Microsoft KB Archive/181988

= OL98: (CW) How to Create a Resource Account =

Article ID: 181988

Article Last Modified on 8/28/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 98 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q181988



NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Corporate Workgroup/Other option. This option allows you to use Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) services. To determine your installation type, on the Help Menu click About Microsoft Outlook. In About Microsoft Outlook you should see "Corporate" if you have the Corporate Workgroup installation.



SUMMARY
In Microsoft Outlook 98, you can schedule the use of resources such as conference rooms and AV equipment by defining an e-mail account for each resource. To reserve these resources, you invite them to meetings and activities just like individuals. These resources can be set up to automatically accept or reject scheduling requests, or you can assign a delegate to handle these decisions. If you want to centralize booking of several resources, you can assign a single delegate to multiple resource accounts.

This article describes how to set up a resource account and how to set up a delegate account to control one or more resources.



MORE INFORMATION
If you want to centralize booking of several resources, you can assign a single delegate to multiple resource accounts and then configure the delegate to respond to meeting requests automatically. All meeting requests sent to the resource accounts are forwarded to the delegate for processing. The advantage to this method is that only one computer is required to handle multiple resources. For example, you can set up a dedicated computer, with Outlook logged on to the delegate account, to handle the booking of several conference rooms at once.

There are a series of tasks to complete to set up a resource account and a delegate account to control one or more resources.
 * Setup the Delegate Account
 * Configure the Delegate Account
 * Setup Resource Account
 * Configure the Resource Account
 * Enable automatic booking of resource requests

Setup the Delegate Account
You must create an e-mail account for the delegate. You can create a dedicated delegate account, or you can use an existing user account. For example, you may use a receptionist's e-mail account for booking all conference rooms in a building.

Configure the Delegate Account
To configure the delegate account, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the delegate account in Outlook.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 3) Click Calendar Options and then click Resource Scheduling.
 * 4) Click to select the desired options under, "Processing of meeting requests."
 * 5) Click OK and OK.

Setup the Resource Account
To set up a resource in Outlook, first create an e-mail account for each resource just as you would for a workgroup member. Assign a descriptive name to the resource such as, "Room 101." If a delegate is assigned to a resource, you can configure the resource account so that meeting requests go directly to the delegate.

Configure the Resource Account
To configure the resource account, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the resource account in Outlook.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 3) Click Calendar Options and then, click Resource Scheduling.
 * 4) Click to select the desired options under, "Processing of meeting requests."
 * 5) Click OK.
 * 6) Remove the checkmark for "Default Reminder" at the beginning of the Calendar item.
 * 7) On the Delegates tab, click Add to add the name of the delegate account.
 * 8) In the Delegate Permission box, click Editor in the Calendar list and click to select, "Delegate receives copies of meeting-related messages sent to me" and then click OK.
 * 9) On the Delegates tab, click to select, "Send meeting requests and responses only to my delegate, not to me" and then click OK.

Enable Automatic Booking of Resource Requests
To enable automatic booking of resource requests, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the delegate account in Outlook.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 3) On the Preferences tab, click to select E-mail Options.
 * 4) Click Advanced E-mail Options.
 * 5) Click "Process requests and responses on Arrival." Click OK and OK
 * 6) Click Calendar Options and then Resource Scheduling
 * 7) Under "Processing of meeting requests," select the options you want to use. Click to select all three options for complete automatic booking of all meeting requests forwarded to the delegate. The delegate account must remain logged on for automatic booking of resources.

NOTE: It may take a few minutes for the new resource and delegate options to update on the Microsoft Exchange server.

