Netscape 7.1 doesn't sync mail with PDA

I cannot get Netscape 7.1 Mail to work when my PDA tries to sync mail. It works with Netscape 4.8 just fine. The email I write on the PDA disappears into the ether. During the sync, Netscape will open up, but no mail is sent and the inbox is not downloaded to the PDA. So it's talking to Netscape, but not telling it all the right things to do.

I'm using Windows98 and it's a Sony Clie PEG-SL10. I spent 1.5 hrs on the phone with Sony and they said the problem is Netscape. I can't afford to get Netscape help.

What is it about how Netscape 7.1 handles MAPI devices that is different than Netscape 4.8? I can send email from Word or Excel just fine with NS 7.1. Any suggestions are appreciated.

I used to be a C programmer, so it's driving me crazy that I could figure this out, if I knew how to debug in this environment.

 

Welcome to the Forum, ajramsay!

Hi ajramsay,

I found this result after a Search on the Sony site:

There were also a few more topics similar to this one. I found nothing, however, directly related to Netscape 7, only Netscape Communicator 4.x.

Ramona

 

Thanks but the problem is more complicated

Thanks, Ramona, for the effort. And I guess I wasn't clear. I'll try again.

I can get my Clie to sync with Netscape 4.8 just fine. I can switch to NS 7.1, then email sync stops working, altho NS 7.1 will open up (if not already open). And then switch back to NS 4.8, and the mail sync works fine. By "switch back" I mean that in NS 4.8, I check "Use Netscape Messenger from MAPI-based applications," and in NS 7.1, I check "Use Netscape Mail as the default mail application. "

I spent 1.5 hours on the phone with Sony technical support, kept getting escalated to the top technical people, and they could not figure out what was wrong.

Since it works with NS 4.8 and not with NS 7.1, it seems there's something wrong in the interface with NS 7.1. No one at Sony is willing to look at it, so I'm trying to figure it out myself. It could be that the Clie is using the wrong MAPI library or something (I found a *ton* of them), but I don't know how to proceed. I don't know how to debug in this environment -- I need guidance.

 

Hi A.J.,

Understood that your PDA won't work with Netscape 7. I was using the Sony article as an example of the type of KB articles found, and none applied to Netscape 7.

As far as debugging the software itself, that would be way beyond my expertise. Check out Netscape 6.x & Mozilla Palm Sync How-To. Also check out Bug 36836 which may also be helpful. I'll continue to look, and if I come up with anything else, I'll post it here. I've seen your post on the NG, and was hoping someone knowledgeable might give you the info you needed...

What happens with Netscape 7, if you disable "Use Netscape Messenger from MAPI-based applications" in Communicator before switching to Netscape 7?

Ramona

 

Some of MAPI in Mozilla

Thanks, Ramona, for the pointers!

I looked at the instructions for syncing a Palm with Netscape 6 and it works a bit, I needed to modify the instructions somewhat. The only problem is that it still needs to open up Netscape 4.8 to do the actual sending or retrieving of email to do the sync. But I am able to see my email via Netscape 7.1 Mail & Newsgroups. It gets messy if one looks at the email with Netscape Messenger first; mostly I get two copies of the email, sort of. Anyway, I'll work up my own version of the instructions and post it here. I haven't tried to send email from Netscape 7.1 with this arrangement, but I don't think that's a problem. It does mean that other MAPI clients (e.g., Word, Excel) will use Netscape Messenger, rather than Netscape Mail to send email. I don't know how often folks use that feature.

The bug you pointed me to pointed to another bug, Bug 108275 , which gets at the crux of the matter. Mozilla (and therefore Netscape as I understand it) only has some of the MAPI features supported. This would explain why Word and Excel can use MAPI with Netscape 7.1, but not Palm Mail Sync. At first, I was puzzled by this difference, but I now realize (duh) that Word is just using MAPI to open up a Compose Mail window, whereas Palm Mail Sync is trying to send an already composed message and download email from the inbox. So I will try to contact the person assigned to the bug and see what the schedule is.

The most frustrating thing about this whole adventure is that it was so HARD to find the answer. If Netscape 7.1 would just come out and say that they don't support Palm Mail Sync (and apparently they don't support Address Sync either), then I could go on my way with knowledge. I wouldn't be happy necessarily, but I would know, instead of trying to figure out how to make it work.

