XCLN: Outlook 8.5 Speed Enhancements for Calendar Folder Access

• Microsoft Outlook Windows 95/98 client, version 8.5
• Microsoft Outlook Windows NT client, version 8.5

SUMMARY

Opening your Calendar folder using an Outlook version 8.00, 8.01, 8.02, or 8.03 client can be slow at startup. This functionality is due to the manner in which those versions of the Outlook client display the Calendar form and data contained in the folder. The entire contents of the Calendar are retrieved before the Calendar information is displayed.

The background synchronization feature of Outlook 8.5 improves performance for users who work primarily connected to Microsoft Exchange Server. Outlook 8.5 automatically configures the Calendar to work from a local synchronized folder and synchronizes the local folder with Microsoft Exchange Server periodically (see below for details). This enhancement improves performance for Outlook 8.5 users by making access to their Calendar local, and it decreases the load on Microsoft Exchange Server so Exchange Server performance and scalability also improve.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook 8.00, 8.01, 8.02, and 8.03 (Outlook 97):
In these versions of Outlook, the first time the Calendar is selected after the client startup, the entire contents of the Calendar are retrieved before the Calendar information is displayed to the user. After this information has been retrieved from the server, it is cached locally so that changing views to another folder and back to Calendar allows the data to be displayed quickly. Changes to the Calendar made by the owner or users with access to the Calendar are displayed as the cache is updated. This has a slightly slow response time if the view is changed to Inbox, the Calendar is changed, and then the view changed back to Calendar. This is due to the Calendar local cache being reloaded. If you are using an offline folder (.OST file), the contents of the folders are not fully synchronized until manually selected from the Tools menu or upon exiting the client.

Outlook 8.5 (Outlook 98):
To allow faster access to Calendar information, Outlook 8.5 uses a different method for users who work primarily connected to Microsoft Exchange Server. Upon startup or selection of the Calendar folder, the Calendar information is displayed very quickly. To achieve this, the Outlook 8.5 client works in a mode called "Primarily Offline.[ASCII 148] Working primarily offline allows the user the speed benefit of working offline from a local copy of the Calendar information, while being in sync with the current information on the Exchange Server mailbox store. Outlook 8.5 handles this by running Calendar folder synchronization in a background thread that is transparent to the user. The background synchronization process syncs the Calendar information to a local offline folder (.OST file).

Offline Folder (.OST file):
If an Outlook 8.5 client profile is already configured for offline use (see Q161889, [ASCII 147]XCLN: OST and PST Quick Reference[ASCII 148]), the Primarily Offline Calendar feature uses the existing .OST file to access and synchronize Calendar information. If the Outlook 8.5 client profile is not configured for offline use, an OST file is created specifically for the Primarily Offline Calendar feature. This .OST file is created in the <windir>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook directory on the user[ASCII 146]s computer for Windows 95 applications, and in the <windir>\profiles\user\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook directory for Windows NT installations.

Calendar Updates:
When a user working in Primarily Offline mode makes a change to his or her Calendar (local .OST file), a background synchronization thread is initiated after 10 seconds, thus making the local and server-based Calendars identical. If a change is made to the user[ASCII 146]s server-based Calendar (by a delegate or another user with proper permissions), Outlook 8.5 is notified by the Exchange Server computer, and a background thread is initiated to synchronize the local Calendar with the server Calendar.

NOTE: This feature works with all versions of Exchange Server.

Additional query words: 98 97

Keywords : XCLN
Version : WINDOWS:8.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo