2011 Practice Management
Annual Conference
Top 5 Time Matters
Tech Support Issues
Bill Ayres, Circle
Management Group, LLC
Laura McCord, Circle Management Group, LLC
Andrew Sloan, LexisNexis
September 23, 2011
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Agenda
Introduction / Context
Overview / Assumptions
- SQL Connectivity
- Exchange Sync
- Workstation Performance
Improvement
- Time Matters Notification
from PCLaw
- Integration with Microsoft
Office
Questions & Answers
Bonus: For CICs (Beyond the Top 5)
Wrap-up / Conclusion
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Introduction
Andrew Sloan, Senior Customer Systems
Engineer
andrew.sloan@lexisnexis.com
Phone:
1-866-654-2381 ext. 2255
Bill Ayres, Partner
bill.ayres@cmgconsultants.com
Phone:
336-841-2187 x306
Laura McCord, Partner
laura.mccord@cmgconsultants.com
Phone:
336-841-2187 x301
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Overview
Sources for Top CIC Issues:
- Webstar
- CIC Survey
Results:
- SQL Connectivity
- Exchange Sync (Top 4 Issues)
- Workstation Performance
- Time Matters Notification
from PCLaw
- Integration with Microsoft
Office
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Assumptions:
- Knowledge
of Server Applications(Server 2003 and Server 2008) and network functions
- Knowledge
of SQL Server and Associated Applications (such as SQL Configuration
Manager and SQL Management Studio)
- Familiarity
of working with the Windows Registry and backup procedures prior to
any registry edits
- Calling
into Technical Support or reaching out to other CICs or IT Professionals
for help!
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How do I resolve the
error during installation or 3rd Party Applications
where TM is ��unable to connect to SQL server��
error 37 (v10) or 37000 (v11) ?
Issue 1: SQL Connectivity
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SQL Connectivity
- Turn off
firewall on server machine that is hosting the TM SQL
- Add exclusions
to the firewall for TCP Port 1433 and UDP port 1434
- Add exclusions
in your antivirus software for SQL Server
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SQL Connectivity
- Check SQL
Configuration Manager and make sure that TCP/IP is enabled for the instance
of SQL that is hosting the Time Matters Database
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SQL Connectivity
- Check
SQL Server Configuration Manager for the specific instance of SQL:
If using TCP/IP Dynamic Ports, add a TCP port exclusion (however, because
it is dynamic, this port may change)
** If you do not
add the dynamic port to the firewall exclusions, it may cause connectivity
issues from a 3rd party add-in, such as Office
and Adobe.
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SQL Connectivity
- Make sure
the SQL Browser is running. If not, start the browser service and set
to automatic
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SQL Connectivity
- Additional
Thoughts regarding SQL Connectivity
- If using
SQL Express 2005, allow the Time Matters Installation process to install
SQL Express. It should work without these issues through this installation
- If using
SQL Standard (or ��full SQL��), verify that authentication
is both Windows AND SQL, or Mixed Mode
- Verify the
DNS
- Ping the
server using the host name (server name) from a client computer (workstation)
- Try entering
the IP address (rather than the server name) in the file locations in
the config file to see if it connects this way
- Flush the
DNS and Register it; then go back and re-ping
- ipconfig
/flushdns
- ipconfig
/registerdns
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SQL Connectivity
- Additional
Troubleshooting Tip from Microsoft for SQL Connectivity Issues
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_protocols/archive/2008/04/30/steps-to-troubleshoot-connectivity-issues.aspx
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A) Service Startup
Issues on Reboot
B) User Password is Blank
C) Failure of Exchange Sync Service
& Orphan Contacts Document
D) User Form Error Codes
Issue 2: Time Matters
Exchange Sync
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Q: Why doesn��t
the service start when the server is rebooted?
A: The service starts before SQL has fully loaded.
