Ability to read a published forms version from another form

[alohrer]

I've got an interesting question. I've created a very simple form that
is published to the Organization Library and then users will publish to
their personal library. I'd like to set something up that would allow
the form to do the following:

1 - If they open the version from the organizational library. It would
then read their personal library to see if that form is published or
not and if it's published, what version if the form (I use the form
version in the properties to track changes I've done to the forms)
2 - If they open the version from their personal libary, it would read
the version on the organizational library (after an offline/online
check, I've got this coded now).

After that I know what to do, it's just getting this information in and
out of these forms. If this is possible, let me now.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

1) Requires CDO 1.21 or Redemption, since the form definitions are stored as hidden items.

2) It's not possible to specify where Outlook will load a form from. And the Personal Forms library is checked before Org Forms.

What's the goal here anyway?

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[alohrer]

The most current version of this form will be kept on the
Organizational Library. We have many field people that use this form
offline (they publish it to their personal forms library), fill out the
form. Then when they connect via VPN, it sends the forms in. I'm
trying to make the form smart enough (if that's even possible) in that
if they open the form from the Org Library, it will check to see if
they have it installed in the Personal forms Library. If it is, it
will compare the versions of both to make sure they match. If they
don't match, it will prompt them in some way to install the new form.
If they don't have it installed in the Personal Forms Library it will
prompt them to install it. I hope I'm not confusing you. Can you fill
me in on what Redemption is?

Thanks for your response.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Redemption is a third-party API that can access the hidden folders that contain the hidden items that comprise the form definitions. You would need to use either it or CDO 1.21 to dig into the hidden folders. The code samples at http://www.cdolive.com/cdo5.htm would be a good place to start. I think there's one there that shows how to get to the Common Views folder that holds the Personal Forms library. You'll probably also want a copy of Outlook Spy or MFCMAPI.exe.

What version of Outlook are you supporting? If Outlook 2003 in Cached Exchange mode, it should be able to synchronize the forms from Org Forms for you automatically, without the need to publish in Personal Forms.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[alohrer]

"If Outlook 2003 in Cached Exchange mode, it should be able to
synchronize the forms from Org Forms for you automatically, without the
need to publish in Personal Forms."

I didn't realize this. I'll take a look and see if I can get this to
work. Mainly our users publish to personal forms. If I can get this
setting to work and have it publishing the forms when the connect,
that'd be my solution. I know there is sometimes problems with
publishing forms with the same name and caching, is this a problem with
the Cached Exchange mode?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

The setting you need is on the Send/Receive group settings dialog. I have not heard any reports from the field on how well it's worked in scenarios like yours, but I've seen in the lab that it really does download forms.

Forms cache issues are unrelated to Cached Exchange mode. They pop up all on their own.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

"If Outlook 2003 in Cached Exchange mode, it should be able to
synchronize the forms from Org Forms for you automatically, without the
need to publish in Personal Forms."

I didn't realize this. I'll take a look and see if I can get this to
work. Mainly our users publish to personal forms. If I can get this
setting to work and have it publishing the forms when the connect,
that'd be my solution. I know there is sometimes problems with
publishing forms with the same name and caching, is this a problem with
the Cached Exchange mode?

Redemption is a third-party API that can access the hidden folders that contain the hidden items that comprise the form definitions. You would need to use either it or CDO 1.21 to dig into the hidden folders. The code samples athttp://www.cdolive.com/cdo5.htmwould be a good place to start. I think there's one there that shows how to get to the Common Views folder that holds the Personal Forms library. You'll probably also want a copy of Outlook Spy or MFCMAPI.exe.

What version of Outlook are you supporting? If Outlook 2003 in Cached Exchange mode, it should be able to synchronize the forms from Org Forms for you automatically, without the need to publish in Personal Forms.

The most current version of this form will be kept on the
Organizational Library. We have many field people that use this form
offline (they publish it to their personal forms library), fill out the
form. Then when they connect via VPN, it sends the forms in. I'm
trying to make the form smart enough (if that's even possible) in that
if they open the form from the Org Library, it will check to see if
they have it installed in the Personal forms Library. If it is, it
will compare the versions of both to make sure they match. If they
don't match, it will prompt them in some way to install the new form.
If they don't have it installed in the Personal Forms Library it will
prompt them to install it. I hope I'm not confusing you. Can you fill
me in on what Redemption is?

Thanks for your response.

On Jan 25, 11:34 am, "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]"
1) Requires CDO 1.21 or Redemption, since the form definitions are stored as hidden items.

2) It's not possible to specify where Outlook will load a form from. And the Personal Forms library is checked before Org Forms.

What's the goal here anyway?

I've got an interesting question. I've created a very simple form that
is published to the Organization Library and then users will publish to
their personal library. I'd like to set something up that would allow
the form to do the following:

1 - If they open the version from the organizational library. It would
then read their personal library to see if that form is published or
not and if it's published, what version if the form (I use the form
version in the properties to track changes I've done to the forms)
2 - If they open the version from their personal libary, it would read
the version on the organizational library (after an offline/online
check, I've got this coded now).

After that I know what to do, it's just getting this information in and
out of these forms. If this is possible, let me now.- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -