Old Custom Form Actions don't work when using Outlook 2003

[Ray Tam]

Hi,
I just upgraded from Outlook XP (2002). All my old forms
appear blank. I went through the usual routine of
clearing my cache, and reloading each form. I see the
form, but none of the custom actions work anymore.

I also get a pop-up saying failed to install custom
actions. What is the cause for this error?

Thanks,
Ray

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

Custom actions as in actions on the (Actions) tab?

 

[Ray Tam]

No. Under the (Actions) tab in design mode, I can see all
my custom actions for workflow. However, when I run the
form, the buttons that represent these custom actions are
all gone. Furthermore, when I right click on a form in my
inbox, the custom actions are no longer available.

Thanks,
Ray

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

Where is the form published?
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ray Tam]

The form is published in a public forms folder hosted on
my company's exchange server. The version we're running
is MS Exchange Server 5.5.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

You might try deleting everything in the Forms folder, not just
frmcache.dat.

Are you accessing the folder through the Public Folder\Favorites hierarchy?
Don't!

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ray Tam]

I have deleted all files in the Forms folder incl.
frmcache.dat directly (while Outlook was closed).

I am not accessing the folder through Public
Folder\Favorites. I am going directly to the source:
Outlook:\\<blah> Forms.

When I compose a new form, I can see all the fields.
However, when I read existing forms, they are coming up
blank. I have no forms installed under my Personal
Library, so I am getting the form from the server.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

What kind of form -- message, contact, task, etc.? Does it have separate
compose and read layouts? What is the message class on the existing items?

You said the form is published in a "public forms folder"? Where are the
items created with the form stored? In that same folder or elsewhere?

 

[Ray Tam]

The form is a customized note form. The existing message
class is IPM.Note.<Form>
It has separate compose and read layouts.
When I created the forms, I published them to the same
folder that people are choosing them from.
Outlook:\\<folder>.

As well, what is the difference between going to
Outlook:\\Favorites and Outlook:\\<folder> as some of the
users at my company may do this?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

But the items are not being saved in that folder, are they? (YOu didn't
answer that question.) That's probably the problem. If it worked before, it
was a fluke due to some forms caching. Outlook does not know to look in that
folder for a message form. Message forms for corporate use should be
published to the Organizational Forms Library.

If you are using Outlook 2003, don't access folders containing custom forms
through Public Folder\Favorites. You will experience forms cache corruption
and application hagns.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ray Tam]

Could you walk me through the steps on saving your form

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

Sorry, but I don't understand the question. You don't save "forms" except as
backup .oft files. You publish "forms" and save -- or in this case -- send
"items."

 

[Ray Tam]

This is what I do. I publish "forms". I do not save them.
In a previous reply, you suggested that the problem may
be because I am not "saving" my form and that my forms
worked due to fluke caching. What is the proper way
then?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

In a nutshell: A custom message form needs to be published to the
Organizational Forms library or the Personal Forms library.