Issue
2A: Service Startup Issues on Reboot
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Exchange Sync- Service
Startup Issues on Reboot
SBS/ Server 2008 or 2011: Set the TM
Exchange sync service to Delayed Start
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Exchange Sync- Service
Startup Issues on Reboot
SBS/ Server 2003: Create a SQL Dependency
for the TM Exchange Sync Service in the registry.
- Determine
the name of your SQL Server service, the default is MSSQLServer but
if you have server instances, the service name is MSSQL$[instance_name]
for example, MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS
- Launch the windows registry
editor
- Locate the Exchange Sync
service entry as follows:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LNFOExchangeSync
4.
Add a new registry key for the LNFOExchangeSync service:
- Select Edit
menu (or right-click service name), select New, Multi-String Value,
name the new key "DependOnService"
5. Double-click
the newly created registry key then enter the name of your SQL Server
service (from step 1) in the entry and save
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Q: Why is the user
password blank in the Exchange Sync Application?
A: The user��s domain password no longer
matches the password in the Exchange Sync Application and the user did
not properly change it when requested by Time Matters.
Issue
2B: User Password is Blank
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Exchange Sync- User
Password is Blank
- Time Matters
prompts the user for the Exchange Password (the password stored in the
TM Exchange Sync is invalid), and there is only one opportunity to enter
it from within Time Matters
- The user
types in the wrong password when prompted, which will clear it out
- The user
cancels in the window when prompted by Time Matters to enter their new
password
- The user
is not properly authenticated to both the SQL Server and the Exchange
Server at the time the password is prompted
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Exchange Sync- User
Password is Blank
- Resolutions:
- Within TM,
Click the option for Exchange Password Change
- Password
must be manually reset in the Time Matters Exchange Sync Application
- If it is
a recurring issue for Laptop users, verify and validate that the user
is properly authenticated to the network when logging into Time Matters
after being off of the network
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Q: Why does the service
stop responding or fail even though it still running?
A: An environmental variable is timing out the service or shutting down
the port between SQL and Exchange.
Issue
2C: Failure of Exchange Sync Service
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Exchange Sync- Failure
of Exchange Sync Service
Each environment will be different,
but here are some steps to evaluate the issue:
- Be sure
all users are properly authenticated in the Exchange Sync Application
- Test each
user and verify that they connect successfully
- Remove any
user syncs for those that are no longer with the firm
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Exchange Sync- Failure
of Exchange Sync Service
- Review the
ExSync.txt log (C:\Program Files\LexisNexis\Exchange Synchronization\Logs)
for errors and issues with synchronization and resolve the issues.
- EXAMPLE
1:
- This error
had to do with 12am being the ��End Time�� on the event.(The sync does
NOT like this time as a start or end time)
- EXAMPLE
2:
- This error
had to do with ��special characters��
being in the description of the event, which will not allow the event
to sync.
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Exchange Sync- Service
Stops Responding
- For this
error, do a search on the description field in the Time Matters event
list for ��DNT Seminar�� and then update the record
to remove the offending character. The record will now synchronize
to exchange.
- Events created
with text cut and paste from a webpage will throw this error.
For example, this little box here: ��
- Version
11 Exchange Sync does a much better job handling special characters,
so errors like these will be seen more in version 9 and 10
Review the Event Viewer Application
Log for Errors and Warnings and resolve.
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Exchange Sync- Service
Stops Responding
If you are receiving
many ��(500) Internal Server��
errors, check the event viewer on the exchange server for an error with
event ID 9667
- This error
is caused by exchange. Having assigned a maximum of named properties,
exchange cannot create records pushed from the exchange sync.
To fix, please reference
the following technet articles:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb851495.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb851493.aspx
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Exchange Sync- Service
Stops Responding
- Resolve
orphaned contacts
- These occur
when one-way synchronization is deployed, primarily from Time Matters
to Exchange
- The user
does not have the ability to delete or change contacts within Time Matters
from Exchange, or recurring events are translated incorrectly
- The user
deletes the contact in Outlook or on their phone
- The record
in Time Matters no longer has it��s twin, therefore it is orphaned
- Orphan Contacts & Events
Resolutions Document
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Exchange Sync- Failure
of Exchange Sync Service
Failed to Perform Sync.System.Net.WebException:
The remote server returned an error: (440) Login Timeout.
