The Availability Checker Sample Application

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To make it easier for you to start building complex applications that leverage the development features in Outlook 2000, I've included some sample applications on the companion CD that are not covered in this chapter. One sample that you might find particularly useful is the Availability Checker application. By combining COM add-ins, ActiveX controls, and custom Outlook forms, this sample allows you to synchronize the information on availability of users at different points in time (free/busy information) for all users in your organization. While working offline, the users can also create meeting requests that query the free/busy information for other users. Figure 10-16 shows the Property page you can use to set up the users you want to synchronize offline, and Figure 10-17 shows the custom Outlook form and ActiveX control that allow you to work with the synchronized free/busy information.

Figure 10-16. The Property page of the Offline Free/Busy sample application.

Figure 10-17. The custom Outlook form and ActiveX control that allow you to browse the availability of users while you work offline.