Last updated January 26, 1999

microsoft.public.schedule+

Table of Contents


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  • Starting Schedule+


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  • Upgrades and Versions


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  • Address Books


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  • Accounts and Synchronization


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  • Making Schedule+ Work How You Want It To


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  • Printing


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  • Schedule+ and Outlook


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  • Other Resources


  • Starting Schedule+

    How can I get Schedule+ to stop asking me for a password?

    The solution is as simple as changing the password to nothing.  Here's how you do it:

    (Thanks to Craig Harger for the answer to this one.)


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    How can I get Schedule+ to stop asking me for a username?

    You must add some parameters to the command line that runs Schedule+.  In Windows 95, you do this by changing the properties on the shortcut; in Windows 3.x, you do it by changing properties of a Program Manager icon.  In either case, find the line that says something like this:

    C:\MSOFFICE\Schedule\SCHDPL32.EXE

    Add to the end of this a space and the following:

    /U "My UserName"

    but instead of My UserName put your own user name.


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    How can I get Schedule+ to ask me if I'm in group-enabled mode every time it comes up?  Or how can I switch from one mode to the other if I already said "Do not ask me this question again?"

    When Schedule+ starts up for the first time, on a system with MAPI (messaging) present, you get a dialog box which asks whether you want to start in group-enabled mode or work alone, and which contains a checkbox saying "Do not ask me this question again".  If you set the wrong thing and check this checkbox; or if you need the question to come up every time (such as, if you're using a laptop that's not always on the network), you may need to change some settings.  If you have Windows 3.x, you need to look in the SCHDPLUS.INI file in your Windows directory.  In Windows 95, run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT) and look in My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Schedule+\Application.  Do this when Schedule+ is not running.

    If you have not checked the "Do not ask me this question again?" box, you will see one field labelled MailDisabled which is set to 0, and there will not be a MapiPresent field.  If you did check off that box and you selected group mode, MailDisabled will be 0 and MapiPresent will be 0 as well.  If you checked the box and selected working alone, MailDisabled will be 1 and MapiPresent will be absent.  Combinations other than these can have unpredictable results.

    Simply choose the combination you want and set up the values accordingly (deleting the MapiPresent item if needed).  Alternately you could just set MailDisabled to 0 and delete MapiPresent; then when you restart Schedule+ it will ask the question again and you can start over and set it how you like it.


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    How can I reset a forgotten password?

    Fortunately, you can't.  Why fortunately?  Because if it was that easy to get around the password protection, what would be the point of having it?  The best approach, of course, is not to forget your password in the first place.  But given that you have, try the obvious password: the person's name, the names of all of hir immediate relatives and pets, hir birthdate, a blank password, the word "password", etc.  If you can't get in, all you can do is zap the file (hold down Ctrl and Shift while starting Schedule+ up) and start over.

    Note: if you are migrating from one server to another and that's what causes you to need the password you haven't been needing all this time, you can always Export all the data before the changeover, store it in a file, and then after the changeover, zap and import.

    You might also want to check out Access Data, a company that specializes in password recovery (at a fee).

    Schedule+ won't start; instead it gives me a message about being out of memory, or being unable to create a locator, or some such.

    If schedule+  won't start after installing OL98 or you  get "unexpected error" or S+ just hangs up, the problem may be that Schedule+ is trying to start in "group enabled" mode and can't find a post office or network. To correct this involves a simple registry edit, so as always, use due caution when editing the registry.

    Make sure that Schedule+ is closed.
    Go START---RUN, type regedit and click OK.
    In the registry editor go to "Hkey LocalMachine/Software/Microsoft/Schedule+/Application".
    Double-click the "MapiPresent" entry and change the Value data to a 0 and click OK.
    Close the registry and start Schedule+
    You should get a prompt to work in "Group Enabled" or "Work Alone".
    Choose "Work Alone" and you should be all set.

    If this doesn't fix the problem, have no other definitive definitive answer at this time.  Other things can cause these errors and will of course require different solutions.  It has been reported that fixing problems with faxing in Exchange (see the Exchange FAQ note on the subject) can help with this.  Another person reported that a corrupted .VUE file (this is usually stored in your Windows directory with your name for a filename) can cause this behavior, and deleting it (then reconfiguring your display preferences) can fix it.  If anyone solves any other of the many variants on this problem, please let me know.

