PC WSPlus: How to Set Up Schedule DistributionLast reviewed: December 9, 1997Article ID: Q141755 |
1.00 1.00a 3.00b 3.20 3.20a 3.50
WINDOWS
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SUMMARYThis article is designed for the Schedule+ administrator and outlines the procedures necessary for setting up schedule distribution on a multiple postoffice network. If your Mail network has only one postoffice, you should refer to Chapter 2 of the Microsoft Schedule+ "Administrator's Guide." This chapter has the information for setting up schedule distribution on a single postoffice network. This article is a supplement to the Microsoft Schedule+ "Administrator's Guide." This article explains the following parts of schedule distribution:
Setting Up the Schedule+ Admin AccountSchedule+ requires that there is an account on the postoffice for the Schedule+ Admin. This account is different than the Mail administrator account. It must be created with the Microsoft Mail Administrator program (ADMIN.EXE) using the following procedure:
Installing the Schedule+ Admin FilesIn order to have your users exchange Schedule+ information with users on other postoffices, you must run the Install program (INSTALL.EXE) and the schedule distribution setup at least once on all of the postoffices that will be participating in schedule distribution. It is strongly recommended that you run the schedule distribution program (SCHDIST.EXE) on a different workstation than the one running Schedule+ Admin. NOTE: The following procedure is to install the Schedule+ Admin files only, because this is all that is necessary for the purpose of this article. To install the Schedule+ client files and program, run SETUP.EXE from Disk 2 - Program Setup of Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows.
The Schedule+ Admin program provides easy to use controls to set up and maintain the Schedule+ system. With the Admin program, you can configure Schedule+ to share schedule information across the network and to manage schedule storage on the server. For the purpose of this article, managing schedule storage on the server will not be discussed. For more information on managing schedule storage on the server, please refer to pages 25-26 of the Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows "Administrator's Guide."
Setting Up for Schedule Distribution with the Schedule+ Admin Program
Dynamic Postoffice ConnectionSchedule+ can be configured through the Schedule+ Admin program so that, with the correct access privileges, users on one postoffice can read and make changes to the Appointment Books and Tasks lists of users on other postoffices. This process is called dynamic postoffice connection. Once dynamic postoffice connection is set up, Schedule+ automatically connects to other postoffices when users want to view the detailed schedules (anything other than Free/Busy Times) of users on other postoffices, even if the user is not attached or mapped to that other postoffice on his or her local workstation. Dynamic postoffice connection establishes an actual network connection between postoffices instead of sending Free/Busy message packets, so it allows users on one postoffice to look at and work with, depending on the access privileges on the schedule, the most current schedule information for users on other postoffices. Dynamic postoffice connection requires a LAN or WAN connection between the postoffices and will NOT work via X.25 or asynchronous (modem) connection. Network traffic may increase because every Schedule+ user can connect to multiple postoffices. To reduce this traffic, the schedule distribution program (SCHDIST.EXE) can be used to send updates of the Free/Busy information on the postoffice at least once a day, the more frequent the updates, the less likely that the users will be opening another user's appointment book, and the less network traffic created. Schedule+, by default, will check if the user is mapped or attached to the server that the other postoffice resides on. If the user is mapped or attached already, it will use that connection. If the user is not connected to the server the postoffice resides on, it will use the login specified in the Modify Distribution Frequency dialog box. NOTE: Before users can dynamically connect to other postoffices, they must have the proper network privileges on the other file servers that contain the other postoffices, or the user that is specified in the Modify Distribution Frequency dialog box must have the proper rights.
Setting up Dynamic Postoffice Connection from the Schedule+ Admin ProgramThe steps below are necessary to ensure that Schedule+ Dynamic Connection has been configured properly for Novell NetWare, Microsoft LAN Manager, and Banyan VINES networks.
The Schedule Distribution Program (SCHDIST.EXE)Schedule distribution is the process that sends users' Free/Busy Times and assistants' name (if designated), as well as resource information between postoffices at regular intervals. This information is sent as schedule distribution messages---specially formatted Mail messages that are sent to the Schedule+ administrator account (ADMINSCH) on the recipient postoffice. As a user changes his or her schedule, the updated resource, assistant, and Free/Busy information is updated in a .POF file in the \CAL subdirectory of the user's home postoffice. There is one .POF file for each postoffice participating in schedule distribution in the system; it contains the information for all users on that postoffice. At the regular intervals that you specify in the Schedule+ Admin program (ADMINSCH.EXE), SCHDIST.EXE takes a "snapshot" of the .POF file for each postoffice you have set it to exchange information with. It then compiles the information from that snapshot into a collection of schedule distribution or Mail messages to be sent by the External Mail program (EXTERNAL.EXE) to the other postoffices. The more frequently you run schedule distribution, the more accurate that the Free/Busy information will be. You can choose to run schedule distribution on a postoffice-by-postoffice basis, or it can be done on several postoffices at once. Because each user controls other users' access to his or her schedule (through the Set Access Privileges option), users who assign None as the default access privilege to their schedule (or .CAL file) do not have their schedule information distributed regardless of how you set up the schedule distribution. The schedule distribution program (SCHDIST.EXE) cannot work alone. It requires the Schedule+ Admin program to setup the schedule distribution times as well as the postoffices to which the schedules will be distributed. SCHDIST.EXE also requires the Message Transport Agent (EXTERNAL.EXE) to distribute the updates. NOTE: The schedule distribution program is responsible for updating Free/Busy information ONLY. Free/Busy information is viewed through the Planner area of Schedule+. To be able to Read Appointments and Tasks or above, the Dynamic Postoffice Connections must be used.
