Meeting invitation - inconsistent format

S

Stephan Fix

Note - we are not using Exchange, just pop/smtp mail server.

Does someone know of a compatibility matrix regarding the different versions
of Outlook and Mail Format and how it affects meeting invitations? We have a
mix of Outlook 2000, 2002, and 2003.

An example of the problem we're having is when my 2002 user sends a meeting
invite to two different 2003 users, one is able to repond as expected using
the buttons and the other receives a garbled text message. All users have
their mail format set to HTML. My main goal is to find out what is or is not
supposed to work together so we can let users know what to expect or upgrade
everyone to what they need.
 
L

Lee Li [MSFT]

Hi Michael,

Based on my experience and research, I think the meeting request between
Outlook 2003, Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002. This problem you encountered
occurs if the Meeting request is not sent through a Microsoft Exchange
server. By default, Outlook sends meeting requests in the iCalendar format,
which is based on Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format (TNEF). If the
format is modified/removed by the server, you will not receive the correct
information. We can use vCalendar format which is more widely supported to
resolve the problem:

Start Microsoft Outlook.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Preferences tab, and then click Calendar Options.
Click to clear the "Sending meeting using iCalendar format by default"
check box if it is selected, and then click OK.
NOTE: This configures meeting requests to be sent by using the vCalendar
format.

For additional information, please refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base
Article:
OL2002: "Accept" or "Decline" Buttons Missing from Meeting Requests
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=329931

If the above steps do not help, we can send the .vcs file as a work around,
please try the following steps:
Open Outlook.
Click New, click Meeting Request.
Compose the meeting request.
On the File menu, click Save As.
In the Save as type box, click to select vCalendar Format (*.vcs).
In the Save In box, click the folder where you want to save the vCalendar
file, and then click Save.
Compose a plain text format email and insert the .vcs attachment then send
to the recipient.
Upon receiving, open the attachment and it will add entry to the calendar.

For more information, please refer to the following article:
How to Use vCalendar in Outlook
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;287625

In addition, when you receive a meeting request in Outlook 2000 from an
Outlook 2002 user, the meeting request may appear as a message with a
message body that contains text, which represents the iCalendar data. This
behavior may occur because Outlook 2000 clients do not correctly interpret
the TRIGGER keyword when a hyphen symbol (-) is present. Outlook 2000
clients incorrectly emit the TRIGGER keyword without the hyphen.

To work around this behavior, omit the meeting reminder from the
appointment when you submit a meeting request from an Outlook 2002 client
to Outlook 2000 clients. The meeting reminder is the option that causes the
TRIGGER keyword to be used.

For more information, please refer to the following article:
OL2000: Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002 iCalendar Interoperability Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307313

Hope this information helps. Thanks and have a nice day!

Lee Li
Microsoft Online Partner Support

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B

Bill

I am having a similar problem. using Outlook 2002.

We ARE on exchange. Now, as opposed to when I was on pop email, when I send
a calendar meeting request/invitation to someone using pop email they do not
receive it as a calendar document that can easily be brought into their own
calendars upon acceptance. They now receive it as an email with the
invitation in the body of the email.
 
V

Vincedc

I have the same problem sending a meeting request from Outlook 2003 to
Outlook XP Pro. The strange thing is a couple of my Outlook XP Pro receives
the request with the accept/decline buttons. All options are identical. All
updates are applied.

Any suggestions?
 
W

Will_Treinen

I too have the exact same problem. In fact, an assocaite of mine has the
exact same configuration (Outlook 2003, SP1), same ISP, same settings in
Outlook, yet calendar notices to him come with the Accept/Decline, etc.
function that is associated with a Meeting, while mine pop up in my in-box as
any other non-calendar item?

Sender is NOT checking to send calendar notices in I-calendar format, but is
intrepreted correctly by my associate's computer and not on mine?

I upgraded from Outlook 2002 to 2003 because I thought it was a
compatibility issue.

Same ending - any suggestions? Frustrating trying to load over 100 calendar
notices MANAULLY.

Thanks - WT
 
D

dror

Did you guys manage to solve the problem? i have the same issue with outlook
2003.

Thanks
 
T

tfm

Did you ever manage to resolve this issue? I too have this problem when
receiveing meeting requestes from one client company (lotus Notes)
 
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