Office Communicator Custom Status Editor

What is it?
A simple tool to work with Office Communicator 2007 R2 that enables custom statuses, as well as a couple of other hidden options.

Allows for up to 4 additional status messages, with Available, Busy or Do Not Disturb icons
Enables Appear Offline option
Turns on the ability to archive instant messages in Outlook’s “Converstion History” folder
Doesn’t require an internet connection to work!
NEW: Works even with UAC switched on!
NEW: Portable edition released

What does it look like?

Where can I get it?

With Installer:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (374.91 kB) (5323 downloads so far)

Without Installer: (Portable Edition)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (17.22 kB) (1730 downloads so far)

Just run the installer and the program will be installed in the Start Menu (and Desktop if you want it there!).

A note on compatibility: It should run on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. It runs on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. It’s been tested by me on Windows XP Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit). Many other people have noted success in the comments. The problems regarding Windows Vista and 7 about Administrator access have been addressed.

Pingback: Communicator Status Editor Update: Offline support!
Tom Sadler

Very nice job on this. It works very well and is very simple.. Thank you!!

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

Thanks

MAMOU

HI,

after installing your pgm, i had an issue as the file pointed to save the configuration is inexistant under microsoft / communicator/ customStatus.xml.

do i have to create it? or have i missed something?
regards
Mamou

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

Hi

The file should be created as soon as you click save. This should also update the registry, I assume you are talking about the registry when you talk about “pointing to”..

If the folder doesn’t exist it may have a problem creating the file, or if you have very strong antivirus or registry protection programs running they may prevent the registry from being modified.

I’d like to help you a bit more, can you give me full path names, and details about the version of windows you are using?

Jak

http://n/a Biff

Nicely done – thank you!
http://www.facebook.com/wayne.bothun Wayne

Nice work!
http://Website brad

any way to roll this out via group policy?
tried by setting the customurl path etc..

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

Interesting idea. Hadn’t thought about this before.

The program could be rolled out simply because it’s an MSI package? Or are you asking about rolling out a predefined set of statuses in a group policy?

http://Website brad

i was thinking the same status on all machines.
i got it sorted, used your tool to customise everything.
then moved the xml file to a central location on server
added the communicator.adm file into group policy and configured Custom URL etc.
there was 1 trick, i needed to enable the SIPSecurity also.
working like a charm!
awesome!
http://Website Biff

This used to work great, but since upgrading to Windows 7, I now get an error when trying to Save:

“Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.”

I have the lastest .NET framework update.
http://Website Biff

Yoohoo – anyone home?
http://Website maoli

I installed on Win7 64-bit and when starting it errors with:
“Office Communicator Custom Statuses has stopped working
Windows is checking for a solution to the problem”

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

I’m afraid I can’t help much with that, there’s not enough information in that error. It was developed and tested on Windows 7 64-bit, as well as Windows XP 32-bit.

My only suggestion is to ensure you have the latest version of the .NET framework installed. http://www.microsoft.com/net/

http://Website Mapkus

Very cute. The problem is that whether I do it manually
(save XML and create registry string) or use your software, it does
not produce the desired effect. That is, no custom statuses in
Communicator. And, XML has entries written into it with custom
changes. And, it is where the registry says it is. Any
thoughts?
http://Website Mapkus

Could it be the Big Brother blocking something?

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

Yes, this whole thing can be blocked by the Domain Controller using a Group Policy. It’s rare, but it could happen.

http://Website Mapkus

Running XP SP3, by the way…
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com ahsiang

nice work Jak!
Now my Communicator not that dull anymore!
I was trying to use the xml method and then found this one, thanks Jak!
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com ahsiang

Running on Win7 Enterprise 64 bits btw.
I have to run it with administrator, otherwise it will not works.

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

Yes, I too had to run it with local administrator rights on my work laptop. Luckily not a problem, being a software engineer!

http://Website Biff

It appears to be working now, and I have no idea what changed. Hmm.
http://Website Karthikeyan Sundaram

Nice Work Bro. Keep Rocking
http://Website AmeGod

excellent work. Thanks for sharing
Dhananjay

Awesome,
its very useful utility,
I heard few users saying they were having problem on windows 7,
i would like to suggest them, just disable UAC in windows 7, and see it works fine, ( it worked my windows 7 after disabling UAC)

http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

Good point – I never had UAC turned on when developing this. I’ll look into it, see if theres a way round it.

