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Please select from one of the menus below for answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions:
Which access methods will be supported by JMU to Oracle Calendar, the web or the Oracle desktop client? As of 1/27/2006, the answer is BOTH! Prior to 1/27/2006, we had stated that the desktop client could be used, but would not be supported by the HelpDesk. This has changed. Users will have the option of using either the desktop (also known as the FAT client) and/or the web interface to Oracle Calendar. IF a user manages one/more resources, they will be required to use the desktop client ONLY to manage security for the resource. In other words, any user who is the primary contact for a resource, will be required to log onto Oracle Calendar using the desktop if/when they need to change security for the given resource. These resource manager users will have the option to ALWAYS use the desktop client if they prefer.
How do I access the Oracle Calendar via the web? Browse to http://ocal.jmu.edu/ and chose Oracle Calendar under End User Resources, Applications. Or, you can download the Oracle Desktop Client (Also see the Oracle Desktop Client FAQ section). You can also go directly to Oracle Calendar via the web using this URL: http://ocal.jmu.edu/welcome/index.jsp.
Does JMU offer training on Oracle Calendar? Yes, through the IT Training Department. Requests for training can be submitted by logging into J-Ess by searching on course Oracle.
Does Oracle Calendar work with a Macintosh?
Yes, testing included a Macintosh running OS X using Safari 1.3. No problems were encountered. One of the objectives of rolling the Oracle Calendar to
other users was to test as many combinations of browsers, operating systems and platforms as feasible.
For specifics regarding Oracle Calendar Sync on a Macintosh, click here.
Will my calendar automatically be backed up? Although the answer is yes, like email, we do not have the capability to easily restore an individual calendar account. Certainly, if there was a hardware failure on the Oracle Calendar server, we can recover calendar data and help individuals get back to a functioning calendar. What we are not offering is the ability for a single user to place a call to the HelpDesk to request that their calendar be restored from such and such a date. If you consider this a serious issue, you can export your personal calendar on whatever regular basis you choose using the Oracle Calendar desktop client. There are two types of backups of the actual calendar database, one of which will make the calendar unavailable for approximately one hour every Monday at 11:00 PM. During this hour, the Oracle Calendar will not be available via any mechanism (web, desktop client, PDA sync, etc.).
How is a resource distinguished from a normal user? A resource is anything (vehicle, electronics, buildings and rooms, etc.) for which you want to track a schedule (calendar) which is not in the JMU payroll system. Employees, retirees and affiliates can not be considered resources in Oracle Calendar.
What are the main differences between the Oracle Calendar desktop client, Oracle Connector for Outlook and the Oracle Calendar Web client? For a detailed comparison see Which Oracle Calendar client should I use? http://calagenda.berkeley.edu/help_training/usersguide/9.0.4-resource_guide/mainpage.htm#1005978
What is the default e-mail client used to send messages? Oracle Calendar has its own built-in mail server which processes email, so there is no such thing as an email client for Oracle Calendar.
Is there additional information about Oracle Calendar if I am interested in further research?
Absolutely. The Oracle Calendar FAQs can be found here (NOTE: There are several sync related FAQs which might help troubleshoot your syncing issue:
http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/cs/user_info/ocalendar/index.html
And the Oracle Calendar documentation portal can be found here:
http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/cs/user_info/eudp/index.static.html
Can we have a shared calendar account accessible by more than one user? No. One of the non-negotiable points to being able to establish an Oracle Calendar account will be the user having a valid JMU e-ID/e-mail account. Users can not share email accounts; Oracle Calendar accounts are no different.
Can I schedule people who are not using Oracle Calendar for a meeting? No, only Oracle Calendar users can be scheduled for meetings. However, you can send e-mail messages to external users who are not on your calendar network with an iCalendar or vCalendar attachment that contains the meeting information. See the Oracle Calendar Desktop Client online help for detailed instructions on how to do this (Open the Oracle Calendar Desktop Client and press F1).
Is Oracle Calendar replacing the WebCal product that is part of Webmail? No, not at this time. WebCal is fine as a personal calendar for those who don't need extensive group calendaring capabilities or the need to use resources (conference rooms, vehicles, etc.) Also, WebCal is available for our students whereas Oracle Calendar will not be (except for student employees.).
