OL97: Meeting Response Messages Exceed Limits and No Longer Open

ID: Q75175

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Outlook 97 the following error message may occur when a user attempts to open a response to a meeting invitation:

   Can't open this item. Out of memory or system resources. Close some
   windows or programs and try again.

Closing windows and programs does not solve the problem. The problem is Meeting specific. Opening meeting responses for other meetings will continue to work.

CAUSE

Meetings that include more than 85 invitees have the potential to encounter this problem. In a meeting response, there are individual fields that list the names of invitees that have accepted, declined, or are tentative for the meeting. The text box control used to list these names has a limited capacity and when the capacity is exceeded, the above message occurs. Each field can reach 85 invitees without a problem, but none of the list fields can exceed 85.

RESOLUTION

Install The Microsoft Office 97 SR-2 update, or the SR-2 patch. Obtain the update from the web at the following location:

   http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/articles/sr2fact.htm

To obtain the Patch compact disc, go to the following address:

   http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/Articles/sr2directdrive.htm

Please allow 4-6 weeks delivery time after the updated SR-2 patch becomes available.

NOTE: If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, a fee may be charged. This fee is refundable if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested. However, this fee is non-refundable if you request additional technical support, if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q154871
   TITLE:      Determining If Your Product Is Eligible for No-Charge
               Technical Support

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Outlook 97, versions 8.0, 8.01, 8.02, and 8.03.

MORE INFORMATION

The fix allows messages to be opened when this limit is exceeded. If the name list of those who accept or decline exceeds the 85 person limit, the name list will show the word "unknown." To determine the number of users who have accepted, declined, or are tentative, open the meeting in the calendar view. Also, the Attendee Availability tab of the meeting displays the status of each invited attendee.

For more information on the Office SR-2 update and patch, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q192874
   TITLE     : OFF97: An Overview of Microsoft Office 97 SR-2

Additional query words: large big

Version           : WINDOWS: 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

Last Reviewed: July 19, 1999