Questions about upgrading Vault Forms and client user extensions.

[Zenworks2001]

Hi,
I would like to have 2 clarifications concerning (1) upgrade of Enterprise Vault forms and (2) upgrade of Vault user extensions.

Here our actual environment:
- Vault servers have been upgraded to version 2007 SP4.
- Enterprise Vault forms are still in version 6.0.6-001
- No OWA implemented
- OS client in Windows 2000 SP4 with Vault users extensions 6.0.1.7637

(1) Concerning upgrade of forms, no files (fdm extension) are available in version 2007 SP4.
These files are still available in version 7 SP5 of Enterprise Vault sources.
May be these forms are included in last user extensions?

(2) Concerning upgrade of Vault user extensions, can I upgrade directly from version 6.0.1.7637 to version 2007 SP4 or do I need to upgrade first to version 7.xxx?

Many thanks for your feedback
Kr,


Here're my references:
- ftp://exftpp.symantec.com/pub/support/products/Exchange_Mailbox_Archiving_Unit/UpgradeInstructions_E...
- EVault Installing and configuring 2007guide

[John_Chisari]

 EV2007 has a nice feature where you can force the deploy of forms locally - that is, the forms will be loaded into Outlooks personal forms - the forms are actually part of the EV client now.  You can make this change in the mailbox policy - under Outlook settings.

And yes you can upgrade the EV client directly from 6 to EV2007.

Any reason why you didn't upgrade to EV2007 SP5 on the server?

[Zenworks2001]

Hi John,
First of all, many thanks for your feedback.
We would like to maintain forms in the Exchange Organization and not pushing them on client (from Vault policy).
I was not aware of that option. After reading this info, I've checked location of these files on my Vault server: these files are located in the Enterprise folder  *\EnterpriseVault\Languages\Forms\en\*.fdm

So, I suppose that I can follow procedure for installing forms from ESM and take these files...
Concerning SP5, not released when upgraded to v2007.
KR,

[MichelZ]

KR

This is correct, you can use those files.
However, deploying forms locally is considered "best practice".

Is there a particular reason you want to have them in the Org Forms?

Cheers

[Zenworks2001]

Hi Michel,
Just because I've never found a Symantec document indicating that deploying forms locally is considered "best practice" ;)
If you have reference...
KR,

[MichelZ]

I'm not sure if there is such a document.
But starting with V8, Deploy Forms Locally is even the default value now. ;)

I'm sure Paul or John (Symantec) will back this. :)

Additionally, from the EV8 SP1 Install Guide:

Using Personal Forms Libraries

By default, the Enterprise Vault Outlook Add-ins automatically deploy forms to the user's Personal Forms Library. This has the advantage of requiring no configuration by the administrator.

Another thing is that Org Forms require Public Folders, which will possibly be abandoned in Exchange 2010.

Cheers

[John_Chisari]

Yep as you said it's default now - and not only requiring no configuration by the admin - we have found that Outlook forms when installed to the personal forms library work more often than when taken from the Exchange Org forms.

And really there is nothing to deploy, as I said, change the policy and the client will take care of the rest.  Even when you upgrade the client to a later version - it checks to make sure the latest forms are in the personal forms library and updates them if need be. Its a very very cool feature - especially coming from support where customers have issues with forms not loading properly!

[Zenworks2001]

Ok. I'll expose all these arguments to my boss.
Many, many thanks John and Michel.
KR,

[Zenworks2001]

So (for technical aspect), I only need to change the policy  "deploy forms locally"
with value "Always" instead of  "When no org Forms".

[John_Chisari · Accepted solution]

 Yes, thats all you need to do.  

[Zenworks2001]

Hi,
I'm testing deployment of forms via Vault policy.
I've change value to "always" but based on what I see in Forms Manager (outlook), there're still from old version.
I've synchronized mailbox in Vault after changing value.
We're using W2K SP4 with O2K3 SP3.
Many tx for your feedback
Kr,

[MichelZ]

What Enterprise Vault version are you using on the Client?

[Zenworks2001]

version 6 (6.0.1.7637.0)
Based on Symantec doc., we need to upgrade forms before upgrading client

[MichelZ]

Hi

You should try this on a test machine.
The forms will be upgraded when you upgrade the client. (Client brings the forms with it, integrated.)

This however depends on the Version of client you will be using.
I think I recall that this is supported only from 2007 onwards.

Cheers
Michel