I am very grateful for your help, Ramona. You're the first person to actually respond to one of my messages and converse with me. Thank you VERY much!

 

Workaround for syncing Palm Mail with Netscape 7.1

This is my version of the workaround at brianz.net for making Palm sync work with Netscape 7.1 (or Mozilla).

Why do this?

Advantage:
Although you're using Netscape 4.x for the sync process, you otherwise can use Netscape 7.1 for all your email activity.

Disadvantages:
(1) Whenever you sync your PDA, the profile manager for Netscape 4.x opens up (and you need to click to continue), although Netscape 4.x closes later. If you have Netscape 4.x open already, no problem.
(2) Netscape 4.x is your default email client for things like Word and Excel, when you do File->Send to->Mail Recipient. I never use that feature myself, so it's not a biggy to me, but it is a side effect of this workaround.

System (what I'm using)

* Windows 98
* Palm Desktop 4.0.1
* Sony Clie PEG-SL10 (Palm OS 4.1)
* Netscape 7.1
* Netscape 4.8 (Yes, you need this too!)

This probably works on other versions of Windows, other versions of Palm OS, and back to Netscape 6, or Mozilla, but I can't test those things.

I think that the Netscape 4.8 part will work with Netscape 4.5 or greater (at least that's what the Mail Setup for the Palm says).

Procedure

Use this your own RISK! I CANNOT be held responsible for any lost data, etc., etc.

Before starting, if you have already been using Netscape 4.x or 7.1 or whatever for your email, save valuable emails in files, because you will most likely lose track of them. I had used both 4.x and 7.1 before doing this and lost some emails in the process. Fortunately, I had saved them in files, so it was not a problem.

On to the procedure.

1. (Netscape 4.5 or greater users) Install Netscape 7 or Mozilla. Upgrade the data files to Netscape 7 Format. If you are using less than Netscape 4.5, then better upgrade to 4.5 or higher.

2. (Mozilla/Netscape 7.x users) Download and install Netscape 4.8.

3. Activate Netscape 4.x. If needed, create a dummy Netscape account.

4. Click on Edit. Click Preferences. Expand the Mail & News item.

5. Choose the Mail Servers item.

6. Under the local mail directory, click the choose button. Navigate to your profile's directory, and select the mail folder inside it. The directory should be similar to c:\windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\(name)\xxxxxxx.xxx\Mail.

For this step, it helps if you have some idea of where the Netscape (or Mozilla) mail directories are. I had a few directories leftover from defunct email accounts, which caused me quite a bit of confusion. So you may need to experiment before you find the right directory. You can peruse your Netscape 7.1 Mail & Newsgroups set-up dialogs to familiarize yourself with the directories used.

7. If you wish new messages to be retrieved during sync, enter your mail server information. You will also need to configure the filters separately if you want them to work. I also checked the option of "Remember password" so I didn't have to enter it so often.

8. Exit Preferences and restart Netscape 7.1 (or Mozilla). Click "No" if it asks if you want Netscape 7.1 to be your default mail application.

9. Open up the Netscape 7.1 Mail & Newsgroups view, and check if your mail folders are there. Don't worry if there are extra .msf folders. Just ignore those. If you are missing folders, you probably selected the wrong directory.

10. If you folders are there, close Netscape 7.1 and go to your Palm Desktop Mail Setup tool (with mine there are a variety of ways to get there, so you may need to consult Help).

11. Choose Netscape Communicator 4.5 and higher. Exit the setup.

12. Go to your HotSync custom dialog (available in the Palm Desktop under HotSync, or by right-clicking the HotSync icon in Window's tray). Click on the Mail Conduit. Choose syncing mode of your choice, and check the default box.

13. Connect your Palm device, and open up your HotSync tool. Go to its conduit setup (click upper right hand corner), and make sure the box next to Mail is checked.

14. HotSync away!

 

ajramsay,

This is excellent information, and thank you for posting it on the Forum. I will add this to my Netscape Solutions page, giving you the credit! I'll alert you via PM when the page is up.

Again, thanks, and I'm certain that other PDA users will thank you too!

Ramona