glad it worked for you. I suggest you check over the "Get Started" page
to learn some of the basics. Often common mistakes like moving the Microsoft
User Data folder can be avoided when you know the basics.

Get Started Basics
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/get_started/index.html>

I also suggest you subscribe to the Entourage Help Blog. You'll learn about
the latest news on updates and problems as well as learn about Entourage.

--
Diane
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Dan2]

Good ideas, thanks.