     


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    My schedule file seems to be corrupted.  How can I fix it?

    The following was sent to me by Eric Burke, a Microsoft support technician.  It's a document that they often send to customers.  I can't attest to its efficacy personally; if you can confirm it works, let me know.  Please note that it is meant originally for use by support techs, so any use you make of it is at your own risk.

    1. Export everything using File | Export | Schedule+ Interchange into a temporary file.
    2. Import it back into a new sheet using File | New and then File | Import | Schedule+ Interchange.  This is to make sure the file is readable and complete.  If the file doesn't import properly, you may need to import it into Excel and clean it up, or try the Export again.  Don't proceed until the data is complete and imports properly or you may lose your data.
    3. Exit Schedule+.
    4. Use Windows 95's Find Files or Folders command, or an equivalent, to search for any files named *.VUE and delete them.
    5. Hold down Shift and Control while running Schedule+ again; this will delete everything in your schedule (it will ask for confirmation first).
    6. If you were getting synchronization errors, or other users were not able to access your data using File | Open | Other's Appointment Book , add a test appointment to the schedule and then synchronize.  Set any access permissions that are needed and then test to see if the error still occurs.  If not, corruption was probably the cause of the problem.  Otherwise, you may have a problem with the network or post office.
    7. Delete the test appointment.
    8. Import the saved schedule using File | Import | Schedule+ Interchange.  If the errors recur, it is possible that the corruption came to the new schedule through the export, and you'll have to export as text and then go through the file and find any problems and fix them manually.
    9. You can now delete the temporary file.


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    Upgrades and Versions

    When is Microsoft going to fix (insert your favorite bug or misfeature of Schedule+ here)?  When will a new upgrade be made available?

    Schedule+ will almost certainly never be upgraded past v7.5.  Instead, Microsoft has released Office 1997, which replaces both Schedule+ and the Windows 95 mail client (variously called Exchange (confusingly enough, as it's not the same as either Exchange Server or the client that comes with it) and Windows Messaging), with a single integrated product called Outlook.  This has fixed many problems with Schedule+, introduced new problems, and ignored a few of our favorite old problems as well.  It has also, unfortunately, disabled calendar sharing without Exchange Server, though Microsoft claims this will be fixed soon.


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    How can I get version 7.0a, 7.0b, or 7.5?  What new features are in these versions?

    Both versions 7.0a and 7.0b are only bugfix upgrades that enhance compatibility with certain devices such as external PDAs, and correct some improper behavior of OLE.  (Version 7.0 does not actually do what its help claims it does with OLE, so following the examples of OLE that Microsoft provides will not work.)  Version 7.0a is apparently not available to anyone who isn't installing the v4.0 version of Exchange Client.  Version 7.0b is supposedly available for the cost of shipping; call 1-800-360-7561 (the Microsoft order desk) and try to order part number 061-00003.  However, Microsoft has been slow to ship (six weeks wait is typical) and it's not entirely clear that it's available at all (rumor has it that it isn't, and Microsoft won't commit to its status).

    Version 7.5 (build 1457.3) came with the 5.0 release of Exchange Server and despite the number, isn't much of a change. 

    Version 7.5 (build 1457.3) also comes with (although this is not documented) Office 97, which installs it by default as:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\SCHDPL32.EXE

    This does not appear to upgrade or replace any previous versions of Schedule+ which may already be loaded on your system.

    Version 7.0 comes standard with Office 95, can be installed using "Custom" installation mode, and will appear by default in your system as:

    C:\MSOffice\Schedule\SCHDPL32.EXE

    Both versions, 7.0 and 7.5, seem able to share the same data, settings, etc., and coexist on the same system together.


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    Is there a Macintosh version that works with the PC version?

    Though a Mac version was rumored to be released, none has appeared; so there is not one at present that will work with the PC version.

    How can I make versions 1.x and 7.x work together on the same network?

    The short answer: you can't, reliably.  Try to migrate everyone at once.

    The long answer: 7.0 users can read but not modify the schedules of 1.0 users.  1.0 users can't read or write to the schedules of 7.0 users, though they can see the free and busy times in their Planner.  And even that won't work quite right when someone delegates to another person with a different version that they should receive appointment requests.  And to make matters worse, depending on what versions of what e-mail clients everyone is using, sometimes none of this works when people invite one another to meetings across versions (the Accept and Decline buttons, for instance, appear or act incorrectly).  There is, unfortunately, no good solution to this problem other than migrating everyone as close together as possible.

    Can I import data from some other calendaring program?

    If you're running Schedule+ v7.0, you'll need to download the Import/Export Add-On Pack from Microsoft.  This will allow you to import: Lotus Organizer 1.x, 2.1; ACT! 1.1, 2; ECCO Pro, Packrat 4.1x; SHARP (5500, 6500, 9000 series), SHARP Wizards, HP95LX Palmtops, and Windows Cardfile & Calendar.  No mention was made of other programs, such as: Calendar Creator Plus, CaLANder, etc.  Schedule+ version 7.0a/b already include the above import features (found under File | Import); and also includes Sharp 5000, 7400, 7600, 8000, 8200, 8600, and YO-600.


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    Address Books

    Can I move addresses from Exchange's address book into Schedule+'s Contact list?

    Yes.  Download SCHEDABA.EXE from Microsoft.

    Can I move addresses from Schedule+'s Contact list into Exchange's address book?

    Yes, but only if you have Word 7.0 (WIN95).  Download Graham Smith's WordBasic macros which will do the job.

    Can I make Schedule and Exchange and Word use the same address book?  When is Microsoft going to fix all this multiple address book nonsense?

    Outlook, released in 1997, as part of Office 1997 integrates the address book by the tricky technique of simply integrating the programs themselves.  See above for more info.

    Otherwise, there is a third party product called the Thinkage Schedule+ Address Book Provider which will allow Exchange/Windows Messaging to access the Schedule+ Contacts list.  It comes from Keith Dorken (kadorken@thinkage.on.ca) and is available at http://www.thinkage.on.ca/shareware/schabp/ for download from the web.  Note: as of this writing, I've not installed or used this product, though I do know that it is a shareware program, and to get full 'usage' you'll need to send him $15.

    Also, you can get Word to use the Contact list from Schedule+ directly using an undocumented procedure that is automatically installed in some cases but not in others.  You need the file SCHDMAPI.DLL which is located in the WinWord directory of the MS Office 95 CD-ROM; copy this into your WinWord directory, then fire up Schedule+ and Word and you should see your Schedule+ contacts as an option to get addresses from in Envelopes and Labels.

    Where can I put an e-mail or web address in the Contacts list?

    Most people put e-mail addresses in the User1 field.  You can put the web address in another User field or the Notes.  These fields are really all for you to use as you like.


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    Accounts and Synchronization

    How do I create a resource?

    Microsoft's answer is as follows:

    Schedule+ makes it easy to set up shared resources, such as conference rooms and audio/visual equipment, so that they can be reserved over Schedule+. The network administrator creates an account for the resource using the Mail Administrators program (ADMIN.EXE).  Then he or she logs into Schedule+ under that account, and selects  the This Account Is for a Resource check box in the General Options  dialog box (accessed by choosing General Options from the Options menu).

    This automatically changes the default access privilege to Create Appts and Tasks. That means that people can book the resource by selecting it from the Address Book while they select attendees for a meeting. You can also choose the Open Others Appt Book option from the File menu to look at the calendar for the resource and book time in it directly.

    It is also possible to assign an assistant to a resource and alter the default privilege to View Free and Busy Times if the administrator wants somebody to be in control of allocating the resource.

    I keep getting a message about how my schedule was synchronized with a different shared schedule, but no matter how many times I synchronize, it doesn't go away.  What can I do?

    1. Export everything using File | Export | Schedule+ Interchange into a temporary file.
    2. Exit Schedule+.
    3. Hold down Shift and Control while running Schedule+ again; this will delete everything in your schedule (it will ask for confirmation first).
    4. Import the saved schedule using File | Import | Schedule+ Interchange.
    5. You can now delete the temporary file.


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    How do I merge several Schedule+ calendars into one?

    Various other calendar programs have the ability to merge individual's calendars into a single calendar, Schedule+ doesn't have this feature as such.  You can use the Planner to get the same info; just right-click on any bar and you can view all the appointments represented by that bar (the amount of detail depends on the permissions).

    Mark Stainton-James (marksj@bp.com) tells us that you can do something like this using OLE Automation, from Visual Basic or from Access.  There is an article about this at http://www.microsoft.com/syspro/technet/boes/bo/mailexch/mail/technote/ml304.htm which makes reference to a file named MLCAM304.MDB on a CompuServe forum (GO MSWRKGRP).  If anyone can get this file and send it to me, I'll post it on this site.

