New job calendar challenges. Any help appreciated.

jgallcash

I have just started a new job and during my probationary period am limited to the equipment that I am allowed. This means that I don’t have access to a PDA or more importantly my calendar on the move. I do have an iPhone and am trying to maximise my own resources instead.

Is it right that I can sync my outlook (2003) with my iPhone and if so is the best way to do this via syncing outlook with google calendar and then have google calendar sync with the iPhone?

Secondly the system at work is that we use our own personal calendars for our own use and that we have a wider team (shared) calendar that stores the movements of the whole team. The shared one can get a little messy so I want to duplicate those tasks in the team (shared) calendar that are mine and store them in my personal one. I know that I can copy and paste tasks but is there a quicker way of duplicating these items from the shared into my personal. I am very worried that following my personal calendar too closely will end with me missing something.

Unfortunately I have no say in changing the overall system so I have to work with what I have. Any ideas are most welcome.

tronator

jgallcash wrote: »

Is it right that I can sync my outlook (2003) with my iPhone and if so is the best way to do this via syncing outlook with google calendar and then have google calendar sync with the iPhone?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sync+iphone+outlook

If your company uses Exchange then you can do it "over the air" using ActiveSync.

jgallcash

Thanks tronitor and point taken.

Any thoughts on the other parts?

IM

A lot depends on what the company allows you to do - in terms of 'security' of their data, and access to tools.

The Luddite attitude of my last company in this area, was one of the things that used to really wind me up.

Initially, I managed to get them to load ActiveSync on my laptop, so that I could sync my diary and tasks to my Windows phone.

Unfortunately, when my laptop was rebuilt as part of an upgrade, they decided I should never have been allowed this, because attaching a phone to their network was a terrible security risk.

I then resorted to exporting a CSV file of my calendar at the end in Google Calendar, and using GooSync (whilst it was still free) to get the information to my phone.

They then blocked everyone's access to Google Calendar, even though it is separate to Google Mail (all webmail being blocked, obviously...).

I also tried using Remember The Milk for my task list, but that was blocked too...

Aaaaarrrgghhh!! So glad I'm not there anymore!

Anyway, to actually try and answer your question.... There are any number of ways to do what you want, but it all depends on what your techy types will allow - in terms of downloading add-ons to Outlook and/or accessing the exchange server to sync.

e.g. Google Calendar can sync with your Outlook (both your work/team calendar, and your personal one at home) if they'll allow you to download software onto your system. See http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=98563&cbid=-1llg3q83buqlx&src=cb&lev=index
You can have a number of calendars within Google Calendar, so should be able to avoid the messy situation you mentioned.
You could use Remember The Milk (https://www.rememberthemilk.com) to handle your tasks. This integrates with Google Calendar, and there is an add-in to sync with your task list in Outlook (http://www.sprinxcrm.com/SprinxCRM%20OutlookSync%20for%20Remember%20The%20Milk/index.html).

See how that sounds at work. I'm starting a new job myself soon, so am wondering what kind of culture I'll be joining - and I may be coming back to you for tips myself!

jgallcash

Brilliant post which is much appreciated.

diable

Why should you use your own equipment? The company should supply you with the relevant tools for you to be able to carry out your job.

PasturesNew

I've never synchronised anything, never had a PDA or an iPhone. I'd get one of these: http://www.letts.co.uk/

IM

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've never synchronised anything, never had a PDA or an iPhone. I'd get one of these: http://www.letts.co.uk/

LOL - This might appeal to you then http://www.diyplanner.com/

Absolutely nothing wrong with going Old School in my book - if you've got a system that works for you, stick with it.

I'd just never have the discipline to copy electronic appointments over to a paper diary, when I accept meeting invites in Outlook - and I'll always have my phone with me, unlike a diary.

In fact, what I've been searching for for ages is some kind of voice-recognition app, so that when I'm driving I can dictate and create Tasks/appointments - by the time I get home/to work, invariably things have fallen out of the colander that masquerades as my brain.

jgallcash

They will provide me with a blackberry once I have passed my 6th month probation period. Not really unusual for things to be quite restrictive until this point. Tried google sync for iPhone but having no admin privileges means it won't let me download it. I think I'm a bit stuffed.