Schedule+ Architecture

Server/Client

Schedule+ is typically installed as a scheduling client on an Exchange Server, an MS Mail Server or a Peer-to- Peer post office (Windows Messaging System). When connected to these servers it usually runs in conjunction with an Exchange Mail Client. This allows scheduling of appointments with other Schedule+ users as well as directly opening another’s schedule for viewing and updating. This mode of operation is called Group Enabled Mode.

Schedule+ can also run in Standalone Mode without being connected to any server. This mode is intended for personal use and does not provide for information sharing with other Schedule+ users.

Operational Modes

When Schedule+ is first started, the user is asked if he wants to run in group-enabled mode (Group Mode) or work alone (Standalone Mode). There is also an option to not ask this question again.

If one inadvertently chooses Group Mode without having a mailbox defined on the server, Schedule+ will hang on start up as it searches for a non-existent post office. Further, if one has chosen to not be asked about operational mode again, there is no way to start Schedule+. This situation can be corrected by removing and reinstalling Schedule+ or with a registry entry, described in the “Hangs on Startup” section of “Key Issues” below.

When running in Group Mode, Schedule+ builds a schedule file for each user in his server mailbox. The user can also keep a copy of the schedule on the local machine by choosing the “Work primarily from local file” option. This option is on by default.

When working in Group Mode and using a local schedule file, the local and server copies of these files are automatically synchronized at a specified interval. The default interval is every 15 minutes.

Versions

Schedule+ has been around since Windows 3.0. There are currently 5 versions for the PC, all of which we support. Schedule+ is also integrated with Outlook for the Mac.

• Schedule Plus 1.0 – Delivered with Windows 3.0, WFWG 3.11, MS Mail.

• Schedule+ 7.0 – Also referred to as Schedule+ for Windows 95. Included with Microsoft Office 95 and delivered free as a standalone CD with a certificate in the Windows 95 box.

• Schedule+ 7.0a – Included with Exchange Server 4.0, SP2a and with Exchange Server 4.0a.

· Schedule+7.0b – Delivered free as a standalone CD for corporate users who needed an update for interfacing with Schedule Plus 1.0 cal files. It required the Inbox update for Windows 95. This version still displayed 7.0a in the Help/about dialog box.

• Schedule+ 7.5 – Included with Exchange Server 5.0. (NOTE: The Schedule+ support files installed with Office 2000, also install version 7.5 of the Schdpl32.exe file. However, this is not a full working copy of Schedule+.)

Available Through Order Entry

A limited number of replacement copies of Schedule+ are available through Order Entry in Workbench. NOTE: These should only be distributed if you are sure the customer previously had a valid, working copy of Schedule+.

• Part # 061-054-010 – Win95 Sched+ 95 Repl 3.5” Disks
  This is version 7.0 on 3 diskettes. These diskettes are primarily for those customers who had installed and are using Schedule+ from Office 95 and have subsequently upgraded to Office 97. They may have chosen not to install Outlook at all or to install Outlook using Schedule+ as the primary calendar. This makes it very difficult to reinstall Schedule+ from their old Office 95 CD, should it be necessary.

• Part # 06100080 – Schedule+ 7.0 Supplemental CD
  This is version 7.0b, although it says 7.0a in Help/About. This CD is for primarily for corporate customers who need an included fix for interfacing with Schedule Plus 1.0 cal files. It includes no MAPI files so requires the Windows 95 Exchange Update pack.

Schedule+ Major Features

Much like Outlook, Schedule+ includes support for appointments, Tasks, and Contacts. It does not include e-mail but can interface with Exchange Client or the Windows Messaging System to provide for appointment scheduling.

Appointments

• Can be single or recurring and can have reminders set.

• A planner shows free/busy time for help in scheduling appointments with others.
• Resource Accounts can be defined to accept or reject conflicting appointments.
• Calendars can be shared among users with permission controls.
• Daily, Weekly, and Monthly views of the calendar are predefined.

Tasks (To Do List)

• Entered using a form and displayed in a columnar list.
• Can be single or recurring and have reminders set.
• They can be grouped, sorted, filtered, and assigned to predefined Projects.

