So you’ve seen the engaging articles about Microsoft Office 2010 “Click-to Run” and you’re interested.  Why wouldn’t you be?  Microsoft touts:

• Click-to-Run is fast, letting you download and use Office in minutes.
• People using Click-to-Run get product updates automatically, with no need to download or install patches.
• Click-to-Run makes trying Office 2010 easy – it can be used side-by-side with your current version of Office.
• Click-to-Run products take up about half the disk space of normal products.

But before you run Office in a virtual space on a virtual drive you will never be able to access, please listen to these words of wisdom:

Microsoft Outlook “Click-to-Run” will not, under any circumstances, sync with your smartphone.

I learned this the hard way because I failed to discover the known issues beforehand.  I implore you to learn from my mistake.

For several months I blamed Apple for my iPhone’s inability to sync.  In my defense, I found many references on Apple’s support page and in online forums describing problems with sync services.  I assumed the issue was on Apple’s end and I am not alone.  (Just Google “iPhone will not sync with Outlook 2010” – there are countless posts by frustrated users.)

Working with Apple support, I attempted uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes and related Apple software.  We also “repaired” Microsoft Office 2010 in the Windows 7 control panel.  Apple support techs were perplexed and never once suspected that Office was the culprit.  After all, my iPhone synced seamlessly with earlier versions of Outlook (2007 and 2003).

So How Did I Figure Out Microsoft “Click-to-Run” Was the Problem?

After upgrading to an iPhone 4s (I was holding out for the 5, then finally let go of that dream), I ran across Slipstick’s blog post and had an “a-ha!” moment.  Slipstick’s solution is to ditch “Click-to-Run” and install the regular version of Office 2010, which I did.  My phone now syncs like a dream and I once again have my current Calendar, Tasks, Contacts, and Notes on my iPhone.   Side note: I love my 4s and wish I had upgraded sooner.

Other Reasons to Avoid “Click-to-Run” Like the Plague

• Do you like to see “Not Responding?”  Well, get used to it if you use “Click-to-Run.”  Happens all the time.  (I guess as a user that I’m faster than Microsoft’s virtual space and virtual drive.)
• Take this caution from Microsoft seriously:  “Many add-ins might not function as expected when used with Click-to-Run. You might see error messages stating that an add-in failed to load or could not be found.”  Among the non-functioning AddIns?  Acrobat PDFMaker.
• Third-party solutions like CompanionLink won’t solve syncing issues.  This is a great little app from my home town, but it doesn’t work with “Click-to-Run.”

Final Thoughts

Now that I’m fully informed in the premises, I don’t see myself using virtual space/virtual drive applications again.

Copyright 2012 Beverly Michaelis