Microsoft Entourage recurring events with no end date
If a recurring event is created and it has no end date -- which is the default setting on a new recurring event -- Microsoft Entourage will create events on every specified day in the future.
Without an ending condition, a very large number of events will be created, all of which must be sent to the Exchange server. This happens with Microsoft Entourage v.X and 2004 when they are set up for use with Exchange. Never-ending events can also cause problems when synchronizing with a Palm OS handheld, using the Microsoft Handheld Synchronication software for Entourage; see the Microsoft KnowledgeBase article 311125 regarding Handheld Synchronization Fails or Computer Stops Responding.
Entourage appears to send these during its next scheduled synchronization (to an Exchange mailbox and/or a Palm OS handheld), but there may be so many events to send that it won't be able to finish before it starts synchronizing again. This, from our experience, can lead to a failed (Palm OS HotSync) or never-ending (Exchange) synchronization cycle. Combining never-ending events sync with both Palm HotSync and Exchange account could lead to greater problems.
In order to create an event that recurs for an definite but long period of time, the following steps should be taken:
- Create a new calendar event with Microsoft Entourage.
Note: There are a couple of different Ways to create a new calendar event in Microsoft Entourage, so choose whatever way is easiest for you. - Select "Custom..." from the "Occurs" menu.
Note: Every other option in this menu (except "Once Only") is essentially a recurring event with no end date. You should always use a custom recurrence pattern with a specified end date for any repeating event. - Set up the event with whatever recurrence pattern desired.
- Click on "End by" and set the date to no later than six months in the future.
- Click the "OK" button to create the event.
If the event is still occuring six months later, another six-month block of events can be created. This way, Entourage has a defined number of events it must send to your mailbox on the Exchange server, and this will drastically reduce the time each synchronization operation takes.