Running SCHDIST.EXE as an Idle Process in DispatchVersions 1.0 and 1.0a of Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows use the Schedule Distribution (Schdist) program (SCHDIST.EXE) to distribute an user's Free/Busy Times to other postoffices. You can run the Schdist program as an idle process in the Dispatch program (DISPATCH.EXE). The Dispatch program carries out directory synchronization (Dir-Sync) requests on the network. The Dispatch program polls the postoffices to determine when a Dir-Sync event is scheduled to take place. When Dispatch is running, the EXTERNAL.EXE must also be running. Schdist takes advantage of Dispatch polling the postoffices, and runs as an idle process. Schdist runs while External is not active. The following examples show commands and batch files for using SCHDIST.EXE and EXTERNAL.EXE as idle processes in DISPATCH.EXE for two different situations:
If you are having problems running this batch file against Microsoft Mail for PC Networks postoffices with MS-DOS 5.0, refer to "Appendix A: Dispatch Cannot Spawn Batch File Without COMMAND.COM" section below for more information.
Another alternative to the Schedule Distribution Program (SCHDIST.EXE) is to use the Dynamically Connect to View Free/Busy Times option. This is an option in the Modify Distribution Settings dialog box shown on page 24 of the Schedule+ "Administrator's Guide."
Appendix A: TroubleshootingProblem:
Cannot see other postoffices in the Schedule+ Administrator program.Resolution(s):
a. Make sure that the other postoffice(s) have an adminsch account that is participating in Directory Synchronization (whether you are using Dir-Sync or not). b. Make sure that the postoffices are defined with the Mail Administrator program (ADMIN.EXE) in External-Admin.Problem:
In the Schedule+ Administrator program Last Update Received is always NEVER.Resolution(s):
Change the Default Sending Times in the Distribution Settings dialog box from Never.Problem:
SCHDIST Error: Could not process messageResolution(s):
This error occurs when SCHDIST.EXE is unable to access the ADMINSCH mailbox for mail with "free and busy time" information to create or recreate .POF files. Use the following procedure to troubleshoot this issue: 1. Delete the following files in the CAL directory on the problem PO or all POs: - ADMIN.PRF - Any *.POF files that may exist The ADMIN.PRF file includes information on other postoffices and the Default Sending Times. 2. On each PO that you have deleted the files, recreate the ADMIN.PRF file by running the Schedule+ Admin program(ADMINSCH.EXE) and re-register the external postoffices. NOTE: The 00000000.POF contains Free/Busy Times for users on the local postoffice. The local postoffice is 00000000.POF. All external postoffices will be 0000000n.POF, where n= >0. These files will be re-created when you run Schedule Distribution (Schdist). 3. Reset the ADMINSCH mailbox on the problem postoffice. NOTE: ADMINSCH is the mailbox where the mail that contains "free and busy time" information is put and retrieved by the Schdist program. 4. Make changes to the appointment book (CAL file) for the problem user(s). 5. Restart the Schedule Distribution program (SCHDIST.EXE) with at least the command line switches of: D<driverange> -V -L<filename> For example: schdist -dmp -v -lc:\schdist.txt 3. Restart External with at least the following command line switches of to create log files that record all mail traffic into and out of the postoffice: -D<driverange> -V -L -MR -MS, where -MR and -MS Notes: - This step does the actual delivery of mail between the POs. - The postoffice SENT.LOG, RECV.LOG, and SCHDIST.LOG files are valuable in determining whether or not Free/Busy Time mail were exchanged between the ADMINSCH accounts. Other factors that have been associated with this error are: - Novell NetWare ownerless files - Network rights - Schedule Distribution across an SMTP or PROFS gateway - A dirty networkProblem:
Cannot open Other's Appointment Book.Resolution(s):
Check all of the following: - For Novell networks, ensure that the proper rights are assigned for the user in the Modify Distribution Frequency dialog box. The proper rights are Read, Write, Create, Erase, Modify, and Filescan [RWCEMF]. - Check to see if all the settings are correct. - Check with the user who's appointment book you are trying to open to see if the proper access privileges have been assigned. - Check the External-Admin settings for the postoffice the user resides on. If the external postoffice is via modem or X.25 then the other appointment book cannot be accessed. Only Free/Busy Times in the Planner can be viewed. Schedule+ does not work via asynchronous connections for access privileges above Free/Busy Times. - Make sure that mail can be sent to and received by the user. The user's mailbox (.MBG and .KEY), schedule file (.CAL), and/or message file (.MMF) could be corrupt. Appendix B: Dispatch Cannot Spawn Batch File Without COMMAND.COMSymptoms:
When the Dispatch program specifies a batch file with multiple executables as the idle process and COMMAND.COM cannot be found, only the first executable is performed; the others are ignored.Cause:
The Dispatch program searches for COMMAND.COM after completing the first executable. The program returns to Dispatch from the idle process when it fails to locate COMMAND.COM. This can be seen when you run Dispatch > ERROR.TXT; the ERROR.TXT file records the error: Invalid COMMAND.COM Cannot start COMMAND, exiting This problem occurs only for certain versions of MS-DOS. The following table shows which versions cause Dispatch to fail to spawn the second batch file executable: Dispatch version MS-DOS version Result 3.0 3.3, 5.0, 6.0 Success in all cases 3.2 3.3, 6.0 Success if COMMAND.COM is in the current directory of focus 3.2 5.0 FailureResolution
Ensure that a copy of the current version of COMMAND.COM is available in the directory from which dispatch is executed. Also check your version of MS-DOS against the above table. NOTE: You can also check the following lines in your configuration files for the External MTA: SHELL= in CONFIG.SYS file COMSPEC= in AUTOEXEC.BAT file Network variables in the network login script for the MTA user. Appendix C: The Schedule Distribution Program (SCHDIST.EXE)Command-Line Parameters: You can use the following command-line parameters when you run the schedule distribution program (SCHDIST.EXE) for versions 1.0 and 1.0a of Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows:
Parameter Description
-Dxy Specifies the drives to be processed, where x is the first drive to be processed and y is the last. -In Indicates the number of times to cycle through the specified postoffices. If n is left blank, Schedule Distribution runs until it is stopped manually. -L<path> Tells the program to generate a log file in the path specified. -O Enables Free/Busy sharing with other applications. Run Schedule Distribution with this option if you use other applications that share Free/Busy information with Schedule+. -V Tells the program to shows more detail in its screen and Log file output. Appendix D: Gateway to PROFS: Requirement for Free and Busy TimesSymptoms
When you use version 3.4a.0041 of Microsoft Mail Gateway to PROFS, Free and Busy Times are being sent from PROFS to Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, (ms-csm to adminsch), but may not be viewable by the user in Microsoft Schedule+ Planner view.Cause
You may have upgraded to version 3.2a of Mail for PC Networks. Mail for PC Networks version 3.2a has a file called TRNSCHED.DLL dated 8-17-94 with a size of 12,960 bytes.Resolution
The PROFS gateway requires TRNSCHED.DLL dated 3-16-94 with a size of 13,104 bytes. It is on Disk 1 of the Microsoft Mail Gateway to IBM PROFS and Office Vision, version 3.4a.0041. Replace the 3.2a version with this version of the TRNSCHED.DLL. Appendix E: Add Gateway Brings Up All GatewaysIn the Schedule+ Administration program, if you bring up the Add Gateways window from the Distribution Settings window, it will show all the gateways installed in the postoffice, even if there are no compatible scheduling programs on the other side of these gateways. Adding any of these gateways will enable SCHDIST to begin sending updates that the gateway does not understand. This may cause the gateway to start displaying error messages. This feature allows for future compatibility with foreign scheduling systems, such as IBM PROFS, without requiring an update of the Schedule+ Administration program. To determine if the gateway and Schedule+ are compatible, check with the manufacturer of the foreign scheduling system or with a Microsoft Mail Product Support Engineer.
Appendix F: Do You Need the SCHDIST.EXE Update?The Microsoft Software Library update, SCHDIST.EXE, contains SCHDIST.EXE that is a replacement for the SCHDIST.EXE file that is included with version 1.0a of Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q113144 TITLE : Schedule+ SCHDIST.EXE 1.0a.2 Update MORE INFORMATIONFor additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q96060 TITLE : WA0725: Directory Synchronization (Dir-Sync)For more information on running SCHDIST.EXE as an idle process in Dispatch and on SCHDIST.EXE, refer to Appendix B: The Schedule Distribution Program (SCHDIST.EXE) Command-Line Parameters, and see pages 12-15 of the Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows "Administrator's Guide." For more information on DISPATCH.EXE, see pages 14-16 of the Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows "Administrator's Guide" and pages 287-307 of the Microsoft Mail version 3.2 "Administrator's Guide" or pages 257-265 of the Microsoft Mail version 3.0 or 3.0b "Administrator's Guide," and also Application Note WA0725 "Directory Synchronization (Dir-Sync)." For more information on EXTERNAL.EXE, see pages 13-17 of the Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows "Administrator's Guide" and pages 227-285 of the Microsoft Mail version 3.2 "Administrator's Guide" or pages 199-245 of the Microsoft Mail version 3.0 or 3.0b "Administrator's Guide."
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