So I've been doing some searching and found that Novell does offer a program for syncing a PDA with Groupwise. Here is a link to the software.

"Great!" I think to myself. But then I start searching for documentation (before installing the software) so I can see what limitations or issues it has. I find this Novell page. So I can't use this GroupWise tool to sync with my work GroupWise and sync with my Outlook Express at home? Or is it saying that I can't do it at the same time?

You CAN use it to do both, but you need to be very specific when you set up your partnerships. The PC at work with GroupWise needs to NOT sync anything via ActiveSync that you want to sync at home through Outlook. I don't even think Outlook Express is supported, it needs to be the full Outlook client to do ActiveSync synchronization.

We use GroupWise at work and we have had a lot of experience with it. It does have some limitations, especially for users with personal items in their calendars who don't want them to sync to work calendars and vice-versa, so please be very careful. You may want to consider Intellisync for your needs.

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John

PDAPhoneHome Forum Moderator

This is great. So glad you posted about this. We JUST upgraded to Groupwise 7 and I was thinking of checking out this software. Do you know what needs to be installed where?

Is there a pda client? Does it sync with the built-in Pocket Outlook or does it use a separate calendar/email/notes/tasks/contacts client? I really don't want to add that overhead.

If you have used this Groupwise solution for syncing, what are your thoughts? Thanks.

The GW7 version of the PDA Connect client installs on the desktop and then to the PDA. It syncs with the built-in Pocket Outlook and doesn't add any client overhead to the PDA.

I have used PDA Connect and it works reliably.

I am now testing the GroupWise Mobile Server (powered by Intellisync) that allows real-time push via SMS over the air or via WiFi. I'll reserve comment on that project for now as we are just in the preliminary stages of that testing.

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John

PDAPhoneHome Forum Moderator

John,

Are you saying that PDA connect is a TETHERED-sync solution only? Or can it be done ota (over the air) using phone/data? And does it require the desktop to be running GW7 and always be on?

Also, is GroupWise Mobile Server a sepately-purchased solution? Different from PDA connect? And I assume it syncs everything?

Sorry about saying Outlook Express earlier. I am using full Outlook at home.

I decided to sync only my calendar using PDA Connect. Figured it was the least intrustive/destructive of my options. It only added 1050 items to my Groupwise calendar.

Things I noticed that I didn't like:
- It converted recurring appointments to individual appointments in Groupwise.
- All day events on the PDA did convert over to Groupwise, but Groupwise shows the next day has an appointment (bolded date) even though nothing is scheduled.
- No option to completely turn off the PC's System Tray icon for PDA Connect. You can manually right click and Exit, though it comes back when you restart Windows.

Just as John said, it added a lot of stuff to Groupwise from my PDA that I would have preferred it didn't. So I got to looking at the options on the desktop. It is possible to filter items that are synced. Open PDA Connect and right click on Calendar in the Available Items box. Then click Configure. There is a Filter tab that allows you to create rules. And get this.... you can filter based on Category! I know that has been a big thing for some folks around here. So as long as you set the category on the PDA to something like Personal, you can filter that out during the sync.

John -
So I can sync my calendar with Groupwise at work, but by doing so I can't sync my calendar at home with Outlook?

Yes, PDA Connect is a tethered-only solution designed for synching when a device is cradled. As such, it only works when the desktop is on and the device is cradled at the same time, and the PC is running the GroupWise client.

GroupWise Mobile Server is a separate solution designed for over the air synching and push email. It is very different from PDA Connect and in fact is not compatible with PDA Connect. (Big warning in the Mobile Server install instructions.) It does synch everything, but is highly configurable. (You can select any combination of calendar, tasks, notes, email, etc.) It will work with Pocket PC, Palm, and Symbian devices, and also has a web-only display that is very easy to use in a WAP browser as well as provide SMS alerts to "normal" cell phones when emails or calendar items arrive, if a user so chooses. It allows multiple devices per user.

GroupWise Mobile Server is a part of the Service Pack 1 for GroupWise 7 and is free if you have annual Novell maintenance for GroupWise.

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John

PDAPhoneHome Forum Moderator

Not necessarily, but I don't think that the two calendars can be maintained separately without a hassle (you had mentioned filtering, and I found that it works great for PDA Connect, but not necessarily for going in reverse to Outlook) so unless you want both calendars to be the same, I would not recommend it.

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John

PDAPhoneHome Forum Moderator

I have been using Groupwise PDA Connect version 7.01, Product ID: 230-101; Build 5022. I use it with my Dell Axim X51v. For the most part, the PDA connect works great. I have a question with filtering. It appears that the filtering is only one way, ie, I can filter what gets sent to my PDA, but I can't filter what gets sent back to Groupwise on my desktop. Is that how you understand it? Any known fixes? I can't seem to find an easy why to contact Novell/Groupwise to ask.

John,
I recently purchased (May of 200 some upgrade licenses for GroupWise 7.
Did you need to generate a license key from the Novell website in order to register the Mobile Server software? I was unable to find such an option.
Thank you