BCM Contact as default folder

[kita]

Is there a way to make the BCM the default folder for all contact
processing including synching with a smart phone.

I constantly have to copy new contacts from BCM to the original
outlook contact folder so I can synch with my phone and to ensure the
data is there. If I forget I'm walking around with old or missing
data.

Ultimately I'd like to delete the outlook contact folder or even
"hide" the folder, and if that is not possible, then have all files,
links and processes automatically (defaulting) directed to the BCM
file.

Can this be done or will I have to live with the outlook contact
folder and the repitition?

Thanks Kita

 

[Peter Marchert]

Hello,

Outlook and BCM are different programs with differnt store methods.
AFAIK it`s not possible to set a differnt folder as default folder.

But you can use the tool CopyFolder which is written excactly for your
problem to copy (automatically) the BCM items to the default folder of
Outlook:

http://www.outlook-stuff.com/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_details/gid,27/Itemid,2/

Peter

 

[Luther]

Is there a way to make the BCM the default folder for all contact
processing including synching with a smart phone.

I constantly have to copy new contacts from BCM to the original
outlook contact folder so I can synch with my phone and to ensure the
data is there. If I forget I'm walking around with old or missing
data.

Ultimately I'd like to delete the outlook contact folder or even
"hide" the folder, and if that is not possible, then have all files,
links and processes automatically (defaulting) directed to the BCM
file.

Can this be done or will I have to live with the outlook contact
folder and the repitition?

Thanks Kita

There are some programs out there that will sync BCM Contacts to your
phone. Sadly, Microsoft's ActiveSync only syncs Outlook default
Contacts folder and ignores all other stores.

BCM has a program for some phones (thos that support Windows Mobile
5.0, I believe). That program syncs with BCM folders, and also
provides some additional features like access to some BCM fields on
the phone.

 

[Lon Orenstein]

Peter:

Can your program be setup to "automatically" synchronize BCM contacts with
the Outlook Contacts folder? Maybe this could happen when you start Outlook
in the morning or when you close it in the evening, then start a synch to
your Pocket PC or Smartphone so you have the latest data when you leave the
office...

Thanks,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
www.pinpointtools.com



Hello,

Outlook and BCM are different programs with differnt store methods.
AFAIK it`s not possible to set a differnt folder as default folder.

But you can use the tool CopyFolder which is written excactly for your
problem to copy (automatically) the BCM items to the default folder of
Outlook:

http://www.outlook-stuff.com/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_details/gid,27/Itemid,2/

Peter

 

[Peter Marchert]

Hello Lon,

thank you for your interest!

Yes, you can run the program automatically when Outlook starts,
shutdown or every X minutes/hours. An english help and user interface
are included.

But this program does not make a synchronization to merge contact
informations for example. It simply copies/replace items.

Peter

 

[Lon Orenstein]

Thanks... So, let's define "synchronization" better.

One of the problems that many BCM users want to solve is synching with a
smartphone or Pocket PC. Let's assume this scenario:

1. User uses your Copy Folder program to copy their BCM contacts into
Outlook contacts.
2. User synchs their Outlook contacts into their smartphone using
ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center; no additional software is
needed.
3. User deletes a contact on the smartphone (or adds a new one) and synchs
back to the desktop.
4. Copy Folder synchs back to BCM and deletes or adds that contact.
Will this work?

Similar scenario as above, but on #3, the user changes a phone number or
email address on their smartphone while away from the office. They synch
back to Outlook contacts, and Copy Folder synchs the changes to their BCM
contacts. Will this work?

Thanks very much,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
www.pinpointtools.com



Hello Lon,

thank you for your interest!

Yes, you can run the program automatically when Outlook starts,
shutdown or every X minutes/hours. An english help and user interface
are included.

But this program does not make a synchronization to merge contact
informations for example. It simply copies/replace items.

Peter

 

[Peter Marchert]

Thanks... So, let's define "synchronization" better.

One of the problems that many BCM users want to solve is synching with a
smartphone or Pocket PC. Let's assume this scenario:

1. User uses your Copy Folder program to copy their BCM contacts into
Outlook contacts.
2. User synchs their Outlook contacts into their smartphone using
ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center; no additional software is
needed.
3. User deletes a contact on the smartphone (or adds a new one) and synchs
back to the desktop.
4. Copy Folder synchs back to BCM and deletes or adds that contact.
Will this work?

The program does not delete contacts, but contacts added on the
smartphone will be added to the BCM too. Thank you for this question.
I will note this for the next update to handle this better.

Similar scenario as above, but on #3, the user changes a phone number or
email address on their smartphone while away from the office. They synch
back to Outlook contacts, and Copy Folder synchs the changes to their BCM
contacts. Will this work?

I didn`t tested it right now, but yes, this should work (if the
setting "Replace existing items" is set). The program than replaces
the oldest contact.

Peter

 

[Thurman]

Is there a way to make the BCM the default folder for all contact
processing including synching with a smart phone.

You didn't mention which OS and Outlook version you have.

I run WinXP SP2 and Outlook 2003 SP3 w BCM. If I drag the BCM folder to the
top of the folder stack, it is the folder that syncs w my Mobile 5 device.
That created a lot of unnecessary inactive entries on my PPC.

What worked best for me was to leave the personal contacts folder at the
top. If you drag a contact from the BCM folder to the Contacts folder, it
acts as a cut and paste. But if you then drag the same contact back to BCM,
it acts as a copy and paste.

I leave the personal contacts at the top; drag active client contact info
into and out of Contacts, creating a duplicate. That stores telephone
numbers on my Cingular 8525 but leaves the balance of the account in
Outlook/BCM for contact journaling.

Caveat: About twice a year, Outlook would prevent a plug-in that was tied to
the BCM contacts from running, deeming it dangerous. I would have to go into
Help etc. to re-start it so I could edit BCM contact info form. After
upgrading to Outlook 2003 SP3, it blocked, then removed the plug-in,
disallowing editing and viewing in that form.

Detect and Repair changed Outlook to a previous version that will no longer
recognize the msbcm file, since it is newer. For the moment I have lost all
contact info of the last ten years.