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Q148713: PC WSPlus: How to View the Schedule of Resource Accounts

Article: Q148713
Product(s): Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 16-SEP-1999

1.00
WINDOWS
kbusage

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows, version 1.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

For users on different postoffices (POs), two methods exist for a Schedule+ 1.0
user to view another Schedule+ 1.0 user's schedule information:

- dynamically connecting to the target user's PO, thus accessing the user's
  schedule data directly.

- distributing a user's "free and busy" information using Schedule
  distribution.

These methods remain appropriate for resource accounts, but present additional
considerations.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Dynamic Connections
-------------------

Dynamic connections are the most direct and expedient means of viewing another
user's schedule information. However, with many heavy Schedule+ users, dynamic
connections may impact network bandwidth significantly.

When you use dynamic connections, user1 chooses Open Another's Appointment Book
and Schedule+ will: access the target user's schedule file; determine the
"viewer's" permissions; and present the maximum permitted view of the target
user's schedule data to user1. If user1 has been granted permission to create
appointments, then user1 could create an appointment directly.

Resource accounts can be managed in this way. However, this leaves arbitration of
resource booking conflicts up to those who directly access the target resources
schedule data file.

Free and Busy Schedule Distribution
-----------------------------------

Another way of distributing "free and busy" information is by configuring
Schedule Distribution. When a user makes or confirms a change to his or her
schedule, he or she automatically update his or her portion of a special file on
the postoffice (00000000.POF). This file is periodically distributed to other
postoffices, and members of these other postoffices access this file to view the
"free and busy" information of non-local postoffice users.

When an appointment is requested in the Planner view: non-local attendee's "free
and busy" information is read from that attendee(s) postoffice's distributed
file (<hex-id>.POF), and a meeting request is sent to the invited
attendees. They can respond to the request with Accept, Decline, or Tentative.

An Accept or Tentative selection results in the meeting details being written to
this attendees schedule data file; as well as, an update being written to the
special distributed file of his or her postoffice that will be sent out to all
other postoffices participating in Schedule Distribution at the next interval.

NOTE: Information via Schedule Distribution remains less timely than dynamic
connections.

Resource Accounts
-----------------

Resource accounts present a unique case. Typically, resource accounts are
assigned an assistant who receives a copy of all meeting requests (mail) sent to
the resource account (optionally, mail can be forwarded to the assistant only).
The assistant will then make the Accept, Decline, or Tentative action on behalf
of the resource; therefore, he or she manages or arbitrates the resource's
schedule.

This "action on behalf of the resource" by the assistant updates the resource's
schedule data file. However, this action does not result in updating the
resource's section of the special distributed file (00000000.POF). Thus, any
user who can dynamically connect to view the resource's schedule will see
appointments, etc. The users who cannot dynamically connect will not see these
appointments.

In order for the distributed file to be updated, someone must sign in to
Schedule+ 1.0 as the resource account, and make some modification to its
schedule. This will cause a "refresh" of the resource's "free and busy"
information in the 00000000.POF that should be distributed to other postoffices
at the next scheduled interval.

The Ideal Case
--------------

The ideal case would be where everyone can dynamically connect to view a
resource's "free and busy times." However, users would not "book" the
appointment directly, but would Invite the resource the same as they would
invite other attendees. The resource's assistant would then select the Accept,
Decline, or Tentative action as appropriate. As soon as the assistant completes
that action, others would see the resource's updated schedule in the "free and
busy" information.

Alternatives
------------

If users cannot dynamically connect to view "free and busy" information, the
assistant (or someone) should at least periodically sign in as the resource
account and make some modification to its schedule so that its "free and busy"
information will be updated in the 00000000.POF file and distributed via
Schedule Distribution (SCHDIST).

Additional query words:

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbScheduleSearch kbSchedule100
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0

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