    The program EyeOfSchedule claims to be able to show you multiple calendars, limited only by available memory, in various views.  I've not tested it; the download is 4.6MB.


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    Making Schedule+ Work How You Want It To

    How do I get Schedule+ to save my screen size, pane size, column width, sorting preferences, AutoSort, etc.?

    Pane size, column width, and some sorting information can be saved by holding down the Ctrl key while you close Schedule+.  This doesn't save window status, AutoSort, and a few other things, though.  If you find out how to save those things, please let us know.  They all seem to be saved in a file named username.VUE in your Windows directory but it's not clear what is where, as it's a binary file.

    Eric Burke from Microsoft says that, while the tech support staff have never heard of the Ctrl key trick, deleting the .VUE file should be enough to force Schedule+ to rebuild it and then start saving these settings automatically.  This never worked for me, or for others who I have spoken to, but maybe it does work under some circumstances.  Your mileage may vary.

    How can I get the Contacts list to stop jumping from the first name field to the last name field when I type a space?

    In version 7.5 at least, you can type Ctrl-Space instead of Space.  Or, you can type space, backtab (shift-Tab), space, then keep typing.  It's a pain, but it's the best we can do.

    Can I get Schedule+ to hide in the system tray (next to the clock)?

    Only using a third party tool like IconCorral, Minimize Magic, TrayRun, or Idyle Tray Minimizer.


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    Is there any way to get reminders without having Schedule+ running, like we used to be able to do with MSREMIND.EXE?

    Not as far as I know, no.  Sorry.  Interestingly, though, Microsoft's own Schedule+ FAQ says:

    Reminders is a separate application from Schedule+. The default installation (that is, Express Setup) installs Reminders into the Windows Startup group. Reminders continues to run until you exit Windows, exit and sign out of Schedule+ or Mail for Windows, or choose Turn Off Reminders from the File menu in Schedule+.

    Presumably this just isn't current; there sure isn't a Reminders program on my system, my Office installation CD, or any of the Exchange CDs.

    Every time I look at someone else's schedule, the appointments are shifted by an hour or two.  Why?

    Probably you're listed as being in different time zones.  Schedule+ goes to considerable effort to make sure that if two people are coordinating things in two time zones, each one sees everything in their own time zone, automagically.  To change your time zone, go to Tools | Options | Time Zone, or in Windows 95, double-click the clock on your taskbar.  But... read the following item first to avoid Schedule+ shifting all your appointments when you do so!

    My time zone is set wrong.  How can I set it right without Schedule+ moving all my appointments?

    1. Export everything using File | Export | Schedule+ Interchange into a temporary file.
    2. Exit Schedule+.
    3. Change your time zone
    4. Hold down Shift and Control while running Schedule+ again; this will delete everything in your schedule (it will ask for confirmation first).
    5. Import the saved schedule using File | Import | Schedule+ Interchange.
    6. You can now delete the temporary file.


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    Printing

    How can I change the way Schedule+ printouts look?

    Microsoft's web site says:

    There are no printing customization capabilities built into Schedule+. However, you can export your appointments from Schedule+ in text format, and use a standard text editor to customize the information.

    Not surprisingly, this is a lie.  In fact, you can modify the .PRT files that appear in your Schedule+ folder, but you wouldn't want to try to do it casually.  Take a look at them; they're just ASCII.

    For an example, though, here's a change to make Schedule+ print in 15-minute intervals, which I stole from a post by Bradley Batt (BBatt@netgate.compaq.com):

    Start out with one of the Daily .PRT files (Day1.PRT is the dynamic one and Day2.PRT is the fixed one).  Copy one of these to Day3.PRT (or something else.PRT - it doesn't matter).  Change the VIEW command at the top to reflect a new title (in quotes).  Then proceed down to the Timeframe and Schedule Box section. In the following code,

    OBJECT  ,SCHEDULE,80,194,695,978
    	STYLES		styApptText, styApptTime, styHeading
    	OPTIONS		4, 30, LOCATION, NONE, 0
    

    the 2nd parameter on the OPTIONS line (30) is the time interval which Schedule+ uses to print -- if you change this to 15 it will print in 15 minute time-intervals.  Note that you will have to use the Small font setting or else the print will be too big and will be suppressed by Schedule+.

