HowTo-Outlook » 2007

Clearing the Forms Cache Script (19 September, 2007)

Outlook 2003 has some issues with custom forms. Although most issues with forms have been fixed in Office 2003 Service Pack 1 occasionally you still get confronted with "Outlook cannot open this form …" messages. You’re only solution; clear the forms cache and try again!

The forms cache can be cleared in 2 ways;

The short way can only be used when you have the Owner permissions or are working with a pst-file;
Right-click the folder with the issues-> Properties-> tab Forms-> button Manage…-> button Clear Cache
The long way must be used when you for instance only have "Read" permissions on a Public Folder;
Tools-> Options-> tab Other-> button Advanced Options…-> button Custom Forms…-> button Manage Forms…-> button Clear Cache

So clearing the forms cache is quite a longwinded process. This might be OK if it just happens every now and then but when you are for instance developing a lot of forms this can be quite time consuming. If you need to clear the cache quite often you can also use the script below to quickly clear it. Copy the code to Notepad and then save it as filename.vbs or download it here. When you execute the script you might get a warning of your virus scanner. This is because the script deletes the forms cache of your harddisk. Allow the activity once and the script will finish.

'Close Outlook socially WScript.Echo "Close Outlook and press OK"


'Close Outlook forcefully

strComputer = "."

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _

& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colProcessList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _

("Select * from Win32_Process Where Name = 'outlook.exe'")

For Each objProcess in colProcessList

objProcess.Terminate()

Next
'Set Profile Path

Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") 

sCurrUsrPath = oShell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%UserProfile%")

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
'Verify whether the Forms Cache exists and delete it 

If objFSO.FolderExists(sCurrUsrPath & "\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms") Then

WScript.Echo "The Forms Cache has been found and will be cleared."

Const DeleteReadOnly = True

objFSO.DeleteFolder(sCurrUsrPath & "\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms"), DeleteReadOnly

WScript.Echo "The Forms Cache has been cleared successfully. Start Outlook and check whether the form works now."
Else
WScript.Echo "Cannot find the Forms Cache. It has been cleared already. Start Outlook and check whether the form works now."

End If

Archive 1 (18 September, 2007)

Extra games for MSN6 (Sep 13)

For the people addicted to the MSN6 games mess.be has developed some custom games. Next to the default games from MSN you’ll have; Chess, Nine Men’s Morris, Reversi, Sea Battle and Yahtzee as extra games available from the Launch Site button. You need to have your MSN6 closed before you apply the patch.

Download patch from mess.be here
Main mess.be games site

It doesn’t happen too often but sometimes Microsoft releases something ahead of schedule (well, their latest schedule then). As of Monday, September 15 Microsoft Office 2003 can be downloaded from MSDN for those with Select, Enterprise Agreement and MSDN subscriptions. The retail release is still scheduled for October 21.

Read it at CNET

I guess someone lost his job today at Microsoft. The question is whether he lost it before or after he leaked Office 2003. From the screenshots posted everything looks quite the same as after the Technical Refresh. Anyway, see the new build numbers by clicking the link below.

Screenshots at ExtremeXP

This patch is rated critical so run Windows Update immediately! Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME are not effected. There is also a tool available which enables you to scan your network for unpatched computers. It will also scan for computers that doesn’t have the “Blaster” patch installed.

Bulletin: MS03-039: A Buffer Overrun in RPCSS May Allow Code Execution (824146)
Scan tool: KB 824146 Scanner for MS03-026 and MS03-039 Patches

Run Windows Update

As we are approaching the release of Office 2003 the Resource Kit Tools are already there to get you ready for deployment.

Download: Office 2003 Editions Resource Kit Tools

Well, better late then never right? Some info on the file;

Publish date: September 9 2003
Signature date: September 3 2003
EULA date: July 17 2003
Last Knowledge Base review date: April 23 2003
Executable date: May 1 1995
Oldest file in the executable: September 20 1994

So we are about 9 years later… will this be the final release? (talking about “Extended Support Phase”)

Download it for your archive here

Microsoft added some new Exchange documentation.

Exchange Server 2003 Administration Guide
Exchange 2003 Deployment Guide
Working with Store Permissions in Microsoft Exchange 2000 and 2003

With the launch of Office 2003 coming up it’s good to know what new feature’s it brings and how it can help you at home and in your organisation. A quick tour shows you how Office 2003 is safer and more effective than ever.

Take the tour

Don’t like the new Outlook Web Access interface? Well I doubt it but if you really want to go back to basics with your interface you might want to try to connect to Exchange by using good old Hyper Terminal or Telnet.

Read the article

This download contains a video demo of the new Microsoft Office Online website. It’s pretty funny to see that the web address in the video still says http://officebeta.microsoft.com. Anyway check out the new site and download this demo to see where you can find everything.

New Microsoft Office Online website: http://office.microsoft.com
Microsoft Office Online Demo for WMP9, 300kbps
Microsoft Office Online Demo other formats

Hope you like it!

To download directly from Microsoft press here

Bulletin: MS03-035:	Flaw in Microsoft Word Could Enable Macros to Run Automatically (827653)
Bulletin: MS03-036:	Buffer Overrun in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution (827103)
Bulletin: MS03-037:	Flaw in Visual Basic for Applications Could Allow Arbitrary Code Execution (822715)
Bulletin: MS03-038:	Unchecked buffer in Microsoft Access Snapshot Viewer Could Allow Code Execution (827104)