resource has not been configured to automatically accept...

[seancb]

I am doing some testing regarding premium versus standard resources. I think I understand the dfference, but I have run into some problems. After setting up some test appointments and fooling around with the system, I seem to get into a bind where I can no longer set up appointments because I get an error stating that the resource "has not been configured to automatically accept meeting requests or process cancellations".

This seems to happen if I try to request the presence of a premium resource as a "resource". If I add the resource as an "optional attendee", the request will go through. This also seems to be related to my logging in AS the resource. When I first create a resource, everything seems to work from my user account, but once I log in as the resource to accept invitations and verify the schedule, future meeting requests sent from my user account which includ that resource give the error.

I cannot find anywhere to change the automatic accept/deny option while logged in as the premium resource. Additionally, I don't see why the system should throw this error... shouldnt the request be sent to the resource even if it is not set to auto-accept? Isn't the whole point of a premium resource so that someone can log in and manually accept the invitations?

Sorry if this is confusing, but it's been confusing me

[Valerion]

Not sure why you'd be getting those errors, but the best place to reconfigure a resource is in SAC. If the flags to auto-accept there are still checked, you can use Outlook to check there as well (Tools -> Options -> Preferences -> Calendar Options -> Resource Scheduling). This should not be needed, however.

[seancb]

Thanks! Just one problem: the only options I can find in the SAC are:
-Is a premium resource
-Can have recurring events
-Can book concurrent events
As well as changing the "contact info" for the resource. I don't see a specific flag for auto-accept of a non-recurring, non-concurrent event. Or is that just the same as the "premium" checkbox?

Also, I thought the point of a premium resource is that it doesn't auto-accept, and that a user needs to manage it in the sense that they have to approve each booking? I guess I just don't understand the error. It's telling me that the resource is not set to auto-accept, so shouldn't it just send the request so that the resource can manually accept (or reject)? I can't get it to do that unless I set the resource as an optional attendee.

I am going to try to create some new resources from scratch and document exactly how I got to this error...

[seancb]

OK I recreated some new resources and cannot duplicate the error so until I figure out exactly how I got to that stage, I guess there is not much that can be done! However I have noticed the following bizarre functionality:

-Create "Premium Resource" from SAC
-Log in as "Premium User"
-Request an appointment with "Premium Resource" as a resource
The appointment is created and the resource automatically accepts the invite.
Isn't the premium resource supposed to wait until it's representative (or one of it's delegates) accepts the appointment?

Then I tried:
- Log in as "Premium User"
- Request an appointment with "Premium Resource" as a required attendee
The appointment is created, the resource does not accept it
- Log in as "Premium Resource"
- Accept appointment
The appointment then shows up as all accepted.
Isn't this how it should act when the appointment is created with the resource as a resource instead of required attendee?

Then, for fun I tried:
- Log in as "Premium Resource"
- Set up "Premium User" as a delegate with "Owner" privs on inbox, contacts and calendar, with calendar requests going to both mailboxes.
- Logged in as "Premium User"
- Request an appointment with "Premium Resource" as a required attendee
"Premium User" receives an appointment request on behalf of "Premium Resource"
- Click "Accept" from within the "Premium User" inbox. Click "send response now"
Request email stays in inbox. Wait for the response, it never shows up. Calendar still shows the resource as not having accepted the request
- Log in as "Premium Resource"
- Click "Accept" on the same request, Click "send response now"
Request email disappears from inbox
- Log in as "Premium User"
Acceptance appears in inbox, calendar shows as accepted.

So it appears that the delegate cannot actually accept and process calendar requests from within their own mailbox.

Or am I doing something wrong?

[Valerion]

I think the reasoning there is that if you send a meeting invite to a resource, you are in effect asking if the resource is available. If it is, it should be reserved immediately, pending the other attendees. If you want to free it up again, the organiser should cancel the meeting.

[seancb]

So then what is the difference between a standard and a premium resource? I thought it was the ability to manually approve/reject bookings?

And where is the "checkbox" for changing the auto-accept settings? I can't find it in SAC or SWA...

Thanks!

[Valerion]

A resource is simply a user in Scalix, with some specific properties set on it. With a premium resource you can log into Outlook with the user and manage it, or add it as an additional mailbox to another account and manage it that way. With a standard resource you can do the same, except you are limited to SWA logins, and you have to log into the account instead of using delegation.

As to auto-accept, I've had a look again, the resource should always auto-accept meeting invites. What you can change in SAC is how to resolve conflicts and recurrence.

[seancb]

What about the delegation? It would be great if you could see if that works for you so that I'll know whether it's something I'm doing or if it's a system issue. When I add a user as a delegate, the delegate receives the meeting requests for the resource but the delegate cannot accept them (well, they are presented with the button, can click on the button to generate the "confirm send reply" dialog, can click "send reply" but the whole process seems to do nothing in regards to actually approving the meeting request)
Thanks again,
Sean

[Eugene]

Hi everyone

Just a bit of background:

We've got Scalix 11.3 running on CentOS 5 with around 200 users.
(I've also got Scalix 11.4 running on a CentOS 5 testbox that does the same thing with the SWA & resource bookings)

I've set up premium resources wanting to enable people to book the resources themselves.

Booking the resource from Outlook (with the Scalix connector) works just fine - the resource accepts the meeting requests and the scheduling appears to work as it should - if the resource is busy then it is reported as such. Absolutely brilliant.

The issue comes in with my SWA users - which is the bulk of them. Whenever I try to book a resource through a SWA session I get an error stating that the resource has not been set up to accept meeting requests automatically.

The release notes (including the most recent 11.4 release notes) state the following:

"SWA does not accept resource bookings made with global character sets. "

It also says that there is no work-around for this.

I'm hoping that I can do something so that we do not have "global character sets" so that we can book resources from SWA.

Would anyone be able to point me into the right direction with these character sets?

Waiting in eager anticipation...
______
Eugene

[Eugene]

Hi All

Just a quick update - the SWA does allow me to book resources if I add the resource from the address book and do not type it in as an attendee.

To clarify:

* Start a new meeting request
* Change to the Scheduling Tab
* Type in the resource's name in the Name list
* Scalix either resolves what I typed in (if there is a single resource with the text I started to type) or displays a list of possible alternatives from the address book.
* Change the "Required/Optional/Resource" field to Resource
* Click on Send

This results in the error that states that "the resource has not been set up to automatically accept meeting requests or process cancellations."

However...the below works....

* Start a new meeting request (or use the existing one from the steps above)
* Change to the Scheduling Tab
* Click on the Add from Address Book button
* Search for the resource in the address book
* Select the resource I want and click on the "Resources->" button
* Click OK
* Click on Send

This results in resource being booked successfully.

Any idea why this would be...?

Any chance that this can be fixed via the setup or will this have to be fixed in an update...?

______
Eugene

[Eugene]

Hi all

Good news...this problem seems to have been fixed in version 11.4.1u1...

I've recently installed it and I have just been able to book a resource by adding the resource name without going anywhere near the system address book (which is also much faster since installing 11.4.1u1).

Excellent...thanks guys, whoever you are!

Eugene