Outlook integration - calendar appointments - possible workaround

[frankod]

Hi All,
As per previous posts it is clear that the outlook integration has a few
issues.
In my experience the initial "download" to outlook calendar/task list works
fine, but thereafter the removal of tasks if the resource is taken off it, or
the update of the calendar appointment to revised start/end dates when the
MSP schedule changes does not work... This is a major disappointment for one
of my clients.

So.. I am requesting a sanity check on the following idea. As I recall all
appointments and tasks have a category field that indicates they came from
project server. Create a macro that finds and deletes all such calendar
appointments and tasks. Create a button that runs this macro. Add the button
to the standard toolbar. Instruct all staff to run the "delete all project
server tasks and appointments" button prior to doing a import of PS tasks to
outlook.

In theory, outlook is cleaned of the previous content and therefore
downloads everything fresh including the revised start dates. Tasks from
which a resource is removed are no longer in the calendar.

Is anyone able to comment on whether this would work?

Many thanks.

 

[Paul Conroy]

Theory appears to be sound, though I couldn't on whether it's possible.

If it is you may want to consider:-

Only running to macro across the calendar for the next 30 days (this will
keep performance impact to a minimum).

Fire the macro on startup of Outlook, so as to remove any user interaction.

If only Microsoft saw fit to include this in the original functionality.

 

[frankod]

Thanks Paul, will let you know.

Theory appears to be sound, though I couldn't on whether it's possible.

If it is you may want to consider:-

Only running to macro across the calendar for the next 30 days (this will
keep performance impact to a minimum).

Fire the macro on startup of Outlook, so as to remove any user interaction.

If only Microsoft saw fit to include this in the original functionality.