Entourage & Exchange

[Hat]

Please stop telling us that we should have know that there was no support for Exchange in the Home and Student Edition of Office 2008.
My son needs Exchange support on his Mac in an educational environment that DOES NOT SUPPORT MACS I have to shell out HUNDREDS of dollars for ONE copyof the Office 2008 so he can continue to use it.
I want to purchase the Home and Student Edition so I don't have to spend $1,500 for Microsoft office on our three home computers.
My alternative is setup Boot Camp or Parallels or VMWare Fusion, which requires the purchase of Windows XP (because Vista sucks) and Microsoft Office 2003 or 2007 with the full version of Outlook.
Either way "I" am getting screwed.
The school in question will NOT buy him the Mac version since IT IS NOT AVAILABLE under their volume license. I can't obtain it other than purchasing the Standard Edition of Office 2008. I can't even get an answer as to who I can contact to purchase a single CAL to use Entourage with Exchange.
I normally applaud the MacBU for their efforts, but in this case I have tocomplain about the decisions you have made.

I don't know if your school's Exchange server is set up for OWA
(Outlook Web Access), but, if it is, have you considered using it
instead of Entourage to connect to the Exchange server. I doubt your
son is using any feature in Entourage that can't be done using OWA.
All you'd need then is a browser and you won't have to spend the
$1500. You may want to contact the school regarding OWA. As an
Exchange administrator, that's what I'd be recommending.

 

[John]

Hat - Apparently my school's server is set up for Outlook Web Access - I used to have no trouble connecting via Safari. However, since around the same time as I was forced to change my password, I can't log in via Safari. I can still log in using Entourage (2004) - and have no issue logging in via IE7. Strangely, neither can I log in using Outlook 2007 (I've been told this is due to my not showing up in the Address Book - I'm affiliated with the school - but since I'm not in admin, a teacher, or a student, my name/address is hidden). Do you, as an Exchange Administrator, have any ideas why Safari no longer connects (I've reset it several times, in case it was a password issue)?

 

[Adam Bailey]

Hat - Apparently my school's server is set up for Outlook Web Access - I
used to have no trouble connecting via Safari. However, since around the
same time as I was forced to change my password, I can't log in via
Safari. I can still log in using Entourage (2004) - and have no issue
logging in via IE7.

Try going to Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access.app. Find the entry
for your Exchange server and delete it. Then relaunch Safari and try again.

 

[John]

Thank you very much Adam - your suggestion did the trick! There were actually three (??) passwords that needed to be deleted, and when I logged in the next time I was prompted when logging in, when I switched views, and again in order to log off. Your suggestion is much appreciated!

 

[Ben]

Hi There,
         is there a way to stop entourage caching mailbox data from exchange in 2008, particularly with shared mailboxes?
thanks,
Ben

 

[Ben]

Hi There,
         is there a way to stop entourage caching mailbox data from exchange in 2008, particularly with shared mailboxes?
thanks,
Ben

 

[Hat]

In *theory*, the school has to pay a licence for each seat on their
Exchange server. In return, they *should* get a licence for Outlook or
Entourage (full) for each client.

I would try bugging the school again to get a copy of the full version
of Entourage through them,

Corentin

--
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    MVPs are not MS employees    -    Les MVP ne travaillent pas pour MS
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Your *theory*, while correct, is misleading. The school does need to
buy CALS for each mailbox on the Exchange server, as well as licensing
for Exchange and Windows server. HOWEVER, that doesn't buy the client,
which is separate. You don't need Entourage OR Outlook to access your
mail; you can access your mail using a browser and OWA, which for most
people is a more-than-adequate solution - IMO, it's better than
dealing with the problems that come with Entourage. Putting the burden
back on the school isn't fair to the school OR the taxpayers, if that
is the structure that's set up.

 

[Hat]

Hat - Apparently my school's server is set up for Outlook Web Access - I used to have no trouble connecting via Safari. However, since around the sametime as I was forced to change my password, I can't log in via Safari. I can still log in using Entourage (2004) - and have no issue logging in via IE7.. Strangely, neither can I log in using Outlook 2007 (I've been told this isdue to my not showing up in the Address Book - I'm affiliated with the school - but since I'm not in admin, a teacher, or a student, my name/address ishidden). Do you, as an Exchange Administrator, have any ideas why Safari nolonger connects (I've reset it several times, in case it was a password issue)?

Since we're 80% macs here, we have had problems with Safari connecting
- in a perfect world, we wouldn't have to have so many browsers to
contend with. We load Safari and Firefox on the Macs and everyone
tends to have better luck using Firefox. If Adam's solution doesn't
work (I'm going to check it out; thanks, Adam!) Firefox is free and we
have a lot less problems using it for OWA and other browser-based apps
we support.

 

[John]

Adam's solution worked - but I found an even better alternative than checking with Safari. I exported everything from Entourage 2008, then removed all of Office 2008. I then installed Entourage 2004, restored the Microsoft User Data, Library folder (thanks Time Machine!) and opened up Entourage 2004. I then deleted all accounts except the Exchange account. Re-installed Office 2008, imported my rge data, and I'm good to go. I have two different versions of Entourage installed - I keep the old version in a different "Space" checking just my Exchange mail - and I keep the 2008 running, checking my non-Exchange mail. It seems to be working perfectly! (One caveat - I ONLY use Exchange for email - I don't keep a calendar, notes, etc. in it).

 

[Julie lesko]

Wow - I am thoroughly intimidated now.

I bought an imac because I was so done with Microsoft's problems- and now I'm in school, and I can't even open my school's Word files because "my free trial period has expired".

