Help - Outlook names cache

[Guest]

Hello. Outlook XP (2002) client in a networked environment. This person at my
company wants to prevent a single cached name from popping up in the “toâ€
field when he types in “abc†for example. According to
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;289975 you can’t
delete a single cached entry. You can only delete a cached entry if there is
more than one name that starts with “abc†and even then you cannot delete the
last cached entry that would fall under “abcâ€. I have tested this theory and
it seems to be true. Doesn’t make sense but it seems to be true. Does anyone
know if there is another workaround that would allow this to happen without
deleting a contact from his personal contacts? Even after deleting the last
contact that starts with “abc†and restarting Outlook that very last cached
“abc†remains. That’s right. It remains even without a contact to refer to.
Arrgghhh. Also, in my research I found that the .nk2 file on the local hard
drive stores names cache. I tried opening this file in Notepad to possibly
remove that one entry but the formatting was way off. I downloaded a freebie
nk2 reader from the Internet but the freebie wouldn’t let me save changes. I
realize that if I delete the .nk2 file it will remove all cache. What I am
trying to do here is stop only one name from popping up and not all.
Furthermore, if I have to go the route of deleting the file does anyone know
how to decide (as you go along) what names you want to be added to the newly
created cache file? It seems as if Outlook creates the cached entry the first
time you type in “abc†and every time after that the shortcutted name pops
up. Is there a setting to configure that would force Outlook to give you the
option? Furthermore, after trying to open the file through Notepad I deleted
what I believed to be the one desired entry. What I found out is that after
deleting one entry in the file I was able to:
1. Select any name from the personal contacts and then send the email >
after that, without closing Outlook, when I typed the first 3 letters of the
name in the “to†the name popped up > however after closing Outlook and
restarting the name would not pop up – and that goes for any name!!!
2. Same goes for when I select any name from the global address list.

Help!!!

 

[Brian Tillman]

Hello. Outlook XP (2002) client in a networked environment. This
person at my company wants to prevent a single cached name from
popping up in the “to†field when he types in “abc†for example.
According to
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;289975 you
can’t delete a single cached entry. You can only delete a cached
entry if there is more than one name that starts with “abc†and even
then you cannot delete the last cached entry that would fall under
“abcâ€.

Although that article does describe how to replace a bad single entry with a
good one.

I have tested this theory and it seems to be true. Doesn’t
make sense but it seems to be true. Does anyone know if there is
another workaround that would allow this to happen without deleting a
contact from his personal contacts?

The autocompletion cache has no connection with the Contacts folder at all.
You can do anything you want with the cache and it will never affect a
Contact.

Even after deleting the last
contact that starts with “abc†and restarting Outlook that very last
cached “abc†remains. That’s right. It remains even without a
contact to refer to.

Because the two are unrelated. The cache contains addressed you've entered
into the To field. Thus, while some match Contacts (because you often send
mail to one of your Contacts) they're not dependent on each other.

I tried opening
this file in Notepad to possibly remove that one entry but the
formatting was way off.

You could conceivable use a binary editor to remove one name.

I downloaded a freebie nk2 reader from the
Internet but the freebie wouldn’t let me save changes.

Then buy the commercial version of that program that will allow you to save
the changes.

I realize that
if I delete the .nk2 file it will remove all cache. What I am trying
to do here is stop only one name from popping up and not all.

Outlook, by itself, can't accomplish your goal. You'll have to spend some
money.

Furthermore, if I have to go the route of deleting the file does
anyone know how to decide (as you go along) what names you want to be
added to the newly created cache file?

Any address that goes through the resolution process will get added to the
cache. If you don't want it in the cache, turn off the cache (autosuggest)
prior to composing the message.

It seems as if Outlook creates
the cached entry the first time you type in “abc†and every time
after that the shortcutted name pops up.

It creates the entry when it resolves the name.

Is there a setting to
configure that would force Outlook to give you the option?
No.

Furthermore, after trying to open the file through Notepad I deleted
what I believed to be the one desired entry. What I found out is that
after deleting one entry in the file I was able to:
1. Select any name from the personal contacts and then send the email
letters of the name in the “to†the name popped up > however after
closing Outlook and restarting the name would not pop up – and that
goes for any name!!!

Because you corrupted the cache file, thus disabling the cache function.

 

[Guest]

Brian. Thanks for the crystal clear explanation. If only this info were in a
book somewhere. Thanks again.