Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

I have written a program for WM6 that will download (over the air) calendar items from OWA. The program actually connects to OWA via HTTPS and interacts with OWA via HTTPS and parses the HTML to retrieve the calendar items.

You may be asking yourself, why not use OMA that is built into Exchange? The short answer is that my IT department intentionally disabled this feature of Exchange. However, the only way to stop this program would be to disable OWA itself.

My question is: would this be useful to anyone else? Currently this is only useful for myself, and I want to know if I should put forth the effort to make it more "commercial quality" or not. Anyone need this functionality, or think it would be useful?

Thanks,

Josh
HTC Mogul / PPC 6800

Go for it. My corporate IT is just as stubborn and I could really use that sort of access. I'll volunteer to test it for you, too...

I wonder if their is a way to be able to sync e-mail and contacts that way as well...

Yes, anything that is available in OWA would be a candidate. (Tasks, Mail, Contacts, Calendar, etc...) Right now it is just a one way (OWA to device) sync for the calendar. This is a bit fragile, since it depends on the HTML inside OWA. Special templates and different versions of OWA would likely break the program, at least right now.

Anyone else interested in such a program?

-Josh

Calendar and Tasks would definitely be a HUGE benefit to me! :)

My biggest reason is that I use 2 Exchange accounts (work and personal), and ActiveSync only lets you sync with one Exchange at a time, so this would be a huge improvement.

PS-- Don't suppose you'd want to develop a Blackberry version too, lol.

My IT department is the same way. I would be interested if it pulled Calander and Email. Two way connumication would be even better :)

This sure would help me out too!!!

I'm in the same boat... Our IT people only support blackberrys :( will this work with RSA Securid keyfobs?

If you could get 2 way sync, I think that many of us who have been ostracized by our IT departments would love you!!!

+1 for development on this app! :)

Thanks for the feedback guys. It looks like there is at least some interest in this type of program.

A couple of more questions for you guys:

• What version of OWA are you (your organization) using?
• Does your (your organization's) version of OWA use special templates or the stock templates?
• Which items created on the device should be added to OWA? Should this be based on category?

- Josh

PS: Not sure about the use of Secure ID Keyfobs, I doubt there is any way to store the password, so at best you would have to enter a new Secure ID each time you synchronized.

Sorry no Blackberry support... :???:

@1 - Exchange Server 2003 (not sure if that is what you are referring to...)

@2 - Stock

@3 - I would like all (but that's because I am greedy!)

Also, not sure about everyone else, but I have to change my password every 60 days or so...I would also need the ability to enter a new password or some type of notification if the password needs updating...

1. Exchange 2007
2. Stock
3. All would be great, but Calendar, Tasks, and Contacts primarily since those don't have alternative syncing options other than direct-from-PC and ActiveSync-OMA.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

1. 2003 OWA
2. Stock Templates
3. Not sure what you mean by this.

I have a test OWA 2003 box that I can test with. I can help out with coding if need be. I am very interested in test and using this type of sync. Thanks.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

I should be ready for BETA testers in a few days, if you are interested in helping test, PM me with your email address. I'll send you more information via email.

The current functionality:

Pulls Calendar Items from OWA (2003 using standard templates) down to your device (one way sync). Other features will be added in the future.

In order to support OWA 2007 I need access to a test server running OWA 2007.

Thanks,

Josh

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders! Public Folders!

Did I say Public Folders!

If there were a way to download Public folders, that would be awesome. It does not have to be both ways. That is something that is sorely needed for these devices. Over the air Public Folders. Is that possible? Thanks,

Poltergeek!

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

This would be too awesome.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Man great idea see what you can do....

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

just a note...there is a free App Called Emoze (http://wwww.emoze.com) already that does this for you for OWA.
But having another one does not hurt at all.
give emoze a try if you have not. works great for me...
I have a similar issue (we have to pay a fee a month just to get push email, but emoze breaks that for free thru owa)
I'm curious what app you can create to make this happpenn also.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Thanks nico4k,

I've looked and looked for programs that do what I'm suggesting, and found nothing. So I eagerly went out to check out the program you suggested. It appears that this requires a PC to actually do the work, or use their global server. My program runs entirely on the device. This does look interesting though, I intend on checking it out more, and am interested in other's experience with this software and opinions about it.


Thanks,

- Josh

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Thanks to those of you who PM'd me offering to help test. You should have received an email from me with further information. If not, let me know.

Also, if anyone else is interested in testing, PM me.

Thanks,

-Josh

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

I've made a quite a bit of progress on this! Thanks to those who have already helped, check out the current version: http://www.chronobis.com

Still looking for a few more beta testers.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

This would be great for me (even just calendar although tasks and contacts would be a plus). I also have one of those paranoid IT groups that will not allow any connection of any sort to their equipment except blackberry, so no active synch period. I've been using this cumbersome work around of exporting my desktop outlook calendar file at the end of the day, importing it into Google Calendar, then using a goo-synchish app on my mogul to get that into my pocket outlook calendar. What a waste of time~~~~ :protest:

We use exchange server 2003

Looking forward to trying this!

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

You can download it from the site now. Enjoy.

Also, started a new thread to announce the open BETA:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=22214

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

I am looking for a solution to my IT department's bias for RIM and 2 factor (RSA SecurID) authentication when using OWA.](*,)

Can anyone provide suggestions? I am new to the PPCGeek-dom

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Well IT departments' biases toward RIM was the main reason I wrote Chronobis.

So to log into OWA you have to get a token password from a hardware device, in addition to your normal password? If so, that's a difficult problem, the best you could hope for would be entering in your hardware token each time you synchronized.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

so how has this been working?

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Well, I'd like other opinions, but I think it is working quite well. I've been using it to download my calendar for a long time now. Recently just added smartphone support, task download support, and soon will be adding contact download support. I suppose the next thing on the enhancement list will be tackling two-way synchronization.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

This sounds really interesting.

One question - I currently sync ActiveSync OTA with my exchange server. I am interested in this so that I can sync with two other exchange servers, however I am wondering how the PPC keeps the calendar items separate.

For example, I have all of my Exchange Server 1 stuff on my PPC. Then I use this App to sync Calendar Items from Exchange Server 2 on to my PPC. Does the PPC keep these newly inserted Exchange Server 2 items from then syncing to Exchange Server 1?

Best regards,
-boggsie

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

Unlike email accounts, the calendar is a single folder. Meaning that AS would most likely synchronize everything in it. Tasks are the same way.

Once I get around to two-way synchronization I'm planning making it where you can define synchronization by categories, but that is a ways off right now.

Also, on the future plans is multiple account support. Again, probably a ways off right now.

Re: Outlook Web Access (OWA) Calendar Synchronization
 

I'm all for it as well.