- This has
a tendency to show after long strings of orphan contacts that will not
synchronize with Exchange
- Also can
occur after a long string of ignored recurring events trying to update
Time Matters from Outlook (not supported)
- Resolved
in past tech support calls by deleting recurring events in Outlook,
and having the client enter them from Time Matters
- If nothing
is synchronized then IIS needs to be checked to see is if WEBDAV has
been enabled for the ��Exchange�� virtual directory
http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/309
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Exchange Sync- Failure
of Exchange Sync Service
- Nightly
System Backups: possibly shutting down the SQL Service
- Check the
Event Viewer Security Error Log for authentication errors
- Create a
script that ties into the Task Scheduler to restart the Exchange Sync
Service daily
- If you think
this is an issue, seek the assistance of Technical Support
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What
do these error message mean and how do I resolve them?
Issue
2D: Error Codes when Setting up the ��User Sync�� Form
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Exchange Sync- User
Sync Form Errors
- (401)
Unauthorized
- An error
occurred connection to: http://tl2003srv.TEST.local/exchange/tlcesnc01
- Error: The
remote server returned an error: (401) Unauthorized
- Password
or Domain login is incorrect; Validate and attempt again
- (500)
Internal Server Error
- An error
occurred connection to: http://tl2003srv.tech.datatxt.local/exchange/tlcesnc01
- Error: The
remote server returned an error: (500) Internal Server Error
- Check to
see that Exchange has all of its required services running
- Set the ��Domain��
field to match the domain of the internal network, not that of the external
email address
- Example:
Use ��Domain.local��, not ��Domain.com��
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Exchange Sync- User
Sync Form Errors
- (503)
Server Unavailable
- Typically,
the mailbox URL field will look something like this
http://server/exchange/testuser
- If the email
address is different than the active directory user name, try entering
the email address at the end of the mailbox url path instead of the
username
- So if the
user��s email address is ��tu@email.com��
try this mailbox url instead
http://tl2003srv/exchange/tu@email.com
- (440)
Login Timeout
- This one
more often occurs with Exchange 2007; check to see if webdav is enabled
and configured with the exchange virtual directory in IIS
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How can I improve performance
of Time Matters beyond running database maintenance and re-indexing?
Issue 3: Workstation
Performance Improvement
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Workstation Performance
Improvement
- Change sublist
setting in Time Matters under Program Level settings to a higher number
(5000 or 10000)
- Change Windows
visual settings under system properties, advanced, performance; choose
adjust for best performance
- Change Time
Matters calendar to Classic View
- Check Time
Matters SQL database for corrupt records (-1 create dates, nulls, blank
sysid��s)
- Contact
CMG Consultants or Time Matters Technical Support (CIC Line)
- Check specifications
and memory of video card on computer
- Uninstall
any unnecessary software
- Add exclusions
in your antivirus software for SQL Server
Each environment will be different,
but here are some ideas that you can try:
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Why isn��t
PCLaw updating Time Matters automatically?
Issue 4: Time Matters
Notification from PCLaw
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Time Matters Notification
from PCLaw
In PCLaw, under Options > Connnection
Settings, there is an option call ��Disable Time Matters Notifications.��
If this is unchecked, updates to linked Contacts and Matters should
update to Time Matters. The first update to a matter in PCLaw
should cause the Time Matters login screen to splash up on to screen
before the update goes to Time Matters.