Thanks!
http://www.jak.cx/ Jak

I’ve updated to 1.5.3, which now requests access properly through UAC.

Pingback: Office Communicator Custom Status Editor v1.5.3 Released! » jak dot cx
Derek

Works well on XP OCS 2007
Katwoman1969

This sounds like a great tool-one question-has anyone heard of a way to change the icon, too, instead of being stuck with the green, red, yellow and red strikethrough balls?

http://www.jak.cx Jak Spalding

I believe we’re stuck with them. There’s no method, visible or hidden, that I’m aware of to allow this change.

Pompom19872000

awesome tool
JACK

I have a tool that moves your mouse ever so slightly in a custom time period (say every 4 minutes or whatever you set) – this forces your pc to never sleep – thus fooling the IM status – useful for folks that have a scenario where they do not want to appear away, when they really are.

http://www.jak.cx Jak Spalding

Haha cool. Next idea would be for some auto-responding chat-bot!
Kamote_nakamura

can i have a copy of your tool??? thanks in advance.
Debibach

Hi Jack, how do I get your tool that makes your IM status always on?
Bapuji

can i have the tool please

Kamote_nakamura

do you have a tool where we can disable the communicator idle time??? it usually show the popup when you hover your mouse over the user’s name…
Chucky

Friggin Brilliant!
Aravind

Thanks, It worked well for me too
Kumags99

WORKING!! Thanks! but no Away icon
Rebel@Work

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks mate.
Debra Tatu

I downloaded and installed today – but when I tried to save my entries, I got the following error details – :

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at OcsExtraFeatures.CustomStatusXml.Save()
at OCSCustomStatus.MainForm.btnSave_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4961 (win7RTMGDR.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
—————————————-
OCSCustomStatus
Assembly Version: 1.5.2.0
Win32 Version: 1.5.2.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Jak%20Spalding/Office%20Communicator%20Custom%20Status%20Editor/OCSCustomStatus.exe
—————————————-
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4961 (win7RTMGDR.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
—————————————-
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4962 (win7RTMGDR.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
—————————————-
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
—————————————-
OcsExtraFeatures
Assembly Version: 1.5.1.0
Win32 Version: 1.5.1.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Jak%20Spalding/Office%20Communicator%20Custom%20Status%20Editor/OcsExtraFeatures.DLL
—————————————-
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
—————————————-

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.
Pianoabby

Awesome, worked like a charm! I always wanted to change available to married:)
Guest

Works like a charm !!
biLLy :)

this is awesome! thanks a lot!
Basti

Tool is working, but I am not able to delete the custom status anymore, a clear box will lead into a error message…
Somebody out there with the same problem?!?
Kabaki

Was there ever a resolution to this issue?

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.Security.SecurityException: Requested registry access is not allowed.
at Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String name, Boolean writable)
at OcsExtraFeatures.RegistryTricks.SetValueString(String keyName, String value)
at OCSCustomStatus.MainForm.btnSave_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
The Zone of the assembly that failed was:
MyComputer

************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
—————————————-
OCSCustomStatus
Assembly Version: 1.5.2.0
Win32 Version: 1.5.2.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Jak%20Spalding/Office%20Communicator%20Custom%20Status%20Editor/OCSCustomStatus.exe
—————————————-
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
—————————————-
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5447 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
—————————————-
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
—————————————-
OcsExtraFeatures
Assembly Version: 1.5.1.0
Win32 Version: 1.5.1.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Jak%20Spalding/Office%20Communicator%20Custom%20Status%20Editor/OcsExtraFeatures.DLL
—————————————-
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
—————————————-

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

Thanks for your help

http://www.jak.cx Jak Spalding

From reading that, it looks like registry access has been forbidden, possibly by your IT administrators?

Without registry access, this program will never work. Sorry about that.

Aj74

Awesome piece, it works!

jak dot cx

i figured i should put something here