Slight annoyance with outlook Auto synch

Is there anyway to make the autosynch for Outlook silent. It has an annoying habit of bringing the CommitCRM screen to the front no matter what you are doing. This quite often will interupt whatever else you are doing such as typing a letter (I'm not a touch typist so tend to look at the keyboard more than the screen when I'm typing!)

Thanks

With the latest RangerMSP 5.5 the auto sync does not suppose to take the focus if you're using another application at the time the auto sync launch. For example, if you're writing an Outlook email and the auto sync fires, the focus should remain in the email message window. In case you are using another Window within RangerMSP then it might take the focus, but not if you're using another application.

Hope this makes sense. In case it does take the focus from other applications and you're using version 5.5 RangerMSP, then please post back with more details.

Thanks,
Sheli

I am also having this problem with the sync window taking focus. I thought it had been fixed previously but at some point it stopped working and the sync window started to take focus again. I don't believe it is every time the sync occurs but I am not positive on that one.

Ed

We're not aware of such an issue but anyway, based on your posts we'll be doing some testing. Thanks.

I've had problems with this ever since the last release at least. The window takes focus maybe 50% of the time. Sometimes when I'm on the same screen that CommitCRM is on, other times when I'm on the other screen.

I thought it was intermittent, glad to see someone else confirming that piece.

I'm on 5.5.

5.5 here also

5.5 and have the same issue.

Guys - In order for us to try to reproduce it here (we tried but with no luck, all worked well) please post more details about your environment, such as the OS, Office version, 32/64bit, which other applications you use (and in what version) when the auto sync takes the focus while it shouldn't, etc.

Thanks,
Sheli

Windows 7 Pro - 64-bit
Office 2010 - 64-bit
Quickbooks Pro 2010
Labtech
Firefox 3.6

Can't really give you anything specific on whats different between when it occurs and when it doesn't. All I can really tell you is that all of those programs are open all day long on my system.

Also in case it helps I have a dual monitor setup with CommitCRM running on the primary monitor which is on the left.

Ed

Windows 7 Pro 64bit
Office 2010 32bit
Google Chrome 9.0.597.94
Eset Smart Security 4.2.40.0
Quickbooks Pro 2010 (UK)
Google Calendar Sync

Same as above those programs are always open. No real pattern but it has become more noticeable within the last week for some reason. Mainly noticed it when using Chrome or when using Outlook or Word.

I'm only running on a single monitor though.

To update my list. I am using Quickbooks Pro (US) and Vipre Antivirus 4.0 Enterprise.

CommitCRM 5.5 (whatever the latest release was)
Dual monitors
QB 2009
Office 2010 32 bit
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Vipre 4.0

I also run CommitCRM on my primary monitor which is on the left. At first I thought it only happened when I was using applications which were on my "right" monitor, and usually I think that is the case, but sometimes it does happen when I'm on the primary as well.

I've been paying more attention to this... This is definitely happening when I am using the CommitCRM application. It happens at least a couple times per day.

Yep still happening regularly here too.

We couldn't reproduce it here so it makes everything harder to resolve, anyway, we believe that it only happens in specific cases or configurations. In any case, we have made some code changes that will be included in our next release, ones that we hope that will solve this issue in these scenarios.

Thanks,
Sheli

Did the code changes fix the problem?

Not for me. It still happens on a regular basis.

Yeah, still pops up. Definitely annoying.

It is happening to me. It only causes a problem when i am typing. Not a deal breaker, but annoying.

Since auto sync is not set on a per machine basis, when I am on a machine with outlook, but not my outlook account, it keeps trying to auto sync.

Anyway to limit it to a specific machine?

Yes, you can disable the auto-sync for a specific session from Tools > Synchronize Outlook > Auto-Sync - set this option to "Auto Sync - Not Active".

This will affect only the current session (as long as you do not save the auto-sync settings).

HTH

Has any more work been done to resolve this issue?

I assume you are referring to the original issue in this thread. As mentioned above, the application shouldn't be taking focus from other applications after the recent fix in this area. Note that it does take the focus in the application if you're working within RangerMSP already. We couldn't reproduce any issues with this behavior till now.

If anyone has been able to reproduce this we will be happy to get more details.

Sheli

Yes I'm talking about the original issue.
It consistently steals focus for me. I can be reading or writing emails in Outlook or browsing websites. Nattivillin and Ipopejoy above are still having the issue as well. If there is any further info that I can give to help then please let me know as this is starting to drive me insane!

Thank you for the update. While we couldn't reproduce it we will look into it again.

It does indeed take control of the window. It is very annoying when it happens. I witnessed it twice today. Do you need any systems specs to help you narrow it down?

Sure, it may help.

I had to wait until i was back in my office.

W7 Pro SP1 X64
Core I3 540
4GB

What else could help?

Thanks.
Is it Outlook 2010? If so - the 32 or 64 bit version of Office?

Oulook version 14.0.6112.5000 x86

It is either getting worse or i am using it more. When it starts to sync, it takes control of the window and i cant do anything for the 10-20 seconds while it syncs.

While it syncs this is what the system does, however, you can use anything else on your PC during this time.
The syncing time depends on your PC, Network, data, etc.

HTH

So we come full circle back to the original question, can it be silent or in the background? Having CommitCRM and outlook pop up to do the sync has caused quite a few typos over here.

There aren't any near future plans to change the way it currently works.

So... Are you also saying there aren't "any near future plans" to move the Exchange integration server side?

Or are you saying that there are no future plans to fix the bug that is making the autosync window take focus?

All we're saying is that we are not currently working on this, therefore, we do not see any near future updates in this area. We have everything logged and we always evaluate what to do next. Thanks for your feedback and for "reminding" us about this.

Hate to bring this up again, but just want to clarify. I understand that WITHIN COMMITCRM - the popup is supposed to take focus, but are you saying it should NOT take focus when using other applications? (that's what it is doing for me.)

Yes, you are correct this is how it should work but understand that it does not work this way for you. If you have a clear-case scenario that we can easily reproduce we will be happy to check this. Thanks.

I don't have a clear case scenario, but I'll see what I can figure out. I'm almost 100% sure that it doesn't happen all the time, but I've become so used to clicking "Stop Auto Sync" that I can't be sure. I will try to pay more attention. I have a sneaking suspicion that it may have something to do with dual monitors though - is that possible?

Maybe, I don't know... Let us know if you manage to identify it. Thanks.

It might be easier to troubleshoot if I knew when it was going to perform the sync. If I have it set to autosync every hour is it going to do it on the hour or every hour from the time I first logged intoCommitCRM. Also if an error stops the sync from finishing is it going to perform the next one on the normal schedule or is it going to do it an hour from when I hit ok on the error?

The sync internal will start from the time you hit the OK button.

I also use 2 monitors. It does not happen all the time.

I only use 1 monitor and it does it a hell of a lot.

It should run silently, in the background after notifiying of the first sync of the session. Why would anyone but a developer need notification everytime it syncs?

This is happening to me too. I usually run most of my apps in reduced view (not full screen). Sometimes when the Sync kicks in, it brings the CommitCRM screen to the front when I am working in another application. Other times there is a brief pause, like CommitCRM is trying to take focus, the releases it (kludge). I'm typing away and my machien pauses and goes 'ding' and continues on. Either way when it does happen, it causes lost keystrokes or I have to alt-tab to get back to my app.

What is interesting is that when I am running CommitCRM in my right monitor, the sync notification pops up dead center in the CommitCRM app where it should, (by design, but shoudn't) and calendar appointment reminders pop up on the left screen. I would think if the alarm can be fixed to pop up in the right place too.