Configuring Calendar Sync Jobs (Exchange + Salesforce)

Cloud Edition includes a variety of flexible synchronization settings for managing the flow of data between Microsoft Exchange and Salesforce calendars. Before enabling Calendar Sync, it is important for users to become familiar with the available Cloud Edition sync settings. The synchronization of emails, calendars, contacts, and tasks works similarly but can be managed separately based on user preference. In this section, you will learn how to access and alter the calendar sync settings available with Cloud Edition.

Tip: Cloud Edition Admins have the ability to set default sync settings and/or lock down these settings to prevent end user override. Your instance of Cloud Edition may not allow you to change any/all of the settings described in this section, depending on how your Admin has configured your access. Settings that are preset and locked by an Admin are visible to end users but are grayed out and cannot be edited.

cursor-48

Click the images throughout the Knowledge Base to see full size versions of screen captures.

 


Configuring Calendar Sync Jobs

Step_1 Log in to Cloud Edition, and select My Settings in the top right corner of the screen.

 

 


Step_2 Locate the Sync Jobs section and note the information displayed for the Calendar Sync Object. At a glance, users can see whether the Calendar Sync is Enabled, when the sync was Last Run, and the configured Sync Frequency.

 


Tip: The first time you set up your Calendar Sync, the Enabled checkbox will be deselected, the Last Run date and time will be listed as Never Run, and the Sync Frequency will be blank.


Step_3 Select the Edit link for the Calendar Sync Object to view the available sync options.

 


Tip: To review the sync settings without making changes, you can select Calendar to open the Calendar Event Sync Settings window. This will show all of the settings as read only. You can click the Edit button to make changes to the settings if needed.


Step_4

Select a sync option to enable Calendar Sync. Note that there are four modes to choose from based on how you would like the data to be handled.

  • Do Not Sync Calendar Items:
    Disables Calendar Sync. Calendar sync is off by default for all new accounts and new users.
  • Sync All Calendar Items:
    Enables Cloud Edition to sync all of the items on your calendar between systems.
  • Attempt to Sync Calendar Items Only Where Matching Salesforce Records Are Found:
    Enables Cloud Edition to sync only items that are sent to or received from email addresses with matching Salesforce records. Note that all calendar items created in Salesforce will sync to Exchange.
  • Sync Calendar Items Only When Designated:
    Enables Cloud Edition to sync only the items you opt into the sync. Designate Calendar Items to sync by applying a CRM Category in Exchange or by adding a Smart Address as a recipient. Note that all calendar items created in Salesforce will sync to Exchange regardless of designation.


Warning: If you enable Designate mode and run your sync, the items without a designation during the sync attempt will be excluded.


Tip: If an option other than Do Not Sync Calendar Items is already selected for you during your initial set up, your Admin may have preconfigured the setting. If you are not able to change the mode selection, your Admin may have locked down the setting.


Tip: There are several ways to exclude a Calendar Item from syncing in any of the available sync modes.

  • Set an event to Private on the Exchange or Salesforce Calendar.
  • Add an Exchange Category with the name DoNotSync to the event.
  • Include the DoNotRecord Smart Address as a recipient/attendee for the event.

Additional Resources: Learn more about Smart Address in the Configuring Smart Address Sync section of this User Guide


Enter the preferred Sync Frequency in the provided fields. Select the day and time range during which you want the sync to run. Note that these times will be based on the time zone you set for your user account.


Tip: The maximum sync frequency cannot exceed 30 minutes. Users cannot sync more than 30 days of past events or more than 365 days of future events.


Set your Prevent Operations preferences. Indicate whether Cloud Edition should create, update, or delete items in Salesforce or Exchange for new and existing events.


Tip: Users can prevent Cloud Edition from creating, updating, or deleting items regardless of any Salesforce settings. Users can set this individually for Salesforce and Exchange, effectively creating bidirectional or one-way sync rules.


Warning: Prevent Operations settings override any selections you make for CRM category or included Smart Addresses. For example, choosing prevent a calendar item from being created in Salesforce and then tagging that item with a CRM category in Exchange will result in the item not syncing to Salesforce.


Tip: If you enable a Prevent Operations option and run your sync, the items included in the sync attempt will be excluded moving forward.


Change the Folder to map the sync to a different Exchange calendar. The default selection will be your main calendar.

 


Choose a Salesforce Type to sync the Calendar Item to Salesforce with a default Event Type. If no selection is made, the system will use the Salesforce default.

 


Select the Sync Invitees to Salesforce option to sync recipients on Outlook meetings to the Invitee fields in Salesforce.


Set the Conflict Management rule for when an item is deleted in one system but updated in another system since the last sync.

  • Make Salesforce the Master: The action that occurred in Salesforce applies to the Exchange version of the item.
    • For example, if the item is deleted in Exchange and updated in Salesforce, the item will be updated in both systems (not deleted).
  • Make Exchange the Master: The action that occurred in Exchange applies to the Salesforce version of the item.
    • For example, if the item is deleted in Salesforce and updated in Exchange, the item will be updated in both systems (not deleted).
  • Delete the Item: If the item is deleted in one system, it will be deleted from the other as well.
    • For example, if the item is deleted in Exchange and updated in Salesforce, the item will be deleted in both systems (not updated).
  • Keep the Updated Item: If the item is updated in one system, it will be updated in the other as well.
    • For example, if the item is updated in Salesforce and deleted in Exchange, the item will be updated in both systems (not deleted).


Warning: Prevent Operations settings override any selections you make for the Conflict Management rule. For example, choosing prevent a calendar item from being deleted in Exchange and then selecting the Conflict Management rule Delete Wins will result in the item not being deleted from Exchange.


Select or deselect the Alternate/Secondary Email Addresses checkbox to use additional fields when syncing calendar events.


Tip: If you have multiple email address fields on Contact or Lead records, this option will allow for syncing based on all of the fields. This option is enabled by default.


Click the Save button when finished. Then close the Calendar Event Sync Settings window.


The Calendar Sync will run immediately after it is enabled. The Sync Jobs will show the last run date and time and will reflect the Sync Frequency that was selected when editing the sync.


Tip: To run the Calendar Sync again, you can click the Sync Now option. This will place the Sync Job in the queue for processing. This does not mean that the sync immediately runs. The process can take several minutes depending on the amount of data that meets the sync criteria. To click Sync Now again, refresh the page.


Tip: Calendar items that sync to Salesforce using the option to Sync Calendar Items Only When Designated will be marked with a CRM category in Microsoft Outlook. This feature is not available for mobile users and does not apply to calendar items that sync using other sync modes.


Warning: During the sync, all fields (excluding Body and Subject) that are created or updated in Salesforce are validated for maximum length requirements and truncated according to Salesforce limits. Items with Subjects that exceed the maximum length requirements in Salesforce will not sync. By default, calendar items with Body character counts that exceed the maximum length requirements in Salesforce will be truncated to fit in the space permitted.

 

 


Download_WebDownload: Access the complete LinkPoint Connect: Cloud Edition (Exchange + Salesforce) User Guide in .pdf format. Get the User Guide


Support_Web Still need help? Contact our Support Team.