Custom Forms get "Lost" and Editing Default Contact Form

[Lucas Tam]

Does anyone know why Outlook loses Custom Forms? Sometimes when loading my
custom forms, I get an error saying the form cannot be found and that it is
reverting back to the default form.

Also, how do you edit the default form with the "picture" icon? When I
edit the standard contact form, the layout of it is quite different.

Thanks.

 

[Jean]

Sounds like frmcach problem. what Outlook version are you using?

 

[Lucas Tam]

Sounds like frmcach problem. what Outlook version are you using?

Outlook 2003 running on Windows XP.

Is there a fix for the frmcache problem?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

Outlook 2003 is very prone to forms cache problems. You will definitely
experience substantial problems if users access a public folder containing
custom forms through the Public Folders\Favorites hierarchy. For that
reason, I recommend that people with custom forms in public folders wait to
deploy Outlook 2003 until after Microsoft resolves this issue.

In the meantime, you can clear the forms cache for a temporary fix: Choose
Tools | Options | Other | Advanced Options | Custom Forms, then click Manage
Forms, then Clear Cache.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Jason Yarrington]

Does anybody have any idea when we might see a fix from Microsoft for this problem?

Jason Yarrington
Praecis Pharmaceuticals

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

There is a hotfix available as of last week, but we have no KB number or
other details yet. If you're feeling brave, call Microsoft Support and ask
them for the Outlook 2003 forms cache hotfix. There's only one that meets
that description.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Mike Abrahamson]

I just found the KB article today and contacted PSS and they were able to
provide me with a hotfix that seemingly has solved the problem! I am so
excited because now I can finally start my Office 2003 upgrades for my
company. I was able to open the right custom form from my public folder
several times with NO PROBLEMS after installing the hotfix.

The KB article is 831586. You need to contact PSS and give them that KB
article, then they'll get your info and send you a link to download the
hotfix, along with the password required to extract the file from the
archive.

Good luck. Truly a happy day now that I have this hotfix.

Mike Abrahamson

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP]]

Excellent. Thanks for updating us with the good news that the hotfix works.
Now if only they'd do one for the general forms cache problems, not just the
Public Folders\Favorites.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers