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Common Folders Missing, Users don't see each others' new common folders.
 
#1
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I have 3 users on 3 different computers accessing several common folders located on a shared network drive. When one user creates a new subfolder, the other users don't automatically see it. The Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L command doesn't find these additional folders.

Here's a sample structure:

-Our Common Folders
 -ABC
   -123
   -456
 -DEF
 -GHI
 -JKL

These exist on shared folder:
\\server\emails\Our Common Folders\ABC
                                      \ABC\123
                                      \DEF
... and so on.

If user User1 adds folder -MNO, User2 & User3 don't see it. They have to create a new folder as well and they get a warning that the folder and messagebase already exists or is in use.

How can I get them all to list the same folders? Are there ways to have The Bat automatically scan and list all folders containing message bases?

Thanks
 
 
 
#2
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I've noticed myself that the Ctrl-Alt-Shift-L hotkey doesn't produce when you're using an encrypted message base. So that could be a cause. Another reason could be that it only makes TB search the default mail directory.
Anyhow, there's no way to make TB search for new folders on startup.

The reason that TB doesn't see new common folders is that the file storing the new folders is stored in the deafault mail directory and I hope that your users have that on their own system.

A way to make TB recognize new folders would be to use a shared dummy account in stead of real common folders, because then the list of folders is stored in the account directory. But I won't guarantee that that'll work flawlessly as TB's support for shared accounts has been removed in recent versions.
__________________________________
I'm just a user of The Bat! I don't work for Ritlabs.
 
 
 
#3
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We're not using encrypted message bases, but that's good to know for the future.

You're correct, each user has there default mail account and directory located on their own machine. The common folders are on a server directory. Support and information is already a little scarce so I'm hesitant to try the shared dummy account.

But is that the only option?

Quote
The reason that TB doesn't see new common folders is that the file storing the new folders is stored in the deafault mail directory and I hope that your users have that on their own system.

What is the file you're talking about? Can I copy it to the other machines? Can I backup just the folder structure but not the contained files? I'm really scared about accidentally erasing/overwriting something?

Where can I find more info about common folders? It's a great feature and the #1 reason I chose The Bat over other email clients, but I can't find info on proper use.
 
 
 
#4
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The common folders are stored in the account.flb (IIRC) file in the mail directory.
I don't know whether it would be okay to copy it, so any experiments are your own responsibility.
Take care that you don't copy that file while either the source PC or the target PC have TB running.
__________________________________
I'm just a user of The Bat! I don't work for Ritlabs.
 
 
 
#5
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I'll try a few things w/that file and will post back.

Now about Common Folders... am I misunderstanding their use? Where can I find more info on them? The help file only mentions:
Quote
New Common Folder...
Create a new common folder. The default shortcut key for this function is <Alt+Ins>
I thought Common Folders are common to different users on different computers like "shared" folders on a network drive.

Is there a way to have such a scenario? If not with The Bat! is there another email client that supports this? (I know Lotus Notes is one [expensive] possibility.)
 
 
 
#6
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Well, TB doesn't support shared message bases anymore.
But if you get yourself an older version (like 3.0.1, that was already using the v3 license) you can share full accounts.
You'll need to install one setup as a workstation with TCP/IP and the rest as workstation without TCP/IP.
Shared message bases aren't supported anymore, I guess it's incompatible with more recent features as encrypted message base and such.

BTW Common folder means that it doesn't belong to an account, nothing more, nothing less.
__________________________________
I'm just a user of The Bat! I don't work for Ritlabs.
 
 
 
#7
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OK, I copied the Account.FLB file from one user's computer to mine, for testing. The common folders the user had listed appeared in my account when I started The Bat. The concern is that if each user adds a common folder the other users don't have, the folder list won't merge together - one will simply overwrite the other. And the <Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L> still doesn't work on the Common Folder structure.

As far as creating a dummy account, that recreates the folder structure perfectly and the <Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L> command works as well. It's great! I just want to avoid the additional folders (Inbox/Outbox/Sent/etc.) If I deleting them, they recreate when The Bat starts. I also thought about moving all user's default account locations to the network drive, but then their Inbox/Outbox/Sent/etc. folders would conflict.

So I thought "what would happen if under Options->Preferences->System->Mail Directory, I change the setting from %APPDATA%\The Bat!\ to \\server\drive\email folders\ ?" Well, that moves all my mail files and folders to the server location. If I relocate any of my accounts back to the "%APPDATA%\The Bat!\" location, the <Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L> command does not work on those accounts.

In the end, I would ideally want to have the <Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L> work on common folders outside the default account location - wish I could just program it in myself. Instead, I'm going to put it in BugTracker & WishList.

Thanks for all your help. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions.
 
 
 
#8
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Quote
BTW Common folder means that it doesn't belong to an account, nothing more, nothing less.

Aha! Thanks - that helps.

Quote
Shared message bases aren't supported anymore, I guess it's incompatible with more recent features as encrypted message base and such.

Now that concerns me. I have 3 users sharing 400 common folders on a server drive. Is that going to be a problem? They're not using encrypted message bases but I am worried about conflicts and corruption.

What can I do to let everyone access the messages in these 400 folders in a way that is supported by The Bat?

This is such a great client in all other respects - is it just not intended to be used as a groupware client?
 
 
 
#9
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Reiterating my earlier question...

What can I do to let everyone access the messages in these 400 folders in a way that is supported by The Bat?

This is such a great client in all other respects - is it just not intended to be used as a groupware client?
 
 
 
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