    That should give you an idea for how hard it is.  The complete guide to the changes is available in the appendix of the Schedule+ SDK in the MSDN CD in the Exchange Product Documentation section.


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    Schedule+ gives me an error when I try to print about missing .fmt files.  How can I fix that?

    In a few cases, this message means just what it says: the .fmt files are missing, and must either be put back into the Schedule+ folder, or installed in the first place.

    More often, the files are right where they should be, but even a reinstall doesn't help.  Some people have reported success when they manually hack the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Schedule+\Application\LocalPrintFileDir to the path where their .fmt and .prt files are located (or where they copied them from their Windows CD).  (Of course, back up your registry before hacking it with RedEdit, and be sure Schedule+ isn't running when you do this.)  If you try this and it still doesn't work, let me know if you find something that does.


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    Outlook

    Overview

    There is no question but that Microsoft is dedicated to making Outlook the personal information manager of choice for the future. In the process of introducing Outlook to the market, however, many users became quickly aware that Outlook was not an actual feature-for-feature replacement for two Microsoft products; namely, Schedule+, wherein users share/update their calendars over a network, and Outlook Express, which is still the only Microsoft product capable of subscribing to and managing subscriptions to news groups.

    In the case of news readers, Microsoft simply refers to Outlook Express as the "Outlook Newsreader", which one may launch from within Outlook a number of different ways. Outlook can be used to handle both internet and inter-office email simultaneously, but Outlook Express must be invoked to subscribe to and read from an nntp, or news server.

    In the case of calendaring, Outlook is not capable of sharing contacts or performing group scheduling tasks over a network without Microsoft Exchange Server installed to support it (which is a sizable investment to many, and not without headaches of its own). But Schedule+ has long been able to perform group scheduling functions without any special support server, even over a simple peer-to-peer network. Thus, Schedule+ support files are installed with Outlook during installation, provided Schedule+ is already installed and running on the system. Then, by selecting the option "Use Microsoft Schedule+ as my primary calendar", a button is then provided, which will allow a user to launch Schedule+ from within Outlook. In this way group scheduling capability is retained without the need for investing in a separate system, running Windows NT, and Microsoft Exchange Server.

    Outlook 97/98 - Use Microsoft Schedule+ as my primary calendar

    If, from within Outlook (97 or 98), you have checked the option "Use Microsoft Schedule+ as my primary calendar", the Launch Schedule+ button will launch version 7.0 by default. If, however, you have version 7.5 installed and running at the time you push the Launch button, it will bring that particular window to the forefront, and from then on the Launch button will call up the 7.5 version.

    I can't select "Use Microsoft Schedule+ as my primary calendar"; it's greyed out, or dimmed.

    Outlook searches for Schedule+ 7.0 files on your system before it will offer the option to use Schedule+ as your primary calendar. If 7.5 is the only version installed on your system, the option will remain greyed out. You must find and install version 7.0 before Outlook will allow you to check this option. The easiest place to find version 7.0 is on the Office 95 installation CD.


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    Other Resources


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    Copyright © 1999 Lawrence & Associates

    Lawrence & Associates


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    FAQ originally conceived and maintained by Frank J. Perricone (frank@dlc.state.vt.us)

    (Note: this FAQ and its author, have no affiliation with Microsoft.  This FAQ is provided as a friendly public service; there is no warranty, express or implied, for the information contained herein.  This FAQ was packed by weight, not volume; some settling of contents may have occurred during shipping.  Please note that there are no user-serviceable parts inside; however, suggestions and contributions are welcome by e-mail.)
    Thanks are due to other contributors, witting or unwitting: Michelle M. Davis (rob.mikkid@skynet.be); Bradley Batt (BBatt@netgate.compaq.com); Patrick R. Sweeney (evolve@ici.net); Keith Dorken (kadorken@thinkage.on.ca); Jay B. Harlow (Jay_Harlow@msn.com); Eric Burke; Olivier (olivierf@worldnet.att.net); Mark Stainton-James (marksj@bp.com); Mary Sue Darwent (mdarwent@orscheln.com); Corné Bogaarts (c.bogaarts@bigfoot.com); Tess Galletly (execdiv@ricochet.net); William Stephens (WBStephens@CIO-Consult.com); MVP Athena (athenian@ix.netcom.com); Jon D. Nelson (Jon.Nelson@PSS.Boeing.com)