TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

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TntMPD 3.0.22 introduces a number of features, enhancements and fixes. The area of the program that received the most attention was the Outlook Sync feature. If you are syncing with Outlook, please test this feature out and give me your feedback. Now would also be a good time to for translation updates.

Here's the release log:

OUTLOOK SYNC
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, added option: "Preferred Contacts to Sync" to specify which contacts you'd like to have on your mobile device.
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, newsletter information included when MPD information is applied to Job Title.
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, new actions (never before skipped) are checked by default and bold (delete, import, export).
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, Double-click to view an item when in a list for delete, import or export.
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, instead of importing Outlook items, you can right-click on items for a popup menu that allows you to delete instead.
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, right-click on import/export/sync list to manually control the link between items in TntMPD and Outlook.
FEATURE - Outlook Sync, when sync conflicts are left unresolved, TntMPD now prompts you with some ways to automatically resolve them.
FIXED - Outlook Sync issue where changes to Last Appointment/Call/Gift weren't detected for export to Job Title.
FIXED - Outlook Sync issue causing "Some items were not synchronized completely" after manually reconciling fields.
FIXED - Outlook Sync issue causing "Some items were not synchronized completely" after matching new spouse contact from Outlook.
FIXED - Outlook Sync issue, "The RPC server is unavailable", when you close the Outlook application in the middle of a most sync operations.
FIXED - Outlook Sync issue where deleting a spouse contact in Outlook that no longer exists in TntMPD didn't update the summary display.
FIXED - Outlook Sync issue where sending current group to Outlook might not include spouse contacts.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync no longer deals with linked contacts on tasks or appointments.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync shortens the MPD phase put in Job Title for Partner-Financial to just "PARTNER".
CHANGE - Outlook Sync settings now has a "Cancel" button.
CHANGE - "Sync with Outlook Settings" renamed to "Outlook Sync Settings".
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, Contact Sync Options now has a "Default" button to apply default options.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, improved final message displayed when user cancels synchronization operations.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, suggests exporting all appointment from today to the future (auto-checks the box to export).
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, suggests deleting a contact if it's not a "Preferred Contact" according to the Outlook Sync Settings.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, suggests exporting all "Preferred Contacts" (auto-checks the box to export).
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, doesn't include non-"Preferred Contacts" in the export list, unless it was explicitly "Sent To" Outlook.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, export-only fields are auto-updated before checking for actual changes.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, import of contacts will include non-blank titles when "Export Titles as Blank" is turned on.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, many more columns displayed for import/export lists.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, order of columns displayed for delete, import, export lists can be re-ordered by dragging with mouse.
CHANGE - Outlook Sync, many general improvements to the user interface.

FIRST TIME INSTALL EXPERIENCE
CHANGE - When TntMPD first runs on machine, it no longer prompts user to create new database.
CHANGE - When the list of recently used databases is empty, TntMPD automatically searches for databases to add.
CHANGE - Added "Refresh List" when you right-click on list of recently used databases to search for databases to add.
CHANGE - Right-click on database in Most Recently Used list on main screen causes it to be selected before context menu appears.

NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS
CHANGE - Top name/address/phone/email panel ensures that the spouse first name is included (also for F12 - Magnified Info).
CHANGE - Appeal box now includes history usage when sorting contents.
CHANGE - The "Weekly Activities" box on the MPD Analysis view now indicates task types in a way similar to the task/history list.
CHANGE - Removed "should" suggestions when creating a new database password.
CHANGE - "Appeal" column on Gift grid now called "Appeal / Memo".
CHANGE - Ctrl+Click on "Change Database Password" to avoid having to confirm previous password ... helps if you forgot password!

MAC fixes
FIXED - Mac issue where Resolve Dropbox Conflicts display had very narrow columns if only one item was shown.
FIXED - Mac, Input from Web gets stuck when recommending new version until user clicks on client area of window when/after downloading.
FIXED - "Range Check Error" in __Detect_Wine().
FIXED - CrossOver 13.0 ... issue where divider lines in History lists made item background black.

MAIL CHIMP fixes
FIXED - MailChimp Sync issue where all MailChimp fields that started off as being required ended up as not being required.

