Information about CDO patching and third-party programs that interface with the calendar in Exchange Server and in Outlook (917481)

INTRODUCTION

Questions about Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) patching are common when users want to troubleshoot calendar issues in Microsoft Exchange Server, in Microsoft Outlook, and in third-party programs that interface with the calendar. Many users incorrectly believe that the Cdo.dll file must be updated on every computer on which CDO is installed.

The third-party programs that are discussed in this article frequently include the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the GoodLink Enterprise Edition server. However, the issues may also apply to other third-party programs.

MORE INFORMATION

It is a common practice to maintain server-side builds of the Cdo.dll file on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server or the GoodLink Enterprise Edition server. These builds match the Cdo.dll file that is on the servers that are running Exchange Server in the organization.

Although this practice does not cause problems, it is unnecessary from a technical perspective. If a CDO-related problem exists on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server or on a GoodLink Enterprise Edition server, you must update only the Cdo.dll file that is on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server or the GoodLink server. To update the Cdo.dll file on the Exchange server will not affect the problem.

In the Microsoft Knowledge Base, CDO-related hotfix articles may state that the problem is related to "a Collaboration Data Objects (CDO)-based application." This statement indicates that the fix must be installed only on the server on which the application runs. Most of the time, this server is the BlackBerry Enterprise Server or the GoodLink Enterprise Edition server.

Microsoft Product Support Services can help with questions about specific issues, and can advise you about where to apply a hotfix for your specific CDO-related issue. For a list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

For more information about how CDO and MAPI work together to communicate with Exchange Server, with Outlook, and with third-party products, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web page:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/insider/providers.mspx

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.