- PCLaw requires
a pointer to find the Time Matters program directory; if this pointer
is missing then PCLaw will not update Time Matters
- There are
2 different locations that contain the pointer to the Time Matters Program
Directory
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Time Matters Notification
from PCLaw
Location 1: fix these points below
- First check
the registry – I know this is weird because
it��s focused in a Time Matters
9 registry hive
- Validate
that ProgDir_E is pointing to the current Time matters program directory
- Validate
that the VerInfo_E key exists with a Version subkey, it does not matter
what version is listed
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Time Matters Notification
from PCLaw
Location 2:
- If the
registry entries exist and the notifications still do not occur, check
the contents of the tmw.ini under C:\Windows. If this file does
not exist, add one
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How can I resolve issues
with macro integration on the workstation?
Issue 5: Integration
with
Microsoft Office
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Integration with Microsoft
Office
These issues are due to either registry
entries and file location pointers that are incorrect on the workstation,
or lack of rights for the user logged into the workstation.
- TM plugins
fail to appear in Office Application
- First rule
is to open Workstation Level Setup remove integration close. Re-open
Workstation Level and add the integration back
- If you get
a message about needing Administrator to enable, then close TM, Right-click
and Run application as Administrator
- If that
does not work, then continue to next step
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Integration with Microsoft
Office
- Open the
registry editor and check the Time Matters and Time Matters 11 hives
at:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\LexisNexis\
- Compare
this hive against one from working machine, you may find that some entries
are missing.
- For Version
10, check for the following keys:
- Document
- Documents
- ProgDir_E
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Integration with Microsoft
Office
- For Version
11, check for the following keys:
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Integration with Microsoft
Office
- "Cannot
load Time Matters Integration" when attempting to TMsave a record
from Microsoft Word.
- Check for
the existence of well-formed registry hive under: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\LexisNexis\Time
Matters 11\Settings
- If this
doesn't exist or if you are not sure what it should look like, compare
with a registry from another PC, not having the issue. Export
those registry settings and install it onto the problem CPU
- Also, do
a search on the windows machine for the TMSHIM.dll; compare each instance
of the dll with that of the TMSHIM.dll that exists in the current Time
Matters program directory. If there is one that has a version
number earlier that that from the directory, replace it with the one
from the program directory (CIC
Dispatch 7/22/11)
- In version
prior to 11, verify that a valid tm*.ini file exists
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Integration with Microsoft
Office
- TM Connect
in Outlook keeps disappearing
- Check the
tmconfig.ini file and the adminctl.ini file on the local workstation
and verify that the correct path is entered for the server and the SQL
Database in the C:\programdata folder
- For failed
Outlook integration always check the disabled items list
- Outlook
2003, check Help->About Microsoft Outlook->Disabled Items
- Outlook
2007, check Tools->Trust Center->Add-ins->Manage: Disabled
Items->Go
- Outlook
2010, check File->Options ->Add-ins->Manage: Disabled Items->Go
- Repair the
Outlook Installation on the local workstation and then re-enable the
integration through Time Matters at the Workstation Level
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Integration with Microsoft
Office
- MS Word
is installed but the boxes are all grayed out?
- First check
and see if the version of Office installed was the 32-bit or 64-bit
version, a 64-bit version will not register in Word Processor Setup.
- Time Matters
does not see registry entries that should have been installed by Office,
for Word 2007, TM would need to see the following registry entry:
- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\InstallRoot]"Path"="C:\\Program
Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office12\\"
- For Word
2010:
- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\InstallRoot]"Path"="C:\\Program
Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\"
- The same
logic may be applied when troubleshooting
the links with other MS Office applications
- Process
Monitor (Procmon) can be very useful when troubleshooting why a link
is failing
- Use Procmon
to compare logs between a CPU that works and one that fails
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Questions & Answers
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Love, Andy! (LOL!)
Smooches for Andy
Bonus Tips for CICs
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Bonus Tips for CICs
Just Because
- Windows
7, Vista, and UAC (User Account Control) with Time Matters 10 and 11
- Mobility
- Resetting
the Data Indexer
- Helpful
Links on the Web
Access the Document Here
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Thank you for attending!
The End!