Contacts

• Entered and displayed in either a form or columnar list.
• Can be grouped and sorted.
• Provides for business and personal information.
• Provides for, preformatted, user fields but does not allow additional user defined fields.
• Does not provide for e-mail addresses and cannot be used to initiate e-mail. There is no interface between the Contacts and the Personal Address Book. This makes it necessary for users to keep and additional set of addresses for e-mail. A third-party developer wrote a Word macro to easily convert the Contacts to the PAB. See: Q147353 - Cannot link Schedule+ Contact list to PAB.

Covey’s Seven Habits

• Schedule+ contains an interface to a personal habits organizer, based on the book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Steven R. Covey.
• Microsoft does not provide help or advice on using this feature, beyond what is found in the Help files.

Schedule+ Other Features

User Interface Tailoring

• The UI provides a Tab Gallery to add additional predefined tabs down the left side of the window to quickly go to favorite views.
• Columns for Task and Contact displays can be re-sequenced and other predefined columns can be added to the views.

Printing

• Printing is controlled by a set of print layout files (.prt) and paper format files (.fmt). These are text files that can be opened and modified. However, documentation for these files is very limited and Microsoft does not support the modification of these files.
• There is one PARTNER secured KB article describing these files: Q147355 - Schedule+ 7.0 Printing Formats (PRT Files).

Import/Export

• Schedule+ Interchange files, provide for exchanging information between Schedule+ users (for example, company holidays). With them you can import and export selected data types within selected date ranges. Importing an Interchange file will add to existing entries.
• Text Files, are for importing and exporting selected data types and ranges to and from other systems, in delimited text files.
• Timex Data Link Watch, is for exporting selected data types and ranges to a special watch that has the ability to store and display the information. This uses a special reader built into the watch that can read bar codes displayed on the computer screen.
• Other Systems, provides for exchanging information with certain hand-held, personal organizers. This requires a cable interface supplied by the organizer manufacturer.

Command Line Parameters

• Q147150 - Command Line Parameters for Schedule+ 7.0

/u “user name” (Starts with a specific profile)

/p <password> (Starts without asking for a password)

/a (Starts with a new Appointment open)

/t (starts with a new Task open)

/c (Starts with a new Contact open)

Schedule+ Key Issues

Schedule+ Hangs on Startup

SOX990812700039 – Schedule+ Group or Standalone mode – Recover the mode option dialog box

When Schedule+ hangs on the splash screen it is usually because it is trying to start in Group mode and can’t connect to the post office. This SO describes how to recover form the two major reasons for this.

File Corruption

SOX991005700031 – Schedule+ Troubleshooting and recovering corrupt schedule files

This SO describes how to determine whether suspected file corruption is located in the local schedule file or in the server-based schedule file.

Contact or Task Records Missing

SOX991005700016 – Contacts or Tasks Missing

When Schedule+ is opened you may see that some or all or you Contacts or Tasks are missing. This behavior may be intermittent. This SO describes how to rename a corrupt .vue file.

Low Memory Messages

SOX991005700060 – Schedule+ “Memory is low”

When starting Schedule+, you may get one or more error messages indicating memory is low. This can be caused by a UNC specified address to the post office, as described in this SO.

Missing Files - prt/fmt, Help

SOX991005700035 – Schedule+ Printing “Unable to complete the printing operation”

Q147049 - XCLN: Err Msg: The Print Operation Could not be Completed

Missing FMT or PRT files usually causes this. It is important to determine whether the customer has a full, valid, copy of Schedule+, as described in this SO.

Schedule+ and Windows CE

SOX991006700011 – Schedule+ Problems with Hand-held Devices Running with Windows CE

Most hand-held devices that use the Windows CE operating system interface with Schedule+ for their calendar feature. If a customer is having problems with synchronizing Schedule+ with a hand-held device, it is usually necessary to reinstall Schedule+ using the special technique described in this SO.

Problems Updating a Shared Schedule

SOX991005700050 – Schedule+ “The schedule is being used by someone else”

This problem can occur if some who does not have a local schedule file, has a shared schedule open. This SO tells how to get around this issue.

