Recurring Task - Cannot Access

[Wyo13Man]

I am using MS Office 2003 with BCM. After initially installing the software,
I was able to set an Outlook task as recurring if desired. Sometime within
the last couple of months, the task recurrance button became grayed out and I
could no longer set a task as recurring.

I've searched the Net and have found only the suggestion to reinstall
Office. I have done that and still cannot create a recurring task. I use
these frequently to remind me to backup my HDD, to make follow up contact
with clients, etc. Naturally, I don't want to create a list of calendar
items that is so long I can no longer see meaningful appointments on my
calendar.

Can somebody offer me a solution so I can once again create a recurring task?

Thanx.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Do you have the same issue when you logon as a different user on that same
computer?

 

[Wyo13Man]

I only have one user (me) set up on the computer (it's a work notebook for me
only). Are you suggesting I add another user or are you trying to ascertain
whether the Outlook PST (or other user-specific Outlook file under the C:\...
user directory)?

My setup has placed the PST file on my E: (data) partition so that I can
backup the PST to my network drive more easily (along with all of my data
files).

If you have any trouble-shooting thoughts, I'm all ears and very computer
literate, so I'm not afraid to "get my hands dirty" and know my way around
the machine. I'm listening...

Do you have the same issue when you logon as a different user on that same
computer?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

I am using MS Office 2003 with BCM. After initially installing the
software,
I was able to set an Outlook task as recurring if desired. Sometime
within
the last couple of months, the task recurrance button became grayed out
and I
could no longer set a task as recurring.

I've searched the Net and have found only the suggestion to reinstall
Office. I have done that and still cannot create a recurring task. I use
these frequently to remind me to backup my HDD, to make follow up contact
with clients, etc. Naturally, I don't want to create a list of calendar
items that is so long I can no longer see meaningful appointments on my
calendar.

Can somebody offer me a solution so I can once again create a recurring
task?

Thanx.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Logging in and checking it with a different user account helps to determine
if it is a user issue or a machine issue. You can create a new login for
testing purposes only.

Also you can see if you get the same results when you start Outlook in safe
mode while logged in as normal;
Start-> Run; outlook.exe /safe

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

I only have one user (me) set up on the computer (it's a work notebook for
me
only). Are you suggesting I add another user or are you trying to
ascertain
whether the Outlook PST (or other user-specific Outlook file under the
C:\...
user directory)?

My setup has placed the PST file on my E: (data) partition so that I can
backup the PST to my network drive more easily (along with all of my data
files).

If you have any trouble-shooting thoughts, I'm all ears and very computer
literate, so I'm not afraid to "get my hands dirty" and know my way around
the machine. I'm listening...

Do you have the same issue when you logon as a different user on that
same
computer?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

I am using MS Office 2003 with BCM. After initially installing the
software,
I was able to set an Outlook task as recurring if desired. Sometime
within
the last couple of months, the task recurrance button became grayed out
and I
could no longer set a task as recurring.

I've searched the Net and have found only the suggestion to reinstall
Office. I have done that and still cannot create a recurring task. I
use
these frequently to remind me to backup my HDD, to make follow up
contact
with clients, etc. Naturally, I don't want to create a list of
calendar
items that is so long I can no longer see meaningful appointments on my
calendar.

Can somebody offer me a solution so I can once again create a recurring
task?

Thanx.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Machine issue means that it is being caused by something on the computer. A
configuration issue means that is involves a per user setting. The fact that
it works under safe mode doesn't rule out any of the causes ;-)

Disable your add-ins through Tools-> Options-> tab Other-> button Advanced
Options-> button Add-In Manager/COM Add-ins
Restart Outlook and see if it works now. If so enable the add-ins one by one
(restart Outlook in between) to find the culprit.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

Roady,

Thanx for the suggestion. Outlook in safe mode relights the recurrence
button and allows me to create recurring items. For the immediate term, I
created the recurring tasks I needed to put on my list. Naturally, I'd
like
to figure out how to address this issue more permanently to allow me to do
that without starting Outlook in safe mode.

I think this pretty much addresses that it is not a machine issue. Any
ideas for a permanent solution?

Logging in and checking it with a different user account helps to
determine
if it is a user issue or a machine issue. You can create a new login for
testing purposes only.

Also you can see if you get the same results when you start Outlook in
safe
mode while logged in as normal;
Start-> Run; outlook.exe /safe

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

I only have one user (me) set up on the computer (it's a work notebook
for
me
only). Are you suggesting I add another user or are you trying to
ascertain
whether the Outlook PST (or other user-specific Outlook file under the
C:\...
user directory)?

My setup has placed the PST file on my E: (data) partition so that I
can
backup the PST to my network drive more easily (along with all of my
data
files).

If you have any trouble-shooting thoughts, I'm all ears and very
computer
literate, so I'm not afraid to "get my hands dirty" and know my way
around
the machine. I'm listening...