Are there certain browser settings that prevent Oracle Calendar from running? Two of which we are aware: 1) With Internet Explorer open, navigate to the following: Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, turn the option labeled Show Friendly HTTP error messages OFF. 2) Locate the toggle labeled Enable third party browser extensions and turn it OFF. For more information, please click here.
Can I assign a task to another Calendar user? At the present time, Oracle Calendar does not support assigning tasks to other users.
Can I prevent users from sending me e-mail notifications when they invite me to entries? You can set your scheduling preferences so that your name will not be included in the default list of attendees receiving e-mail notification. However, users can bypass this by entering your name in the distribution list.
What is the maximum number of occurrences allowed for repeating meetings, daily notes, or day events? The maximum number of occurrences allowed for repeating entries is determined by the calendar system administrator. It is currently set to 99.
Can I modify one occurrence of a repeating entry or do modifications apply to all occurrences of a repeating entry? Yes, you can choose to modify one occurrence or you can modify all occurrences of a repeating entry. However, some fields cannot be modified on a per-occurrence basis. They are the following: Description , Importance level, Access level, and Attachment. Any modifications you make to the above fields will automatically apply to all occurrences of the repeating entry.
How do I know if meetings exist outside the range of displayed hours in my Agenda? Arrows appear on the extreme left of your Date Control Bar as well as on the day when there are meetings outside the range.
When does the default view preference take affect? If using the web interface, it takes affect the next time you log in. For the desktop client, there is no such function, it simply remembers the state in which you last viewed your calendar and opens in that mode.
What is the maximum group size? Please refer here.
How do I install the Oracle Calendar desktop client?
The desktop client can be downloaded and installed from this url: http://ocal.jmu.edu/welcome/index.jsp
by selecting the url for the Oracle Calendar Desktop Client for Windows. Follow the steps below to configure the
desktop client.
Can I open the desktop calendar client without seeing the In-tray? Yes, After opening the desktop calendar click on Tools>Options>General>Startup. In the In-Tray Start-up section, click on Do not open In-tray. Click on OK. The next time you open the desktop calendar and every time you open the calendar (until you change your options) the in-tray will not appear.
How do I access the Oracle Calendar Desktop Client from home?
Like the J-ess system, Oracle Calendar will be accessible from any browser, anywhere, anytime (using the web interface). However, like other JMU
applications which use a client, you WILL be required to use the JMU VPN if you access
Oracle Calendar using the desktop client from off-campus.
| Accessing the Oracle Calendar | VPN required? |
| Web access from on-campus | No |
| Calendar client from on-campus | No* |
| Web access from off-campus | No |
| Calendar client from off-campus | Yes |
* except if accessing via the wireless network, which requires VPN to connect.
Can I prevent certain users from inviting me to entries? Yes, you can specify that certain users cannot invite you to meetings, daily notes and day events. The Managing your access rights section of the Oracle Calendar Desktop Client online help (open the client and press F1) provides instructions on how to do this.
Why can’t I delete certain Agenda entries from my calendar? You cannot delete Agenda entries that you do not own. You can, however, set your preferences to hide entries that you have declined. See the Oracle Calendar Desktop Client online help (open the client and press F1) for information on setting your Agenda preferences.
Oracle calendar for the desktop times out on my JMU work computer giving the error: "Server is unreachable. Verify if service is available....The timeout period...." What can I do to resolve this? The times with this error can vary from 15 minutes to 2 hours. To resolve this issue, uninstall Oracle Calendar. However, when you uninstall Oracle Calendar, it does not delete your configuration file (unison.ini) and it does not delete your offline files (xtm*.*). It will reuse those files after you reinstall it. These files must be manually deleted. Then, reinstall the desktop client. Note: Inadvertent deletion of a wrong file could cause serious computing issues. Please contact the HelpDesk at 568-3555 for assistance as there are many xtm*.* files to consider.
I set up a rather large group in Oracle calendar and received a message that the group was full. What is the maximum group size? It appears the group size limit via the desktop client is 81. The web interface allows for a larger group size, greater than 138 (as per testing) if not unlimited.
When I set reminders, no text shows up. What can I do? When I set reminders, no text shows up. What can I do? Specifically, say you have half-hour meetings setup in the Oracle Desktop Client. Then, when you set reminders on the events, after the first week, the time shows (green), but no text shows in the event--not even BUSY. When you take the reminders off, the text of the meeting shows for every week. The small half-hour time slot only allows 1 line of display. Turning the alarm on adds the bell icon to the appointment block, which pushes the text off screen. Turning off the reminder allows the text to move to the first line. A solution is to change the time increment to 15 minutes (Tools/Options/Display hours/Interval).
