The response text may be lost when a recipient who has a MAPI account receives a meeting request response in Outlook

In a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 environment, a user who has a POP3 or IMAP4 account accepts a meeting request by using Microsoft Office Outlook, and then the user edits the response. However, the response text is lost when a recipient who is using a MAPI account receives the meeting response in Outlook.

The response part of a meeting request is composed into the DESCRIPTION property of the Internet Calendar (iCalendar) object if a user uses Outlook with a POP3 or IMAP4 account. When Exchange Server 2003 converts this iCalendar Reply object from the MIME mail format to the MAPI mail format, the DESCRIPTION property is lost.

Hotfix information

Note After you install this hotfix, a POP3 or IMAP4 client that responds to a meeting request puts the updates in the DESCRIPTION property, and this property is available in Outlook. Also, if there is an update in the COMMENT property at the same time, the data in the COMMENT property is maintained.

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 to be installed on the server.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix. However, the following services are restarted automatically when you apply this hotfix:

• The Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service
• The Microsoft Search service
• The Internet Information Services (IIS) Admin Service and all dependent services

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

For more information about the DESCRIPTION and COMMENT properties in iCalendar, visit the following Web site:For more information about the Reply iCalendar, visit the following Web site: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.