Update: This bug was related to an addin and Outlook 2007 SP2 included the update for this problem. Verify you have the latest updates installed then try Safe mode. If it works as expected in Safe mode, it’s an addin causing problems. You can either identify the addin and disable it or set Outlook offline, choose Save and Send updates, then delete the update from the Outbox before going back online. (Hold Ctrl as you click on the Outlook icon to start in Safe mode.)
I’m seeing a lot of questions that go like this: “After a meeting request was created and sent to all our attendees, I want to add note to that meeting on my calendar but I don’t want other attendees to get the note I am saving. In Outlook 2003, it was a breeze. It lets me save the note without forcing me to send update. How do I do it in Outlook 2007?”
If clicking the X to close the form doesn’t offer the Save, no updates option, use the following method:
Use the following steps to close and save an updated meeting request without sending the update:
- Hit Save.
- Choose the ‘Don’t save but keep open’ option.
- Click X to close.
- Choose the Don’t Save option.
Open the meeting – it should have your notes saved but no update gets sent. Yes, it is a roundabout way to do what should be a simple task, but it works. And yes, there is clearly a bug in the process since it saves the changes anyway.
Published Aug 27 2008
Related posts:
« « Tip 542: Change File As FormatTip 544: Remove RSS Folder » »
That did not work. still need a solution to this, when will they fix it?
That tip was for a specific bug related to an addin. An Outlook 2007 update fixed the problem so make sure you have all the latest updates installed for your version of Outlook. If you still get the message, set outlook offline, save it then delete the update from the outbox before going back online.
Which update in particular?
It was fixed in SP2, but I don’t recall if a pre-sp2 hotfix fixed it.
Its not a bug, its retired functionality.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/discontinued-features-and-modified-functionality-in-outlook-2007-HA010092683.aspx?pid=CH101535021033
The MS article refers to changing the location, time or date and not sending updates. You have to send updates if you make those changes – the reason being “how will the attendees know the meeting was moved?”
You can add notes to a meeting and not send updates – the bug this tip mentions forced updates for all changes, even notes the oganizer wouldn’t want to share with attendees. The bug has been fixed and one offending addin (a Microsoft mapping addin) that caused this (and other) problems was pulled.
I want to change spelling in the meeting but don’t want to annoy attendees with the fix. I used this all the time previously and it is very annoying to lose this functionality in the Outlook 2010. Note to programmers: do not lose functionality in updates period.
It should work the same way in all versions. What version did you use before and which version do you use now?
I constantly used the “save changes and don’t send an update to attendees” option with my meetings. It is very frustrating that this option no longer exists in Outlook 2010.
Agreeing with the comments herein – a major loss of functionality to no longer be able to open a meeting notice, make a change and save without sending. I now have to keep a double set of meeting notices for many meetings to capture my notes without sending to everyone else.
And while we’re at it, why on earth did the default when closing a calendar meeting notice get changed from “save changes yes” to “save changes no”??? I am a keyboard guy, and used to Alt-F4 then Enter to save my work. I cannot find a way to change this default and it is painful – has already cost me quite a bit of work and I’m only on Win7/Outlook2010 for 4 days.
Thanks for any input…
Hi – thanks for your advice above about the bug, however, your advice doesn’t work if you are managing your bosses diary as when you go offline – I can only access my diary and not my managers – if gives a messsage that I have to be online to access their diary. Hence, not being able to change it.
This is very frustrating.
Hence – I am on Outlook 2007 SP2.
You can cache shared mailboxes, but it depends on how you open his, if that will solve your problem. You could try setting Outlook to not send immediately and set the ‘check every xx time’ to 30 minutes – test it with one, because this may not work with Exchange accounts as it likes to sync all the time, ignoring the ‘check every’ setting. There were changes in cache mode that may allow this to work. (I’ll test it next too.)
I want to change a meeting location without sending an update because the people getting the update aren’t actually attending the meeting, they just need to know important people will be in the office that day. Very annoying that that choice no longer exists in 2007.
Try this: set Outlook offline, make the change, delete the update from the outbox and go back online.