Has the Oracle Connector for Outlook been tested?
Yes, using Outlook 2003, all of the basic features have been tested and work fine. Additional details can be found
in the fit/gap document in the secureweb location https://secureweb.jmu.edu/computing/ocal.
Note: users need to understand that this application simply allows your desktop version of Outlook to connect to
the Oracle Calendar server, it DOES NOT synchronize the two calendars. There is currently no known functionality which will
take the data from your personal folders Calendar and sync it with your Oracle Calendar account.
Special note for PDA users who also plan to use the Oracle Connector for Outlook: By default, the sync and connector
software will not allow you to sync more than one device. You might investigate a product from Chapura which has more robust sync capabilities. There is a charge for this software. Details can be viewed at http://www.chapura.com.
How do I install/configure Oracle Connector for Outlook for use at JMU? Follow these steps:
Screenshots of installing/configuring Oracle Connector for Outlook (current version)
Screenshots of installing/configuring Oracle Connector for Outlook (prior version)
When I logon to Outlook, I get an error because the Outlook Connector has my old password stored in the cache. What should I do? If you have the calendar tied into Outlook, you need to run the Oracle Connector Configuration Wizard each time you change your e-ID.
When I try to change my Oracle Calendar password in Oracle Connector for Outlook, all the options and fields are grayed out. What should I do?
You must close both Outlook and Oracle Calendar. Then, you will be able to change the calendar password in Oracle Connector for Outlook. Do this by following these steps:Click Start, choose All Programs, then Oracle Connector for Outlook, and run Oracle Connector Configuration Wizard.
NOTE: This must be done if you SAVE your password in Oracle Connector and have changed your e-ID password.
Why do calendar entries that I have deleted using the Outlook connector still appear in OCAL on the web?
When an event is deleted using the Outlook connector it is marked as 'Declined' on the OCAL server. Therefore, it will
still appear on the web and client versions of OCAL as a declined meeting.
How do I view another user's calendar in Outlook?
Can I install the Oracle Connector in an account with user rights? Oracle Connector for Outlook must be installed under a Windows account with administrative privileges. If you have installed the connector using the Run As option under a user account and are having problems you will need to go to the Help menu in Outlook and choose Detect and Repair...
How do I set up/configure Oracle Calendar Sync for use at JMU? First, Oracle Calendar Sync may have to be installed multiple times before it works properly. Make sure to reboot when you finish installing Oracle Calendar Sync. The server is ocal.jmu.edu, your account name is your e-ID, and your password is your e-ID password. Leave the Node field blank.
On a Macintosh, the process may require multiple installations of the Oracle Calendar Sync tool as well as multiple installations of the Palm Desktop software before synchronization works correctly. You will also want to ensure that the Oracle Calendar Sync application is on the Palm device itself (e.g. Treo). Double-click the .prc file under Applications/Palm/Add-ons and then do a Hotsync to install it on the Palm device. Again, this may require multiple installations/uninstallations/reinstallations before it functions properly.
For detailed instructions, please Treo 650 Syncing to OCAL via Mac OS X.
How do I configure conduits for Palm Hot Sync? Right click on the Hot Sync icon in the tray and then select Custom.
When I change my e-ID password, do I need to change any other settings to sync properly with my Palm? If you change your e-ID password, you must also go into Oracle Sync for Palm/Settings program on your PC and change the password there.
How do I sync my PocketPC with Oracle Calendar (when time zones do not match/unable select a time zone on the Oracle sync set-up screen)?
This is a known bug in the Oracle Sync for the PocketPC.
The program does not load any time zone information so the sync fails.
You need to do the following in order to get it to work:
To get sync working, copy the timezone.ini file as described below:
"To prevent synchronization problems due to a known bug, navigate to
C:\Program Files\Oracle\Oracle Calendar Sync for Pocket PC\, locate the timezone.ini file, and copy it to
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Oracle\Oracle Calendar Sync for Pocket PC."
(Source: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)
NOTE: <username> is often your e-ID.
For Oracle's technical information regarding syncing, please visit http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/cs/user_info/ocalendar/sync_client_index.html.
For more information on Smartphones and PDAs and syncing at JMU, please click here.
Considerations when using Oracle Calendar Sync for Palm