GENERAL fixes/changes
FIXED - Input from Web now correctly handles logins that have a non-default profile only.
FIXED - Issue where switching out of details mode of MPD/History tab might cause "can't focus invisible window".
FIXED - Issue where the keyboard focus might be incorrect when starting program.
FIXED - MPD Analysis view: "Send MPD Weekly Update to Excel" button now appears on smaller displays < 600 pixels high.
FIXED - Issue where clicking "Ignore Address" in Donor Info caused cursor icon and hint to be freeze until mouse hovered over another link.
FIXED - Issue where a .tntmpd file would be opened on start-up if it was accidentally in the registry as the "last database".
FIXED - Access violation issue if there was a problem creating the Help or Map view when starting program.
FIXED - Issue where attempted newsletter didn't have a line through it in history list.
FIXED - "The server encountered an unexpected condition" that might occur when backing up database password recovery key to TntMPD website.
CHANGE - Two full weeks must pass before TntMPD will attempt to generate "Call to check on status of financial commitment" tasks.
CHANGE - When adding or editing a gift, the Amount box starts with keyboard focus.
CHANGE - When editing a history item, the Description box starts with keyboard focus.
CHANGE - Installation - if uninstall of old version fails, click "OK" to continue installing anyway.
CHANGE - Included Dropbox usage status in System Info.
CHANGE - Moved network proxy info above Dropbox usage status in System Info.
CHANGE - Included server name in more internet connection error messages.
CHANGE - Resolve Dropbox Conflicts anticipates not being able to delete conflict database after sync, delays for .25 secs and tries again.
CHANGE - Resolve Dropbox Conflicts, click Esc to close dialog.
CHANGE - Hold "Ctrl" key when clicking "Tools" menu to reveal "Scramble Database..." menu item.
CHANGE - Drag-n-drop journals from Outlook no longer tries to use the ContactID previously set by TntMPD on a linked contact user property.
CHANGE - Improved drag-n-drop emails from Outlook to reduce 4 linefeeds to 2 linefeeds in email message.
NOTE - Database file size reported when checking for new version.
NOTE - Added change to avoid hiding underlying error with "Multiple-step OLE DB operation generated errors."
NOTE - Improved Excel graphic on "Send MPD Weekly Update to Excel" button on MPD Analysis view.

HELP / LOCALIZATION
CHANGE - Updated the English help manual.
CHANGE - Made a few more items translatable.
CHANGE - TntTranslator, improved how it handles line feed characters for InstallAware translations.
CHANGE - Updated the Dutch, French, German and Spanish translations.
CHANGE - Updated And word, Salutation format, and Full Name format for Portugal.
CHANGE - All salutations now end with a comma.

TNTSYNC
FEATURE - TntSync, when selecting multiple items, there is now always a context menu to change all actions to local or remote.
FEATURE - TntSync, when synchronizing multiple items, an information panel displays activity progress.
CHANGE - TntSync now handles "Null" as the LastEdit field and reports it as Jan 1, 1900 instead of reporting an error.
CHANGE - TntSync, Ctrl+A to select all rows in the reconcile grid.

Posted 13 Feb 2014 11:53 PM by Troy Wolbrink

Comments

Bob Mac Leod wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 11:32 AM

This is a long list of updates! Many of them are subtle, too, which would not generally be noticed by a user.

I downloaded the update and immediately did an Outlook sync. I did like the way it worked, but it was still cumbersome, and at times I was uncertain as to what I was supposed to do. Probably the most significant related to the list above is that right from the beginning it gave me a list of bold-faced contacts "Preferred", and I was uncertain at that moment (being my first time) what I was supposed to do with my list.

I found myself wondering, "Are these contacts from my phone and TntMPD is asking me if I want them in TntMPD?", or was it the other way around. I finally determined it was TntMPD to Outlook, because as I reviewed the list I realized that they were ALL in TntMPD already, so that must be direction it was going.

It was helpful in one way, though, because there were several that I did move to Outlook, ones I had missed before.

The challenge was that there was a help text indicating I could adjust my Preferred sync settings somewhere, but it wasn't a hyperlink, and I don't know where that destination is; nor could I get there at that moment like I wanted to. (I wanted to see what the sync settings were *before* I continued, lest I not be able to get back to where I was.

Then later in the sync I encountered 35 conflicts, which was a lot more than I had been encountering during previous syncs (typically weekly), so I was again stalled as I evaluated why there were so many, and which way was the sync going. In the end, I think I followed the recommendation to let the Sync decide. Most of them were rich in TntMPD and empty in Outlook (which made me wonder why it was a conflict at all).

My ultimate objective, of course, is to protect my TntMPD database, so I was cautious with each step just in case it might result in data loss.

Anyway, no suggestions here. Just feedback.

Troy Wolbrink wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 3:41 PM

Thanks for that feedback, Bob. Very helpful and actionable. My two obvious takeaways are to 1) improve the labeling (for example: take out "export" and "import" verbiage), 2) link directly to the "Sync Settings" where mentioned so you can specify your "Preferred Contacts".

I'm curious about the 35 conflicts. When you say they were "rich" in TntMPD, but "empty" in Outlook, do you mean that on the Outlook side, most/all the fields were blank?

Segullah wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 3:45 PM

I found reference to a "Mobile Sync Group" in the drop down list for Preferred Contacts To Sync under Tools | Microsoft Outlook | Outlook Sync Settings.

