After ten days of heartache and experimentation, I can now Sync almost perfectly between Entourage 2008 under 10.5 and my Palm Treo 650.
The only exception is any changes to contacts made on the Treo make it back to Address Book but not to Entourage.
In all other cases, any new or altered event syncs perfectly between the platforms, and any new or altered contact made in Entourage syncs to the Palm.
Here’s what you have to do, and don’t leave anything out. You need to get “Missing Sync” from Mark/Space.
You need to start with a clean Entourage database. So, spent as long as it takes to remove all the duplicate events, etc. and then back up the database so you don’t to go through the mess again!
Next step is to remove all the Palm Desktop OS files, trash them, and reboot. You will be syncing using Mark/Space conduits entirely, therefore Palm is irrelevant, and in fact, as it works in the background, slows down the CPU. Do not trash any Palm Document files. (you might be able to, but I didn’t want to risk losing backups, etc)
Set up Missing Sync so that only the Mark/Space Contacts and Events conduits are checked “on”. Don’t check any other contacts, calendar, Date Book etc. conduits. Also check any conduits that are specific to you. You can also check the Call Log and SMS conduits if you like. This way you will have a copy of your Treo call log on your Mac.
Open iSycn ONCE only, and ensure that you do NOT have the “Enable Palm Syncing” option checked. You will not be using iSync to sync to your Palm – you will be using the Missing Sync.
Open Entourage preferences, and uncheck in Sync Services all the boxes.
Reboot.
Open it again, check the boxes this time, then check the option to over right iCal and Address Book.
Within a minute or maybe less, all your data from Entourage is now accurately in iCal and Address Book. Do NOT delete or uncheck any of the probably four calendars in iCal at the moment. The only one that is relevant is “Entourage”, and when you enter a new event on your Palm, you must categorize it as “Entourage”. If you don’t get into that habit, it will be synced to the “unfilled” calendar in iCal and never make it back to Entourage. (I suspect that is also the issue with contacts going back to Entourage, they don’t make it passed Address Book).
You are ready for your first sync to the Palm.
In the Missing Sync, just choose the Mark/Space Contacts conduit. Highlight the Contacts coduit, then choose the settings, and select “Overwrite handheld with desktop data”.
Start the sync from your Treo – best to use a cable. You could use Bluetooth, but it’s slower.
After the sync, (keep your fingers, eyes and legs crossed during the process) everything should be perfect.
Then try the Mark/Space Events conduit. Same thing, Overwrite Handheld with desktop data.
Should be fine.
Now do a complete sync. Only check the Mark/Space conduits that you need, and any special conduits relevant to your situation, such as “AA Flights”, Zagat Guide, etc. etc.
Experiment.
Enter new contacts or events in Entourage and Address Book and iCal. You will see that they all sync back and worth very quickly.
Sync to the Palm. They will all be there.
Enter a new event or alter an event in Palm. New event ensure it is categorized as “Entourage”.
Sync – it will be in Entourage. Once again, the only issue is a new or altered contact does not make it back to Entourage.
Hopefully either Apple or Microsoft will address this issue within the next couple of weeks.
Hope this works for you!