So now I'm reading these postings, and I figure, I will never figure this out. I am not the kind of person who can take all day to install, remove, re-install, etc. That is not why I got a mac.

Now I don't even trust to buy a version of office over the web. I have to go consult the mac store again.

Does anyone know how I can use Office, or just Word, without dealing with the mess I have read about in the above postings?

 

[John]

Unlike the PC brethren's, the Mac comes loaded with virtually no "crap ware" but you're right that the TRIAL version of Office expires after a month or so. The solution is to purchase a licensed version (~ $135.00 for Home and Student, street price) - you'd have to do the same whether you're using a Mac or a PC (to stay legal, anyway). The Office 2008 DVD will automatically remove your trial version for you. Just stick the disc in, double click the installer, and follow the directions.

 

[Barry Wainwright]

Unlike the PC brethren's, the Mac comes loaded with virtually no "crap ware"
but you're right that the TRIAL version of Office expires after a month or so.
The solution is to purchase a licensed version (~ $135.00 for Home and
Student, street price) - you'd have to do the same whether you're using a Mac
or a PC (to stay legal, anyway). The Office 2008 DVD will automatically remove
your trial version for you. Just stick the disc in, double click the
installer, and follow the directions.

Alternatively, stick with Pages ­ this will open most word docs and can save
a file in a compatible format.

--
Barry Wainwright
Microsoft MVP (see <http://www.microsoft.com/mvp/> for details)
Visit the Entourage User¹s Weblog for Hints, tips and troubleshooting
information:
http://www.barryw.net/weblog/

 

[Richard]

I would highly recommend this blog to everyone using Entourage with Exchange, please do read:

&nbsp;&lt;http://blogs.technet.com/amir&gt;

I loved the latest entry for today:

How Does Entourage Work?
&nbsp;&lt;http://blogs.technet.com/amir/archive/2008/02/08/how-does-entourage-work.aspx&gt;

Regards,

 

[Adam Bailey]

Wow - I am thoroughly intimidated now.

Why? You didn't quote the message(s) to which you were replying, so I'm
unclear if your intimidation stems from Entourage and Exchange or some other
issue.

I bought an imac because I was so done with Microsoft's problems- and now
I'm in school, and I can't even open my school's Word files because "my
free trial period has expired".

Yes, the iMac does not come with a full version of Office. If you want it,
you need to buy it.

There may be other programs capable of opening or translating .doc files on
the Mac, but I'm not sure about this.

So now I'm reading these postings, and I figure, I will never figure this
out. I am not the kind of person who can take all day to install, remove,
re-install, etc. That is not why I got a mac.

Figure what out? If you want Office, buy it and install it. You will need to
remove the Test Drive, which the Office 2008 installer will offer to do for
you.

Now I don't even trust to buy a version of office over the web. I have to
go consult the mac store again.
Okay...

Does anyone know how I can use Office, or just Word, without dealing with
the mess I have read about in the above postings?

What mess? People come to newsgroups to complain, you won't see a lot of
postings from satisfied customers. Chances are you'll be fine.

 

[Ralph]

After reading the blog, I am reluctant to install the Student/Home/Faculty version of Office 2008 that I have purchased and opened (not returnable now).

I have been using Entourage 2004 on my Mac at home to access my personal email account and also my work exchange account. The Mac specialist in my work IT shop helped me configure Entourage 2004 so that I did not have to use VPN to get through the university firewall to access my Exchange account. As I interpret the configuration, Entourage is basically using the Exchange web interface to give me access to my email and calendar.

My question is: Will Entourage in Office 2008 allow me to access my Exchange email account and calendar in the same manner as I am accustomed with Entourage 2004?

Thank you.
Ralph

 

[Tony]

Will Entourage 2008 import Outlook 2003 pst files?

 

[Diane Ross]

Will Entourage 2008 import Outlook 2003 pst files?

No. Check out the options on the "Convert Mail from Windows to Mac" Page:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/cross_platform/win_mac.html>

 

[Diane Ross]

After reading the blog, I am reluctant to install the Student/Home/Faculty
version of Office 2008 that I have purchased and opened (not returnable now).

I have been using Entourage 2004 on my Mac at home to access my personal email
account and also my work exchange account. The Mac specialist in my work IT
shop helped me configure Entourage 2004 so that I did not have to use VPN to
get through the university firewall to access my Exchange account. As I
interpret the configuration, Entourage is basically using the Exchange web
interface to give me access to my email and calendar.

My question is: Will Entourage in Office 2008 allow me to access my Exchange
email account and calendar in the same manner as I am accustomed with
Entourage 2004?

Since you have opened it, why not install and test it out? There is no
registration process that would keep you from removing it from your computer
and selling it on eBay. You would need to notify the buyer that it's been
opened.

 

[John]

Ralph-

NO, Entourage 2008 will NOT allow you to access the Exchange server in the method you have been. I accessed my Exchange server the exact same way - and still do. Simply install Outlook 2008 - and when prompted to delete the old versions, skip the step instead. I've found that it's no big deal to use Entourage 2004 to check my Exchange mail...and Entourage 2008 for my POP/IMAP mail. In my case, I can't have both versions running at the same time, but have no issues if only one or the other is open. And, using 2004 to check my Exchange mail beats the heck out of using a web interface. Either way, you'll have to use two different methods - I find this works just fine.

The documentation that comes with 2008 specifically states that having/using 2004 does NOT interfere with 2008.

 

[John]

Ralph - sorry, I meant to install "OFFICE 2008" (not Outlook!)