OL97: Free/Busy Time Is Not Immediately Updated

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOM

In Microsoft Outlook 97, after you make an appointment in your active Calendar, other people may not immediately see that time as busy.

CAUSE

There are three possible causes for this behavior:

• By default, Outlook updates your free/busy time every 15 minutes. If the update is not complete, others will not see your appointment as busy time.
• Outlook publishes your free/busy time for only the next three months. If your appointment is beyond the published limit, others will not see your appointment as busy time.
• If the appointment Show Time As property is set to Free, others will not see your appointment as busy time.

WORKAROUND

If the cause is how often Outlook updates free/busy time, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options to open the Options dialog box.

2. In the Options dialog box, click the Calendar tab, and then click the Advanced Scheduling button to open the Advanced Scheduling dialog box.

3. In the "Update free/busy information on the server every <15> minutes" box, type how often you want the server to update.

4. Click OK and then OK again.

1. On the Tools menu, click Options to open the Options dialog box.

2. In the Options dialog box, click the Calendar tab, and then click the Advanced Scheduling button to open the Advanced Scheduling dialog box.

3. In the "Publish <3> month(s) of Calendar free/busy information on the server" box, type how far ahead you want the server to publish free/busy time.

4. Click OK and then OK again.

1. Double-click to open your appointment.

2. Click the Appointment tab.

3. In the Show Time As list, click Busy or Out Of Office to indicate that you are not available during the appointment.

4. On the Standard toolbar, click the Save And Close button.