Even though Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to coordinate meetings with other Microsoft Exchange Server users, there is no built-in mechanism for maintaining a central calendar. Of course, the concept of a central calendar means different things to different people. Some organizations are looking for a centralized view of every person's availability, while others want to keep a common calendar of important company events.
Quick and dirty method for sending personal appointments to a public calendar when you first create the appointment: Invite the public folder. All public folders have e-mail addresses, even though they may be hidden from the GAL.
If you just need to see other people's calendars easily from within Outlook, try the technique described under To get quick access to team calendars.
The tools on this page use a database of some kind as the central source for calendar information, synchronizing with Outlook folders. Exchange Server is not required, although some can also work with Exchange.
Create a Company Events Calendar using an Exchange server application.
Group Calendar without Exchange | Live Calendar Tools | Static and Do-it-yourself Tools | More Information
Tools in the Spotlight
Gives managers, secretaries and co-workers an instant, web-based view of where people are, what they are doing, and when they are next available. AgendaX will seamlessly manage multiple time zones and allow global views of staff availability and resource allocation. AgendaX incorporates many features that allow you to take advantage of Outlook calendaring, Active Directory attributes and web views to give you the ultimate corporate resource portal. No client installation necessary and nothing is installed on Exchange Server. Supports all Exchange Server versions. New Version 6 available now! |
Tools
Sync Outlook calendar on multiple PCs without Exchange server. Microsoft Outlook add-in for sharing and synchronizing Outlook calendar items. Sync and share calendar folders, appointments and meetings in a few clicks. Sync Outlook Calendar between PCs. Any changes made in the shared Calendar folders while offline will be synchronized automatically as soon as you connect to the internet or local network. Share custom Outlook calendar forms and imported items. | |
Synchronize and share Outlook folders on multiple PCs without a server. Microsoft Outlook add-in for synchronizing and sharing Outlook folders, PST files, email, calendar, tasks and notes. This is a time saving and cost-effective solution for sharing Microsoft Outlook between multiple users. Share Microsoft Outlook Public or Personal folders, Windows documents and files with others. It is an easy and effective solution for remote companies and groups. Secure Outlook sharing and synchronization. | |
Displays in/out status of staff members using an external database (Access, SQLServer or any ODBC database). Does not require Exchange Server. | |
Basic functionality is synchronizing user calendars to public calendars and back. New features include: Admin users (managers) can push items to users directly from the group calendar overview and users can not change or remove those from their personal calendar. Team members can push team items to the personal calendar of everyone in their team so these will also display on mobile calendar devices. and more. Users can create new items for other users from the mobile device calendar. | |
Share Outlook schedules in a group calendar and create appointments for others using a networked computer. Schedule appointments for others directly in the Group Calendar in Outlook. Free trial available. For Outlook 2000/2002/2003/2007. Version 1.6.85 | |
Share Microsoft Outlook calendar, contact, and task information with this affordable Exchange alternative. Makes Outlook calendar sharing and Outlook group calendar scheduling easy. Works with Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2010. OfficeCalendar creates Outlook calendar share folders under each users main calendar folder along with a Outlook group calendar. Free trial is available. | |
OwlLook++ is an add-on for Microsoft Outlook making it easier for you to manage efficiently your time and information. It provides you with a better solution to schedule, plan and keep track of your appointments, meetings, tasks, contacts, emails, ...Unlike Microsoft Outlook it provides you with a consolidated view of your activities by grouping dispersed information into a single window. OwlLook++ supports up to 12 time zones making it easy to schedule online meetings.involving people in different countries. | |
Trumba's OneCalendar is an online calendaring service which synchronizes with Outlook. Users of the service are able to share their calendar with others, either publically on a web page or only with trusted contacts. A free 60-day trial is available. |
More Information
Note: The scheduleall section is now divided into four separate pages: Group Calendar without Exchange, Live Calendar Tools, Static and Do-it-yourself Tools, Company Events Calendar
- Sharing with Exchange Server Public Folders
- Managing Exchange Server Permissions -- Includes information on granting global Reviewer permission on users' Calendar folders
- Synchronizing Microsoft Outlook on two machines -- Includes general information on synchronizing Exchange Server mailbox folders with public folders.
- Sharing with Net Folders (Obsolete, available only in Outlook 98 and 2000)
> ...Quick and dirty method for sending personal appointments to a public calendar when you first create the appointment: Invite the public folder
Hi Diane,
How do I do that?
Chris
Well, the public folder needs to be mail enabled... then you add it as a recipient when you send the meeting. If it's mail-enabled it should be in the GAL or type the calendar name and it will resolve.