WMDC & Project Add-in = Oil & Water

[NHedley]

Here's a fun one: Tasks in the Project Server Add-in for Outlook and Tasks
on a PDA do not mix. At least not after a synchronization that includes
changes; that was my experience this morning.

Yesterday was the first sync with my new Vista laptop, my new Treo 700wx,
and Project Server 2007. Everything seemed fine. SEEMED fine, I said.

After I imported my Project tasks to Outlook this morning, I punched up the
Task List and noticed nothing had moved, which I found strange. Then I
looked and found that further down, there were second copies of the same
tasks that had the correct information. What's more, when I opened the
versions of the tasks that had the INcorrect data, they displayed the OLD
task form, instead of the task form that the Project Server add-in uses
(which DOES show up in the CORRECT version of the task).

Anyone run into this? It sure ain't streamlining my workflow, it's more
than doubled it, since it would seem I have to manually figure out which
tasks are incorrect.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

WMDC is supported in the pocketpc.activesync newsgroup
The Project Addin is supported in the project newsgroup

Either addin only uses Outlook to store their data in; Outlook itself
doesn't do anything to the data that it is being told to store by either
addin. Ask in the corresponding newsgroup for support.

 

[NHedley]

Actually, in this case Outlook *is* doing something with the data.
Originally, it was storing the data from the Project Add-In. ActiveSync then
sent that data to the PDA. The PDA later sent that data BACK to Outlook,
which Outlook is displaying as a new task, rather than seeing it as a
duplicate (and changed) task via the Project Add-In.
So ultimately, Outlook is corrupting the data it's receiving from the add-ins.

 

[NHedley]

Sorry for the double post, but I meant to add - that LOOKS like that's what's
happening - isn't it? Aren't both add-ins counting on Outlook to pass
dependable data back and forth between them?

Surely I can't be the only guy in the world running OL2007, WMDC 6.1 and
PS2007 for this task - if I'm the only one in the world getting this error,
could there be something wrong in the way I have OL set up to handle tasks?

 

[Roady [MVP]]

No, it's not. The Project Task uses a custom form, your mobile device
doesn't support custom forms and converts it to a standard form. The sync
process back will then create a new item out of the modified item since the
sync process back uses the standard form and not the modified form. Verify
that for your mobile device and WMDC custom forms are supported.

 

[NHedley]

Ah - bingo - a lead. Thank you. That gives me a launching pad. Beautiful.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Aren't both add-ins counting on Outlook to pass
No, the addins are the ones who are retrieving the data from Outlook,
Outlook doesn't the deliver the data to the addin. That is a big
programmatic difference. The sync addins are the ones responsible for
converting the data that they retrieve from either Outlook, the mobile
device or Project. They are also responsible for what eventually gets
written to either location and if a new item should be created or not.
Outlook, Project and the mobile device are the same here; they only offer a
storage location.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You're welcome!



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Ah - bingo - a lead. Thank you. That gives me a launching pad.
Beautiful.