Under Lookup | Custom, I found that this was a custom filter as follows:

(((((((Contact.CreatedDate >= DateAdd('m', -3, Now())) OR Contact.ContactID IN (SELECT HC.ContactID FROM HistoryContact HC INNER JOIN History H ON HC.HistoryID = H.HistoryID WHERE H.HistoryDate >= DateAdd('m', -3, Now()))) AND Contact.MPDPhaseID <> 90) OR Contact.SendNewsletter = -1) OR Contact.ContactID IN (SELECT TC.ContactID FROM TaskContact TC INNER JOIN Task T ON TC.TaskID = T.TaskID)) OR Contact.ContactID IN (SELECT ContactID FROM Gift WHERE GiftDate >= DateAdd('m', -13, Now()))) AND Contact.Deceased = 0)

To complex for me to decypher, but could this be the "Preferred" list of names that you are seeing? I don't see any way to add to or delete from this list, so this filter/functionality, so I think that it would be helpful to have some clarity added about this functionality.

Troy Wolbrink wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 3:52 PM

That's right, Andy. In the drop down, you can select "Customize Mobile Sync Group" to see exactly what is going on.

If you want your own custom lookup, do your lookup first, then pull up the sync settings. Now you can pick your current lookup.

Segullah wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 4:59 PM

Ok. Working through sync first time after update. Some great ideas, but not a positive experience so far.

1) I'm slowed down because things are different that previously, without enough explanation.

2) Every panel (Preferred, Import, Export) defaults to all contacts check (opt-out). Before the default was unchecked (opt-in). I suggest the opt-in approach as I don't know if most people will take the time that Bob and I do to analyze what's going on before just clicking the "Next" button. I don't want to add everyone in my Outlook phone list to TntMPD and vis vice versa by default.

3) All entries under "Review synchronization actions" were marked as skips when based upon what I saw in their record views, all but one should have been marked as update to Outlook. In this past all but one would have been marked to update TntMPD. The only thing I can figure is that the date for the remote entry is newer than the date for the local one, but that would have been caused by the Google Apps Sync upon starting Outlook.

4) Had once conflict where the Record View showed the mailing address type in Outlook as business. But when I looked at the contact in Outlook, the address was in the Home box. I'll email screen shots from Outlook and TntMPD.

Things I liked:

1) The concept of the preferred contacts as it gave me an easy way to review the current TntMPD contacts in Outlook and remove all the contacts marked "Not Interested", "Expired Referrals", etc. I was able to do this easily by adding the "Mpd Phase/Job Title" column.

2) The ability to add additional columns such as MPD Phase/Job Title, Notes, Referred by, Category, etc. to each view. It made evaluating obscure contact entries much easier. Now when I add new contacts first in Outlook and then import, I can give them a category (e.g. MPD Import) and then quickly sort on the import screen to find them.

Came across the Resolve Sync Conflicts dialog box after moving past the Review synchronization actions screen. I'm going to click the "Ask me later" button so I can think about how I want to handle conflicts in the future. But I would be more inclined to make a decision now if I knew that I could change this setting later. Can this be changed later?

Troy Wolbrink wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 5:57 PM

Thanks for this feedback, Andy! You’ve given me a lot to think about. Yes, I have made a lot of changes!

Just to clarify, “bold” = “new”. “new” means you’ve never been presented this potential sync action before. So if you were to finish the sync process (un-checking all the boxes along the way), next time you sync, all those same items would be in all the same lists, but they would no longer be bold/new.

I like what you said about not checking the boxes (for new/bold items) by default. I’m thinking of a different way to approach this. When I did some usability testing of the old Outlook Sync feature, I realized that the standard action is to just click “Next”, “Next”, etc. until the Sync with Outlook dialog goes away. Thus if they didn’t opt-in, nothing happened, and they were confused as to why TntMPD didn’t sync with Outlook. So I’m thinking that if there are new items in the list, and if you don’t opt-in to checking any boxes, I’ll prompt you with a “are you sure” dialog when you click “Next”. (If that made no sense, just wait for the next release!)

I got your email about the “Mailing Address Type” mismatch for some contacts between TntMPD and Outlook. If you look closely at your screenshots, the box in Outlook labeled “This is the mailing address” is actually checked for the (blank) business address. But I believe if you have the Contact Sync Option “Mailing Address Is Export Only” then this problem should go away. Assuming you had this checked, this entry in the release log mentions a change specifically to 3.0.22 that should have taken care of it:

CHANGE - Outlook Sync, export-only fields are auto-updated before checking for actual changes.

I’d love to see the User-Defined fields for this contact in Outlook, as this change is making an assumption (that TntMPD.xxxx.LastSyncLocal and TntMPD.xxxx.LastSyncRemote exist and are not zero).

Are you at Lake Hart? I could stop by. Otherwise I’d love more screenshots of these other unexpected conflicts.

