Using MS ActiveSync Protocol, how to add an item into the drafts folder ?

Question

As per the specification document [MS-ASCMD].pdf, using sync command [2.2.1.19.1.6 Add] we can use the "Add" operation to add one item from client to the server. But it is explicitly mentioned in the document that "The <Add> element cannot be used to add any e-mail items from the client to the server".

Then how can the client add email items from client to the server in the "Drafts" folder ?This is required as the client can allow the user to add email items to the drafts folder and later sync the items with the server

Answer 1

Hi Biswaranjan, thanks for your post regarding the [MS-ASCMD] protocol specification. One of the Open Specification Documentation team will be in touch with you shortly.

Regards,

Bill Wesse

 

Answer 2

Biswaranjan,

I am the engineer who has taken ownership of your question. I am currently investigating this and will update you as things progress.

Dominic Michael Salemno
Senior Support Escalation Engineer
US-CSS DSC Protocols Team

Answer 3

Biswaranjan,

Could you send me a network trace of the scenario you describe to dochelp (at) winse.microsoft.com?

Thank you.

Dominic Michael Salemno
Senior Support Escalation Engineer
US-CSS DSC Protocols Team

Answer 4

Hi Michael,


    Thanks for responding to my query. To add clarity to my query, would like to inform you that I want to implement the activesync protocol by referring to the open specifications available. While going through the specifications, I got this doubt, as the protocol does not allow the client to add email items to the exchange server. I would not be able to provide any network trace for this, as the client is not yet implemented.

    Would like to describe the query in detail again. Suppose the client has added some emails locally. Now while syncing with the exchange server, how can these items be added to the exchange server of the user ? For syncing, the command to be used in xml is <sync> and addition of items can be done as follows:

<Add>
<ServerId> 2:6</ServerId>
<ApplicationData>
<A:Body></A:Body>
<A:Email1Address>"[e-mail]" &lt;[e-mail]&gt;</A:Email1Address>
<A:FileAs>Dobney, JoLynn Julie</A:FileAs>
<A:FirstName>JoLynn</A:FirstName>
<A:HomePhoneNumber>425 555 1234</A:HomePhoneNumber>
<A:MiddleName>Julie</A:MiddleName>
<A:MobilePhoneNumber>425 555 1111</A:MobilePhoneNumber>
<A:CompanyName>Fourth Coffee</A:CompanyName>
<A:LastName>Dobney</A:LastName>
<A:BusinessPhoneNumber>425 555 5555</A:BusinessPhoneNumber>
<A:JobTitle>Usability Engineer</A:JobTitle>
</ApplicationData>
</Add>

    Above is the format that I just copied and pasted for adding one contact item from the [MS-ASCMD].pdf


   Now the query is how to add similarly one email item from drafts folder to the server. Please let me know if more information is required from my side.


Thanks,

Biswaranjan

Answer 5

Biswaranjan,

I am currently investigating this for you, and I will update you as things progress.

Dominic Michael Salemno
Senior Support Escalation Engineer
US-CSS DSC Protocols Team

Answer 6

Biswaranjan,

I am still investigating this issue and will follow-up with you shortly.

Dominic Michael Salemno
Senior Support Escalation Engineer
US-CSS DSC Protocols Team

Answer 7

Biswaranjan,

 

Currently there is no way to add an e-mail item (including draft folder items) to the server from an ActiveSync client.  This is by design.

What kind of application are you developing?   Depending on your design requirements, there may be an alternative to using ActiveSync.

 

Dominic Michael Salemno
Senior Support Escalation Engineer

US-CSS DSC Protocols Team

 

Answer 8

Hi Michael,

   Thanks for your response. The application am developing is the mobile client, that would facilitate syncing of email, contacts and calender items between the mobile device and MS Exchange server. To do this, the protocol am using for the communication with the server is Exchange ActiveSync. Using this protocol, I am able to send/receive emails. But following is the scenario where am facing the problem:

 

When I compose an item in the mobile and just save it to draft (Without sending it). Then if I want to sync the same with the server, then ActiveSync does not provide any means of doing it. But if I save an item by directly logging into the server using web, then later I can sync the draft folder from server to the mobile client.

 

So, basically what I am trying to say is, if some items are there in the Drafts folder in the server, then getting those items to the mobile client using ActiveSync is possible. But the reverse case is not possible. As per your response, this is intentionally done in the design.

 

But it would really help me, if you could suggest me some way of achieving this using ActiveSync.

 

Thanks,

Biswaranjan

Answer 9

Biswaranjan,

 

Currently there is no way to accomplish this via ActiveSync. If you could provide me your use case scenario by e-mailing dochelp (at) winse.microsoft.com, I can forward it to our product group for a possible future product enhancement.

 

Dominic Michael Salemno

Senior Support Escalation Engineer

US-CSS DSC Protocols Team