:

Do you have the same issue when you logon as a different user on that
same
computer?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
I am using MS Office 2003 with BCM. After initially installing the
software,
I was able to set an Outlook task as recurring if desired. Sometime
within
the last couple of months, the task recurrance button became grayed
out
and I
could no longer set a task as recurring.

I've searched the Net and have found only the suggestion to
reinstall
Office. I have done that and still cannot create a recurring task.
I
use
these frequently to remind me to backup my HDD, to make follow up
contact
with clients, etc. Naturally, I don't want to create a list of
calendar
items that is so long I can no longer see meaningful appointments on
my
calendar.

Can somebody offer me a solution so I can once again create a
recurring
task?

Thanx.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Sure, I haven't used up all my tricks yet ;-)

Locate outcmd.dat and extend.dat and rename them to .old while Outlook is
closed. This will reset the toolbar to its default settings and resets the
add-in registry cache.

You can use OutlookTools (free) to easily locate these files.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/products/outlooktools.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

3 add-ins, Roady, and disabling all three (and restarting OL) makes no
difference - still no access to the recurrence button. Other thoughts?

Wyo13Man

Machine issue means that it is being caused by something on the computer.
A
configuration issue means that is involves a per user setting. The fact
that
it works under safe mode doesn't rule out any of the causes ;-)

Disable your add-ins through Tools-> Options-> tab Other-> button
Advanced
Options-> button Add-In Manager/COM Add-ins
Restart Outlook and see if it works now. If so enable the add-ins one by
one
(restart Outlook in between) to find the culprit.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

Roady,

Thanx for the suggestion. Outlook in safe mode relights the recurrence
button and allows me to create recurring items. For the immediate
term, I
created the recurring tasks I needed to put on my list. Naturally, I'd
like
to figure out how to address this issue more permanently to allow me to
do
that without starting Outlook in safe mode.

I think this pretty much addresses that it is not a machine issue. Any
ideas for a permanent solution?

 

[Wyo13Man]

Roady (Robert),

You solved it - forcing Outlook to recreate clean .dat files. Thanx so much
for the help.

FWIW, I reviewed your website. I actually do some marketing analysis and I
like your website - clean, informative, with stuff to draw folks in. I like
your model and it just shows that you're more than a one-trick pony.

I appreciate your help, and have installed your free tool - it looks to be a
much more efficient way of making some of the changes (particularly blocking
predefined attachments).

Take care, have a great rest of the weekend in the Netherlands, and let me
know if you ever need, of know of anybody, that would benefit from
Instructional System Design (Training) expertise

KATrimels
www.idt-group.com

Sure, I haven't used up all my tricks yet ;-)

Locate outcmd.dat and extend.dat and rename them to .old while Outlook is
closed. This will reset the toolbar to its default settings and resets the
add-in registry cache.

You can use OutlookTools (free) to easily locate these files.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/products/outlooktools.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

3 add-ins, Roady, and disabling all three (and restarting OL) makes no
difference - still no access to the recurrence button. Other thoughts?

Wyo13Man

Machine issue means that it is being caused by something on the computer.
A
configuration issue means that is involves a per user setting. The fact
that
it works under safe mode doesn't rule out any of the causes ;-)

Disable your add-ins through Tools-> Options-> tab Other-> button
Advanced
Options-> button Add-In Manager/COM Add-ins
Restart Outlook and see if it works now. If so enable the add-ins one by
one
(restart Outlook in between) to find the culprit.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Thanks and you're welcome!

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

Roady (Robert),

You solved it - forcing Outlook to recreate clean .dat files. Thanx so
much
for the help.

FWIW, I reviewed your website. I actually do some marketing analysis and
I
like your website - clean, informative, with stuff to draw folks in. I
like
your model and it just shows that you're more than a one-trick pony.

I appreciate your help, and have installed your free tool - it looks to be
a
much more efficient way of making some of the changes (particularly
blocking
predefined attachments).

Take care, have a great rest of the weekend in the Netherlands, and let me
know if you ever need, of know of anybody, that would benefit from
Instructional System Design (Training) expertise

KATrimels
www.idt-group.com

Sure, I haven't used up all my tricks yet ;-)

Locate outcmd.dat and extend.dat and rename them to .old while Outlook is
closed. This will reset the toolbar to its default settings and resets
the
add-in registry cache.

You can use OutlookTools (free) to easily locate these files.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/products/outlooktools.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

3 add-ins, Roady, and disabling all three (and restarting OL) makes no
difference - still no access to the recurrence button. Other thoughts?

Wyo13Man

:

Machine issue means that it is being caused by something on the
computer.
A
configuration issue means that is involves a per user setting. The
fact
that
it works under safe mode doesn't rule out any of the causes ;-)

Disable your add-ins through Tools-> Options-> tab Other-> button
Advanced
Options-> button Add-In Manager/COM Add-ins
Restart Outlook and see if it works now. If so enable the add-ins one
by
one
(restart Outlook in between) to find the culprit.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more