Synchronize OCS address book manually

Office Communications Server 2007 synchronizes the address book once every day. This is ok for normal operations, but in tests and troubleshooting scenarios, this can be a bit annoying.

To work around this problem, you can create a simple .bat file to do a manual synchronization of the address book, to update the details of the users from Active Directory.

After synchronization, you still need to log off the Office Communicator client, and log back on to get the client to download the updated address book.Create a .bat file (absync.bat)

Put the following command in the file (update the path, if you haven’t used the default)

--oo--
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007\Server\Core\abserver.exe" -syncnow
--oo--

Troubleshooting Office Communicator Phone Experience (a.k.a. Tanjay) Update Server

I've received some question on preparing the update server for "Tanjay" phone. Well, you may refer to this link which i find it is very useful.

http://blogs.technet.com/chlacy/archive/2007/11/01/troubleshooting-office-communicator-phone-experience-a-k-a-tanjay-update-server.aspx

MOC: Outlook Integration Error

I'm sure some of you out there face this issue. Office Communicator sometimes prompts this error: "Outlook Integration Error"

A Group Policy stting exists to correct this issue.

Read more here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;951644&sd=rss&spid=11402

Office Communications Server 2007 Visio stencil

You can now use OCS 2007 icons in your Visio template. Microsoft has released the Visio template for OCS.

You can get it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=543705F6-D02A-436E-8B34-5C796550022A&displaylang=en

Please note:
If the stencils are missing when you open the visio document, follow these steps:

1. Open the template in Visio.
2. Click File, and then choose Shapes.
3. At the bottom of the Shapes menu, choose Show Document Stencil.

Yahoo! and MSN (Windows Live) Public IM Connectivity changes

The Microsoft OCS team has released news that the PIC partners MSN and Yahoo! has changed public IP adresses.There are no need for changes if you do not have restrictions you port 5061 traffic.

Read more here: http://communicationsserverteam.com/archive/2008/05/23/193.aspx

New Communicator Add-in for Outlook

I've saw an updates from one of the MVP blogs, Microsoft has a new version of communicator Add-in for Outlook. It's pre-release version currently (only selected MVP with invitation would have permission to test out).

In the meantime, here's what's new followed by some of my other thoughts...

Fixes & Updates:

• UI
• Created a TreeView instead of ListView.
• This allows collapsible\expandable groups, just as in Communicator. I think this is a better approach than having an option to display certain groups.
• Smaller UI details.
• Fix UI for 120 DPI

Functionality

• Allow filter of Offline & Away users. Will redisplay users when they are available again or will hide users if they are away or offline. Dependant on the you setting the filter.
• Will display groups that contain a “~”

Limitations due to API

• The API doesn’t give me access to Access Level or Distributions List.
• The API doesn’t give me access to the Recent or Other Contacts Groups.

Bugs

• The Show\Hide button doesn’t always respond.
• “Out of Office” is being considered as Away instead of Offline.
• Graceful error handling, IE if Communicator isn’t signed in.

Install Instructions (Uninstall Previous Version1.)

1. Extract it the zip to some where besides the desktop. I’m using ClickOnce for installation, so the install should go somewhere you want it to reside.
2. Close Outlook
3. Run the setup.exe as Administrator. It will require .NET 3.5 & VSTO 3.0 Runtime. The installer will help you out there.
4. During installation it will say it’s not from a Trusted Publisher as I do not have a certificate for this installation. Click Ok.
5. Open Outlook

Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Rumors

I just got some updates from some MVP blogs; Microsoft have decided to release a R2 version of Office Communications Server 2007 by the end of 2008. This was not planned in the original product roadmap, and the next release should have been OCS 2009, by the end of 2009.This is great news! The R2 release is going to contain contain a lot of the features that we have been waiting for. especially about telephony handeling and routing. Sure there will be alot of bugs fixed as well in the R2.

Please note that this information is based on second hand information, and has not been confirmed by Microsoft