Proper setup to work with iCloud sync?

[Ayzad]

Hello,

I apologize in advance for these questions, but I couldn't find their answers anywhere...

I have recently switched to a iPhone and I set up the iCloud Control Panel to sync it with my Win7 PC running Outlook 2010. I think I have solved most problems, but a few remain:

FIRST

SECOND

THIRD

How can I get Outlook to save locally an automatically updated copy of the data files? I mean, syncing in the cloud is nice, but I feel way more secure with a backup copy of my important stuff on my hard drive too...



Thank you for your help and patience!

 

[Diane Poremsky]

1. The To-Do bar only shows the calendar in the default data file and the icloud can't be set as default. iTunes will sync over the local network and use the local pst file. It only syncs when the apple is on the same network as the computer though.

2. Do you want it default in outlook's contacts or in the address book? See http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/icloud-outlook-problems-syncing-contacts/#first to set it as the default address book. You'll need to use a macro to select it by default in the contacts pane. The macro on this page: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/tasks/remove-todo-list-tasks-list-outlook/ can be tweaked to work with contacts.

3. The icloud is cached on the computer. Backing it up is somewhat pointless - icloud won't use it. Your Outlook pst file can be backed up - it should be in my documents\outlook files. You can copy it to make a backup when outlook is closed.

 

[Ayzad]

Diane, thank you for your kind help!

1) This is _really_ bad... Is there any workaround for this (like, in example, getting Outlook to automatically duplicate appointments from the icloud calendar in its default file, or something like that)?

2) Thanks!

3) My bad for phrasing it wrong. What I meant was:
- I am not aware of a file containing the same data sent to icloud on my pc. Should the icloud service not be accessible, I'd like to have the data on file too - but I understand that they are not saved in the pst anymore, are they?
- Is there any way to get my Outlook data saved on the pc too as I create/edit them?

 

[Ayzad]

Aw...

I did try to work the macro, but I couldn't make head nor tail of it... Can anybody help with the correct macro script?

 

[Diane Poremsky]

The only way to keep a copy in the outlook data file and in icloud is using the macro or a sync utility. This macro will copy appointments to the icloud calendar: http://www.slipstick.com/developer/copy-new-appointments-to-another-calendar-using-vba/ or use one of the tools here: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/icloud-outlook-problems-syncing-contacts/#tools

If you are having problems with the VBA, what happens when you try it? Where are you running in to problems using it?

 

[Ayzad]

Diane, you are an angel but I am starting to realize I am getting overwhelmed by the growing number of tools, plugins, scripts, idiosyncrasies and sheer lingo involved. Before diving in something that at the moment is way over my head, may I try another approach taking a few steps back?

My initial goal was "simply" to keep Outlook as it was while getting its contents (just the contacts and calendar appointments, really) synchronized with both an iphone and an ipad.
Given that we are talking about three of the most used IT products in the world here, I can't believe there is not any foolproof solution to get them working together... is it possible that I am approaching the problem the wrong way altogether?