Scheduling meetings when Outlook client is closed

[Guest]

I work for a very meeting-oriented organization. Our current calendaring
application allows us to create a meeting and immediately block the
attendees' calendars as tentative whether they have the calendar app open or
not.

As I understand it, Outlook requires the client to be open in order for that
time to show as booked. This would seem to create a great deal of opportunity
for double-booking and re-work. Especially if an attendee is out of the
office for a week or two and does not open Outlook while people are back at
the office scheduling meetings for after they return.

We're considering defaulting to auto-accept, which would end up confusing
everyone as to whether or not someone is actually attending a meeting. Having
an auto-tentative would be fantastic or at least updating the free/busy time
immediately so those scheduling meetings can see the slot is tentatively
booked.

Does anyone out there have a better idea?

Thanks!

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Does this organization use Exchange server? Are the mailboxes set for
Exchange mailbox delivery rather than personal folders? IIRC, and it is late
here in CA so I could be wrong, the acceptance from the server mailbox does
not require Outlook to be open.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After furious head scratching, D. Hamilton asked:

| I work for a very meeting-oriented organization. Our current
| calendaring application allows us to create a meeting and immediately
| block the attendees' calendars as tentative whether they have the
| calendar app open or not.
|
| As I understand it, Outlook requires the client to be open in order
| for that time to show as booked. This would seem to create a great
| deal of opportunity for double-booking and re-work. Especially if an
| attendee is out of the office for a week or two and does not open
| Outlook while people are back at the office scheduling meetings for
| after they return.
|
| We're considering defaulting to auto-accept, which would end up
| confusing everyone as to whether or not someone is actually attending
| a meeting. Having an auto-tentative would be fantastic or at least
| updating the free/busy time immediately so those scheduling meetings
| can see the slot is tentatively booked.
|
| Does anyone out there have a better idea?
|
| Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Yes, we're using Exchange. And, yes, I believe we are set up for Exchange
mailbox delivery. Mail does not go to PST files.

Perhaps the issues is because we're using Cached Mode?