Missing Tabs in Options Dialog Box

SOX991005700046 – Schedule+ Tabs missing from Options dialog box

If you discover you have only the General tab in your Options dialog box, it’s because you have someone else’s schedule file open, as explained in this SO.

How to Change the Default Font

SOX991005700037 – Schedule+ Changing the default font.

This SO tells how to change the default fonts used by Schedule+.

Synchronization with the Server

• Q146168 - Cannot Restore From Archive When Exchange Server is Shut Down
• Q145955 - Overlapping Appointments Cause Synchronization Error
• Q147512 - Schedule+ Locks Schedule File on Server
• Q147679 - Synchronizing with Different SCD Files
• Q163140 - XCLN: Schedule+ Calendar Not Synchronized If Not Logged Off
• Q170605 - XCLN: Troubleshooting Schedule Synchronization in Schedule+

Appointment/Time Zone Issues

• Q146153 - Time Zone Shift Results in Incorrect Alarm for Event

• Q175934 - Schedule+ Time Zone Transition Dates Incorrect

Y2K Issues

• Q192200 - XCLN: Schedule+ 1.0 Supports dates to 2019
• Q197195 - XCLN: Schedule+ Two-Digit Date Assumes Twentieth Century (patch)
• Q217027 - OFF95: How to Download and Install the Year 2000 Update
• Q240018 - Schedule+ Stack Fault After You Apply Office 95 Y2K Update
• Q242581 - Y2K Analyzer Tool does not Recognized Schedule+ 7.0a

Schedule+ for the Mac

• Q163382 - XCLN: Macintosh Schedule+ and Exchange Interoperability
• Q166547 - XCLN: Mac Client Will Not Launch on PowerMacs Without Easy Open
• Q179844 - XCLN: Client for Macintosh Release Notes, Version 5

Schedule+ FAQs

Starting Schedule+

• How can I start Schedule+ without being asked for my user name? Q147150
• How can I start Schedule+ without being asked for my password? Q147150
• What happened to my option to start Schedule+ in Group or Work Alone mode? Q141066
• How do I set up a resource account, such as a conference room? Q149213

Usability

• How can I import a list of standard holidays? Q153769

• Why does my 5-day calendar start on Monday when I set it to start on Thursday? Q130425
• When I display two different time zones, why are my appointments off by one hour? Q146039
• Why can't I change the start time on a task? Q130427
• Why don't I have a Seven Habits tab in my Tab Gallery? Q146148
• How can I print the Seven Habits information? Q154040

Files/Synchronization

• How can I clear all the information from my schedule file? Q133399

• How can I remove my schedule file from the server? Q150612

• When closing Schedule+, why do I get the message, "Your schedule may have been only partially synchronized"? Q146168
• When starting Schedule+, why do I get the message, "Your local schedule was previously synchronized with a different shared schedule"? Q147679
• How do I troubleshoot other synchronization problems? Q170605

Printing/Viewing

• How can I make my Contacts print in two columns? Q154691
• How can I make the appointment text wrap in a monthly schedule printout? Q152663
• How can I change what information is displayed or printed in my To Do list or Contacts? Q158349

Timex Watch Download

• When I download a new appointment to my Timex Data Link watch, why are all my existing appointments overwritten? Q129223
• When I download the time to my Timex Data Link watch, why doesn't the watch time match the computer's time? Q141985

Schedule+ Helpful Links

• Install Point

\\boneyard\relapps\offpro70.95\1.44\disk1

• Schedule+ Help File – (please download files)

file:\\psseu\wpppublic\products\outlook\SGT\Sched tshoot

• Tips and Tricks

http://www.microsoft.com/scheduleplus/ProductInfo/experttools/schtips.htm

• Printing Options

http://www.microsoft.com/scheduleplus/ProductInfo/FeatureDetails/schpout.htm

• Import/Export Add-on Pack

http://www.microsoft.com/scheduleplus/freestuff/impconv/default.htm

• Schedule+ and Project Integration

http://www.microsoft.com/scheduleplus/productinfo/featuredetails/schedproj.htm

• Compass Queue for Escalations: MMS-Outlook-Esc