An InfoHelp How To...? Guide
The SynQ add-in for Microsoft Outlook synchronizes calendar events, to-do/task items, and address book contacts between the JCU calendar server and Outlook. Once Outlook SynQ is installed, the add-in runs from within Outlook. The following guide will take you through the steps required to install and setup SynQ on your computer.
Overview | Getting Started | Calendar | Advanced Features | FAQ
System Requirements | Installing Outlook SynQ | Configure SynQ Connector | Configure Outlook SynQ
System Requirements
System Requirements
- IBM-compatible 486 PC or higher
- 20 MB available disk space
- Microsoft Windows© 2000 or XP
- Microsoft Outlook 2003 (SP2)
- Administrator privileges on your PC
- Network access to your calendar server
- A valid JCU computer account
Installing Outlook SynQ
To install the SynQ add-in for Microsoft Outlook on your PC:
- Download the Outlook SynQ installer from JCU Webmail, login then click Options then choose SynQ fom the menu on the left. Click on the SynQ.exe link and save the file to your desktop.
- Make sure that Outlook is not running when you run the installer.
- Double-click the SynQ.exe icon on your desktop to start the installer. If an older version of Outlook SynQ is already installed, the installer prompts you to Modify, Repair, or Remove the old version; choose Remove . You will need to run the installer again to install the new version.
- Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Configure SynQ Connector
Before the Outlook SynQ plugin can communicate with other Calendar users on your network you must configure the SynQ Connector LDAP settings.
To do this go to Tools > Email Accounts and select the "View or change existing directories or address books" then click the Next button.
Choose the SynQ Connector from the list of available directories then click the Change button on the right.
Click the More Settings button at the bottom to open the LDAP Directory window
Select the Search tab and in the Search Options section enter the following Search base:
dc=jcu,dc=edu,dc=au
Click OK to save the changes
Configure Outlook SynQ
There are four items that you can configure:
Personal account: You set up your own synchronization options. At minimum, you need to do this task to use SynQ. (Otherwise, there will be nothing to synchronize.) The other three items can be configured at your convenience or whenever you want to take advantage of the benefits they provide.
Automatic conflict resolution: You specify a default “winner” (Outlook or the calendar server) for every conflict that Outlook SynQ encounters. Note: You must set "Favor Server" for the first time you synchronize. If you don't then the first sync will clear all entries in your JCU Webcal according to the empty entries in Outlook.
Background synchronization: You setup SynQ to automatically synchronize your data at a specific interval. This feature eliminates the need for you to manually synchronize your data each time you do something involving your calendar, contacts, or tasks.
Users to synchronize: Setup SynQ to synchronize another user’s calendar and tasks, enabling you to view that user’s most up-to-date information. Note: The other user must set access permissions on the calendar server that allow you to read and modify events.
SynQ configuration is accomplished via the SynQ tab within the Outlook Options dialog box. Click Tools > Options and choose the SynQ tab in the Options dialog box.
Personal Account
Once on the SynQ tab click on the "Personal Account" button, the Personal Account - SynQ dialog box will be displayed.
- In the Personal Account section, complete the following fields:
- User Name: Enter your JCU computer account code (username).
- Password: Enter the password for your JCU computer account.
- Server: Put in the server address for the calendar server - mail.jcu.edu.au
- Keep the Remember Password option enabled, which is selected by default and tick the Use Secure Connection option.
- Click Verify. The SynQ installer checks to make sure the personal account information you entered is valid.
- In the Confirm - SynQ dialog box, click OK
Automatic Conflict Resolution
You can setup SynQ to resolve conflicts automatically - thus avoiding the need to
deal with the Conflict detected - SynQ dialog box each time a conflict is
detected. A conflict occurs when the same item has been changed in both the
calendar server and Outlook since the last successful synchronization.
To setup automatic conflict resolution click the down arrow and select a "winner" whenever SynQ encounters a conflict
- Favor Outlook
- Favor Server
Whenever a conflict is detected during synchronization, SynQ will automatically overwrite either the calendar server or Outlook item, depending on your Automatic Conflict Resolution selection.
Note: By default, the drop-down list has Disabled selected. Disabling automatic conflict resolution causes the Conflict detected - SynQ dialog box to appear each time SynQ encounters a conflict - thus requiring your intervention to determine the winner. Selecting Favor Outlook or Favor Server from the drop-down box, speeds up the synchronization process by always determining the winner according to your indicated preference.
Automatic Synchronization
You can setup Outlook SynQ to perform periodic synchronizations automatically in the background. This Background Synchronization feature works in conjunction with the Automatic Conflict Resolution setting.
To setup background synchronization:
- Complete the steps as per the Automatic Conflict Resolution instructions above.
- In the Background Synchronization section, click the Frequency down arrow and then select a time increment (15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 4 hours).
- Click OK
Users to Synchronize
On the SynQ tab click the Add Shared User button.
In the User Name field, enter the name of another user who also has a active JCU computer account.
Ensure that the username is valid by clicking Verify
In the confirm SynQ dialog box, click OK.
In the items to Synchronize section, select any or all of the items to synnchronize:
- Calendar: If you select this item, make sure you click the down arrow and select the appropriate item from the drop-down list.
- Calandar attachments: Attached files that the shared user may have saved to calendar entries
- Tasks: Any of the shared users Tasks or To-Do List items
Finally, click OK at the bottom. The shared user will now appear in the Users to Synchronize list on the SynQ tab.
You can turn off synchronization for a shared user by removing the tick from the checkbox next to their name. To remove a shared user, right-click their name and then select Delete. To change the synchronization settings for a shared user, right-click their name and select Modify.
To manually Synchronize your account with the calendar server click on the Synchronise using SynQ button 
on the Outlook toolbar.
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