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Track Phone Calls with Outlook's Journal
Posted by Gina Trapani at 9:00 PM on May 9, 2008
Windows only: Microsoft's lesser-known Journal feature can attach transaction details to contacts—which makes it perfect for storing notes about phone calls. When you want to keep careful track of who you called when and what you talked about and decided, the Productivity Portfolio says the Journal's the way to go. Hit the link to get a step-by-step Journal tutorial, or just press Ctrl+Shift+J to get started on a new Journal entry in Outlook now.
Tags: microsoft outlook | outlook | windows
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Mark
Posted May 12, 2008 4:13 PM
I'd love for some sort of web based version of this to exist as I do not currently have a set work location! Possibly even a google calendar grease monkey hack would work to allow online/off-line syncing.
Norcross
Posted 9:18 PM 9/5/08
I used this for a while, but then began using a small Access database. Microsoft Office online has a bunch of free, fully functional database "templates" that even the average user can have up and running in no time.
Norcross
David.Constant
Posted 9:09 PM 9/5/08
I'd love to know how to do this in Thunderbird using the Contacts extension. It's the only thing I really miss from Outlook!
David.Constant
sumocat
Posted 11:20 PM 9/5/08
I can do one better with Skype and Tablet Enhancements for Outlook 3.0. TEO 3.0 can be set to automatically track calls in Outlook Journal, link to an existing contact or create a new one, and lets me handwrite notes in the journal entry via my Tablet PC.
sumocat
FizzyPopMan
Posted 11:46 PM 9/5/08
I use Outlook all the time, but the Journal is one feature I have never really used. When it comes to documenting conversations (in my case with clients), I prefer to use Onenote. I then have all relevant notes (including web snippets etc) in a single place.
FizzyPopMan
wu-wei
Posted 11:45 PM 9/5/08
Back when I used a Treo I tried a product - from Chapura, I think - that automatically managed my call log and inserted Journal entries at each sync.
I use a BlackBerry now and, given RIM's tight integration with Exchange/Outlook, I'm surprised there's not a more robust Call Log/Journal relationship.
That sort of automatic data gathering is more my speed - I'm not inclined to track call notes and history manually since there are so many opportunities for missed data collection (mobile calls, irrelevant and therefore forgotten entries, etc.) that I eventually give up on any collection at all.
wu-wei
fishlips20
Posted 12:15 AM 10/5/08
I find the Outlook journal pretty elaborate. It's overly complicated way of marking stuff down.
There was a great article on using Gmail as a GTD source - and a firefox extension called GTD-Inbox. This allowed me to record conversations, mail them to myself for future reference.
Honestly, if i'm going to record stuff down, i'll need a location that is easily searchable. I love outlook, by the 1 gig threshold of PST files, the poor search functionality across modules and high learning curve for this new function sways me to gmail.
Thumbs down for the Outlook journal feature. Good idea, poor implementation.
fishlips20
natenovs
Posted 2:20 AM 10/5/08
@fishlips20:
My post doesn't seem to be showing up.
The limit is 20 gigs on 2003/2007 PST files, and 2 gigs on earlier PST files.
2003 imap files are limited to 2 gigs, but 2007 imaps can be up to 20.
natenovs
natenovs
Posted 2:15 AM 10/5/08
@fishlips20: There are two different types of PST files. Outlook 2002 and earlier used ANSI PST files, and 2003 and later use unicode.
ANSI PST (pre-2003) have a limit of 2gb, but unicode (post 2003) have a limit of 20gb
To add to the confusion, Outlook 2003 IMAP PST files are limited to 2gigs, but 2007 IMAP psts files are not.
basically, upgrade to atleast 2003 and don't use imap and you can have 20gig PST files.
natenovs
guri
Posted 11:34 PM 9/5/08
Or, if you use a Windows Mobile powered phone you can click "Note" while in a call. Automatically dated/timestamped...and if you're using ActiveSync (or what have you) with Notes set to sync, then you're done...
Can you get Journal to keep track of Notes?
I'm currently testing an HTC Diamond which (rather handily) automatically starts a new note if you remove the stylus while in a call.
guri
swttfam3
Posted 1:14 PM 11/5/08
Ahoy! Talking about another great post from Lifehacker!
swttfam3