"Came across the Resolve Sync Conflicts dialog box after moving past the Review synchronization actions screen. I'm going to click the "Ask me later" button so I can think about how I want to handle conflicts in the future. But I would be more inclined to make a decision now if I knew that I could change this setting later. Can this be changed later?"

Could you reword this request? I’m not sure I follow.

--Troy

Troy Wolbrink wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 9:05 PM

Andy, the "Resolve Sync Conflicts" dialog doesn't define a setting for future conflicts. It's there to get your input on how to handle the conflicts you currently have at the time of.

Segullah wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 11:29 PM

Troy, helpful info.

I've started a subsequent sync and now things are a little clearer because of the contrast to the first sync. But I also see that I might have some expectations that are unique to being a current user rather than a first-time user of the Outlook Sync. For instance, it makes sense to sort of force the first time user to deal with their whole Outlook and Tnt lists, but since I'm upgrading, I've already done that.

So this subsequent sync is really what I would have expected for the first sync, where it is only forcing me to deal with new contacts in either list since the last sync. I had added a couple of contacts to Outlook since my first 3.0.22 sync and it was nice that the sync highlighted and checked just those. It was somewhat intuit at that point that Tnt sync was saying, "These people are new and have never been processed before. What do you want to do with them."

I'm in on Monday and will look for you so we can talk more about the user experience.

I never noticed the "This is the mailing address" box checked. Since this wasn't a problem before, I can only guess that Gmail must have done it. The “Mailing Address Is Export Only” is checked, and that had solved the problem in the past. I emailed you back with a screen shot of my sync settings.

Segullah wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 14 Feb 2014 11:42 PM

Troy, regarding the "Resolve Sync Conflicts" dialog, again this may be an issue of my being a current user as opposed to a new user. As a current user, I learned in the past to adjust how sync conflicts are handled on an individual basis on the review screen and that's what I did. So to receive this prompt left me wondering if the changes I had made on the review screen were not recognized by Tnt or were done wrong. But that didn't make any sense, so I assumed that this was just a prompt for a configuration setting. In other words, If I've already handled the conflicts, why am I now being asked how I would like to handle those conflicts?

Troy Wolbrink wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 15 Feb 2014 12:21 AM

Andy, thanks again for your feedback. Yes, I think you're onto something. For previous Outlook Sync users, this is a bit of a jarring change, especially the first time you run it. I'm thinking that maybe this is also true for new users. Like maybe I won't bold anything if you've never run the new Outlook Sync since EVERYTHING will be new.

On your 2nd sync, did you like the fact that the new contacts were automatically checked to import/export? Or would you have preferred that they remain bold (which you do like), but have preferred they weren't automatically checked?

If your example contact with the Mailing Address Type issue was new to the sync process (never before synced), I think I know the difference, and I know of a fix.

I think in the "Resolve Sync Conflicts" dialog, I'll mention the specific number of items that can be auto-resolved. It only prompts you (and applies your choice) to actual conflicts (items that start off as "Skip") that are still marked as Skip. If it starts off as Replace and you change it to Skip, these are ignored.

The reason you're now being prompted to deal with these unresolved sync conflicts is because I'm working hard to gear this feature for non-detail-oriented people who will not even notice the skips, and will always wonder why some of their contacts never sync. :)

Yes, please stop by Monday. I'd love to dialog with you about the user experience, etc.

Bob Mac Leod wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 15 Feb 2014 12:58 AM

I'm not asking for this, just brainstorming: The mobile sync process is pretty daunting and complex, especially for someone who has never done it before. Is it possible to have a wizard that walks someone through the first time--explaining what is happening or what is expected of the user? (I realize the sync process *is* a wizard already, so maybe I'm thinking just of how to improve the descriptive text, yet also have it less intrusive for experienced users.)

Troy Wolbrink wrote re: TntMPD 3.0.22 (beta) - Outlook Sync improvements

on 15 Feb 2014 2:03 AM

I really hope that once the labels are simplified, the "daunting and complex" description will go away! For example, if the import label said "Check the box for the contacts in Outlook that you'd like to copy into TntMPD" instead of what it currently has, I don't think this would be all that daunting. I really don't know how much more simple it can be stated. (And I now realize that the whole "export" and "import" terminology were not helpful for most people!)

I also think it will be less complex once I implement some of the ideas inspired by Andy's feedback as well.

That being said, I haven't checked the F1 help, but I'd love it if there were wizard/page specific help (I may have to add page-specific help context ids) for the entire Outlook Sync process, and I'd be glad to put a reminder/link somewhere on the Outlook Sync screen to further remind people. I'm envisioning a link that says "Press F1 for help". That way if someone does feel totally confused (and I hope that most people won't), they can always press F1 and get some really nice explanation that will help them get back on track.