Using folder redirection with CRM Outlook Client UR7 or higher

From Update Rollup 7 onwards, the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Microsoft Office Outlook uses .sdf files to store CRM Address Book information. If you use folder redirection, you would not be able synchronize the client, the client platform trace would show the following error:

>Exception occurred during CE SQL select: There is a file sharing violation. A different process might be using the file. [ H:\<server>\Microsoft\MSCRM\Client\OutlookSyncCache.sdf ].

This issue was addressed with Update Rollup 9 (https://support.microsoft.com/kb/978638)

We have seen instances where after installing UR 9, the synchronization would still fail. If you look into the client trace, you will see that the error now reads

“Access to the database file is not allowed. [ File name = ]”

followed by

“SQL CE Database 'OutlookSyncCache' is not valid”

The cause for this is that (as in above example) the folder redirection is using a mapped drive (H:\), this is a limitation of SQL CE and you have to use a UNC path instead.

Solution:

Change the value of the AppData key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders from

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

to

\\<server>\<user folder>\AppData\Roaming

Restart the Outlook Client and the synchronization will succeed.

 

Best Regards

EMEA Dynamics CRM Team