KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q240756: XCLN: Exmerge Loses Free/Busy Info for Existing Appointments

Article: Q240756
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 5.5,5.5 SP1,5.5 SP2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): exc55 exc55sp1 exc55sp2
Last Modified: 02-APR-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.5, 5.5 SP1, 5.5 SP2 
- Microsoft Outlook 2000 
- Microsoft Outlook 97 
- Microsoft Outlook 98 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you use Exmerge to export or import a mailbox, it may lose the current free
and busy information for existing appointments. All new appointments show the
free and busy time correctly.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, you need to log on to the mailbox with a Microsoft
Outlook client by using the /cleanfreebusy switch. This re-establishes all free
and busy information for appointments listed in the mailbox calendar.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this issue, after you run Exmerge to import the data:

1. Create an Outlook profile for the mailbox.

2. At a command prompt, change to the directory where Outlook.exe file is
  located, and type: outlook.exe /cleanfreebusy.

3. Log on to the mailbox as you normally would, and confirm that the free and
  busy information is correctly displayed by attempting to schedule a meeting
  at a date and time that already has an existing appointment in the calendar.
  When you view Attendee Availability, the time is shown as busy instead of
  free.

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

For additional information about command-line switches for Outlook, click the
article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q197180 OL2000: Additional Command-Line Switches

After the mailbox has been imported via Exmerge, the free/busy data for those
users will need to be rebuilt. Use one of the following methods to complete
this:

1. The users whose mailboxes were exmerged should login to their mailbox, and
  make a change to their calendar. This will recreate the free/busy data.

  -or-

2. Send an appointment to the exmerged users, which will also recreate the
  free/busy data.


Additional query words: free busy server

======================================================================
Keywords          : exc55 exc55sp1 exc55sp2 
Technology        : kbOutlookSearch kbExchangeSearch kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2 kbOutlook2000Search kbOutlook97Search kbOutlook98Search kbZNotKeyword3 kbExchange550SP1 kbExchange550SP2
Version           : :5.5,5.5 SP1,5.5 SP2
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.