FAQ:
Q: Ok, I’ve installed this program, now what?
A: OutlookSync was
designed to replace a PDA for keeping all of your contacts, tasks, notes, etc
in sync between multiple computers.
When you first run it on a computer, it will prompt you to name that computer. The name you enter does not need to have anything to do with any Outlook profile, nor does it need to have anything to do with the Windows Network name of the computer. It's just a name that allows OutlookSync to identify the computer. You MUST choose a different name for each computer you wish to synchronize.
Once the application comes up for the first time, you will need to press the ‘Synchronize
All Items’ button to sync it up with the version of outlook running on that
machine. When you run OutlookSync it
creates a small file named db.ols in the OutlookSync directory. This file holds all of your OutlookSync
data. Copying this file to other
machines will allow you to access the data there and pump the data into Outlook
on that machine as well.
Here’s how you do it - install OutlookSync on the other machine(s) you want to synchronize. Copy the dbols file into the OutlookSync directory, and then run the program. Now when you synchronize, the data in the db.ols file will be synchronized with Outlook. Carry the file back and forth between machines and run OutlookSync on them to pick up any changes in one that you want reflected in others.
Q: I can't find a certain option. Is the trial version limited? Will I get this feature if I purchase the full version?
A: The trial version is full featured. There is no extra functionality available in the full version. We're adding new features (and fixing bugs) every day. The feature you're looking for will quite likely be added soon - but feel free to send us an email to let us know what you're looking for.
Q: Every time I try to synchronize with Outlook, a window pops up, says ‘A program is trying to access e-mail addresses you have stored in Outlook. Do you want to allow this?’ What is this window, and what should I do?
A: This window is part of Outlook, not part of OutlookSync. It’s a security feature that was implemented in Outlook2002 and later to keep viruses from accessing your Outlook contacts. Unfortunately, it also gets in the way of OutlookSync. You’ll need to click the checkbox with the text ‘allow access for 1 minute’ and then click the YES button. If you click NO, OutlookSync will not be able to synchronize with Outlook and you’ll need to re-press the ‘Synchronize’ button. This window will pop up every time you try to sync with OutlookSync. There is currently no way to configure Outlook so that it doesn’t pop up. Future versions of OutlookSync will include an optional feature that will watch for the window and close it for you automatically during a sync operation.
Q: I press the ‘Synchronize All Items’ button and nothing happens.
A: You’re probably running Outlook 2002 or later. In the task bar at the bottom of Windows, is one of the icons (the one for Outlook) flashing? If it is, click on it and you should see the Outlook 2002 security window. See the question and answer above for information about it – but basically, you need to give OutlookSync permission to access the Outlook database.
Q: What’s the best way to move the file between machines, now that I have OutlookSync installed on both?
A: I use one of
those little hard-drive keychains. I
actually have
A2: You can also email the db.ols file back and forth between machines – we’ve found this to be an effective way to keep work and home machines in sync if you don’t have, or don’t want, a little hard-drive keychain.
Q: Does Outlook need to be running for me to run OutlookSync?
A: No – it doesn’t matter whether Outlook is running or not…
Q: What do I get if I register OutlookSync?
A: You get our undying gratitude. Plus, as if that weren’t enough – you get to keep using OutlookSync on as many machines as you’d like, for as long as you’d like. Finally, you get free upgrades to any version of OutlookSync released, ever. You need to be a personal user for these facts to hold true. If you would like to purchase OutlookSync for corporate use, please contact us at support@curosoft.com. Personal use DOES including installing the program at work so that you can keep your work machine and your home machine in sync. Personal use does NOT mean you can give your registration code to others so that they can use it – please keep the code to yourself and use it for installation only on those machines that you want to sync with.
Q: Before I started using OutlookSync, my two machines were already in sync. Now, when I use your program, I get two of each contact after synching with both machines? What gives?
A: That’s the nature of data synchronization. MS ActiveSync has the same ‘problem’. Basically, we don’t want to risk deleting data without your permission – and so we leave one contact from each of the machines that you started with. If your machines were truly in sync before you started using our program, you get duplicates. Luckily, OutlookSync has the capability to remove these duplicates for you. Once you’ve synched on a machine, you can choose ‘Find and Delete Duplicates’ from the menu. All duplicate entries will be located and removed from the local data file. The next time you synchronize with Outlook, the duplicates will be removed from it as well. NOTE: Entries are considered duplicates only if ALL of their fields are exactly the same.
Q: I think I screwed up! I deleted a contact from OutlookSync and then did a Sync. The contact was removed from Outlook as well (as I expected). Now I want the contact back, is there any way for me to retrieve it?
A: The deleted contact should be in Outlook’s Deleted Items bin. Drag it from there to you contacts folder, and it will be restored. The next time you synchronize with this machine, it will show up again in OutlookSync.
Q: OutlookSync doesn't show all my email, or that it checked all my folders. Is the trial version limited? Also - it doesn't seem to actually synch email.
A: It's not intentionally limited - there's just no way to configure it's options. It only reads the last two weeks worth of mail from your folders, and it skips the sent mail and deleted items folders. Also - only for mail items, it only reads them - it doesn't transfer them from machine to machine. That's how most of our studies showed people wanted to use it. Soon, users will have the option to specify how far back to read the mail, and whether to leave it read-only like it is now or to copy it to other machines. This is not a limitation of the trial version that will be fixed by purchasing a copy - the trial version is limited only in that it expires eventually. Functionally - it's the same as the full version.
Q: I purchased a Registration Code but didn't receive anything in my email from you. What gives!
A: Do you use MailBlocks, or some other anti-spam product to keep from getting spam in your mailbox (a large number of our users seem to). Well, MailBlock's tagline is 'Email for Humans'. Our registration code is NOT sent out by humans, and MailBlocks doesn't provide us with a way to show that we're legit - so they delete the mail from us. When you register, or try to contact us, you will need to do it from an account that does not utilize MailBlocks or a similar product - or you will need to add us to your list of friends. To add us, add support@curosoft.com to you list of friends and we will not be blocked when sending you a registration code. If you don't use some sort of anti-spam software (or if you do and you think you may have already deleted a code that we sent you) feel quite free to send us mail at support@curosoft.com. We have records of all purchases and can quickly resend a code to you.
Q: I'm getting the error "Unable to instantiate Outlook" and it won't synch? What's wrong and what do I do?
A: Shut down all instances of Outlook that you have open. Now - hit ctrl-alt-delete to open the task manager. Click on the processes tab. You'll see that, even though you closed all Outlook instances - one is still running (or more than one). Kill any running Outlook instances and that should take care of the problem. If not - a reboot will solve it. Basically - Outlook has stopped responding to requests...
Q: Do you have any sort of commandline support? I'd like to be able to start a synchronization from a scheduler, or something similar...
A: Yup - we do. OutlookSync supports two options: ‘-sync’ and ‘-exit’. Sync causes it to start and synchronize automatically upon app startup. Exit causes it to close upon completion of synchronization.
Q: I see references on your site to 'web synchronization'. What is that, how can I use it, where do I get it?
A: In addition to synchronizing with Outlook, OutlookSync has the ability to synchronize via XML with any web service capable of feeding it the proper XML syntax and handling its response. OutlookSync supports this sync via HTML connection, and even supports a secure digest authentication to the server. For information on our XML format - please contact us. We're assuming the people who will want this functionality will be looking to build Outlook synchronization functionality into their own applications or services. We're happy to partner in those endevours or put together a licensing agreement that meets their needs. Our prices are extremely cheap compared to other Outlook integration options available on the market.