Hero Outlook Sync Poorly Executed

[Guest dorenhage]

Phone: HTC Hero

Carrier: Sprint

Sync program from HTC (v2.04) is poorly implemented and worse, unreliable. Not all the information in each contact (Notes) is transferred to HTC device from Outlook. Some of the contacts are not transferred or are synced incorrectly. PLUS, to add insult to injury, the HTC Sync program locks up computer! At this time (10/20/2009) there is not a reliable way to use this program so I am deleting it until a new version addresses these problems.

So here’s workaround:

Export calendar or contacts in CSV file from Outlook to desktop

Then import into Google.

Then sync from HTC Hero with Google.

If a file has been changed whatsoever in Outlook, then a duplicate will be imported into Google.

To get information from HTC Hero into Outlook, first sync with Google. Then export CSV file from Google to desktop then import that CSV file into Outlook and make sure and check "do not import duplicates". A file that has been changed in Google or the Hero that exists in Outlook will not be imported and neither will the changes.

By syncing with Google AFTER importing, all the imported information will take precedence over what is on HTC device. If a contact or calendar item has been changed, the changed item will be imported. Unchanged contacts or calendar items will not be duplicated.

This is obviously an awkward workaround necessitated by the woeful implementation of the Sync program. As it stands now, Outlook cannot be reliably synced with the Hero and if you are brave enough to try - BACKUP before attempting to sync!

Edited October 20, 2009 by dorenhage

[Guest Keramidas]

Hi dorenhage,

Sorry to hear that. I'm a Linux user and I see you're in the same situation as I am: exporting all contacts (in my case: from Novell Evolution) to a file, then importing into Google (which auto-syncs with the Hero).

Is anybody working on a SyncML program for Android ? Because when this happens, if it works and syncs seamlessly like my Nokia N82 did, I'm ready to pay, I mean even if it costs 30$...

I hope a real sync program soon comes out for Android, be it free or not !

PS: With your current "one-way file sync" method, do you get photos for your contacts on the Hero ? I don't.

Edited October 20, 2009 by Keramidas

[Guest peje_hero]

Hi the syncml-client exits but its in early development state, syncing of contacts works for me...

https://android-client.forge.funambol.org/

cu peje

[Guest Keramidas]

Hi the syncml-client exits but its in early development state, syncing of contacts works for me...

https://android-client.forge.funambol.org/

cu peje

Hi,

Yes I know, forgot to mention it.

Too bad that it doesn't seem to be in very active development...

[Guest peje_hero]

I've found a solution for linux users, get zarafa groupware and then you can use the exchange option of the hero,

cu peje

[Guest JulesB]

To get information from HTC Hero into Outlook, first sync with Google. Then export CSV file from Google to desktop then import that CSV file into Outlook and make sure and check "do not import duplicates". A file that has been changed in Google or the Hero that exists in Outlook will not be imported and neither will the changes.

I found that HTC Sync did not work for me for when using an Outlook calendar with categories. I use Companion Synchronize for Google to synch my Outlook calendar entries (categorised into Work, Home, etc) into separate Google calendars. These then synch to the Hero calendar, with the separate Google calendars colour-coded on the Hero. It works very well and far better than HTC Sync. Companion Synchronise also works with contacts and To Do entries, but I don't want to store these on Google.

J