Entourage 12.1.3 sync deleted my calendar again

[Eric Tiffany]

I am unable to fathom how Microsoft manages to continue to produce such
unreliable software. Now they have introduced non-determinism into the mix.

After noticing some SyncServer and Microsoft Sync Services thrashing in
Activity monitor -- every 10 seconds or so, both these processes were using
over 50% of my CPU, even though I had made no change to any calendar items
(or anything else, my hands were off the keyboard) -- I decided to see if
there was some infinite loop of updates that were causing this.

I have done this exact exercise twice with differing results:

1. Disable calendar syncing in Entourage preferences
2. open iCal, and delete the Entourage calendar
3. close ical, and wait until the sync processes calm down.
4. Enable calendar syncing in Entourage preferences, and selected the last
option "Deleted everything from iCal ...."

On my first attempt, the iCal calendar ultimately had a copy of the
Entourage calendar. However, when I did this *exact* same procedure again,
I found that my Entourage calendar was cleaned out --- the exact opposite
of what I had chosen.

Who are these so-called engineers at Microsoft? I'm just astonished that
these people get paid.

 

[Diane Ross]

The update 12.1.3 has some known issues. Microsoft is aware of this issue
and will be releasing a new updater soon.

 

[Kerry]

I recently purchased an iPhone and decided to bite the bullet and move
all of my stuff from Entourage to Apple Mail, iCal, and Address Book for
home use. It turned out to be very simple - took an hour or so! And it's
been a great experience so far. I'm still using Entourage for corporate
stuff, because Exchange is involved (though I may investigate setting up
an Exchange account in Mail soon to test it out).

The Apple applications aren't quite as robust in terms of the number of
features, but they have enough functionality to get the job done. For
example, one thing I'd love to have in iCal s the ability to create
custom views to view my events in a list format. It'd be nice to have,
but I can live without it.  : )

Maybe a similar move is in your future?

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JR

Hey JR. I tried the Apple apps way back in Feb due to this sync issue
in Entourage. Unfortunately, they just don't cut it for me. i worked
with them for two weeks and although they're fast they don't have
anywhere near the power I need.

I work pretty well with Entourage and the rest of Office. I'll just be
glad when the sync is fully rectified. The issues with sync aren't a
deal breaker anymore (I thought they were going to be back in Feb) but
I've sort of got a routine so that my syncs are pretty reliable. I do
check frequently though to make sure nothing has gone awry (especially
the calendar) and I have loads of backups just in case.

You'll have to let us know though as you use the Apple apps over a
period what you think of them.