two users, one computer, one email account & pst file

[Guest]

I have one computer with two users. I want both users to have the same
access to the same Email accounts and pst files. I have tried allowing
permissions for the second user in the first users Application data\
username\ etc folders and it hasn't worked. My main problem is that in
earlier versions of office the file type was actually labelled with a pst
file extension, in Outlook 2003 there seems to be no such file extension.
Any assistance you can provide would be very much appreciated.
Regards
Rob Wood

 

[Brian Tillman]

Let's address the second question first.

My main problem is that in earlier versions of office the file type was
actually labelled with a pst file extension, in Outlook 2003 there
seems to be no such file extension.

It's not Outlook that's causing your confusion, I suspect, but your version
of Windows. I think you're using Windows 2000 or XP in its default
configuration, which hides known (i.e., registered) file types. Open
Windows Explorer, click Tools>Folder Options>View and uncheck the "Hide
extensions for known file types" option. While you're there, select the
"Show hidden files and folders" option. The default location for your PST
is the (hidden) folder %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook.

I have one computer with two users. I want both users to have the
same access to the same Email accounts and pst files. I have tried
allowing permissions for the second user in the first users
Application data\ username\ etc folders and it hasn't worked.

Log on as user one. Create a folder under Shared Documentsm like Shared
Documents\Outlook. Move that user's PST to that folder. Start Outlook.
WHen it complains that it can't find its folders, browse to the PST in the
shared folder, select it, and click OK. Outlook will open the PSt and be
back to normal. Close Outlook and log out.

Log in as user two. Rename that user's PST's file name (keeping the ".pst"
extension) and start Outlook. It will complain. Browse to the shared PST,
select it, and click OK. Outlook will finish opening and you'll see exactly
the same folders user one sees. You can add in user two's original PST if
you wish with FIle>Open>Outlook Data File and either use it like that or
transfer data from it to the shared PST. User one won't be able to see it,
since that user has no permission to it, but I can see value with each
account having the shared and the private PSTs.

By the way, only one user at a time will be able to use Outlook, since PSTs
are single-user files, but if each user has a separate Windows account, even
with using Fast User Switching, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Guest]

Brian,

I have posted the following problem on a couple of occasions but the posts
seem to have disapeared. My problem is similar to the one on this thread
however my set up is as follows.

I have two users who access a "shared PST File" on the same PC. The PC
accounts are different but the e mail accounts use the same settings (E mail
address, username, password etc). My problem is that when one user logs on
and retreives e mail when the second user logs on they recieve exactly the
same e mails again. Is there a problem with my set up ?. The solution you
describe in this thread is exactly how I have set these accounts up. Any
ideas welcome ([email protected])

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have two users who access a "shared PST File" on the same PC. The PC
accounts are different but the e mail accounts use the same settings
(E mail address, username, password etc). My problem is that when one
user logs on and retreives e mail when the second user logs on they
recieve exactly the same e mails again.

One Outlook can't possibly know what the other Outlook has downloaded.
Since you're using the same mailbox on the server and a shared PST,
configure each Outlook to delete mesages after downloading. That way you
won't get duplicates.

 

[Guest]

Brian,

Thanks. I was hoping that there was some shared file that told outlook what
had been downloaded. It appears there isn't. Thanks again. I'll implement
this right away.

Cheers Alan

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks. I was hoping that there was some shared file that told
outlook what had been downloaded. It appears there isn't. Thanks
again. I'll implement this right away.

The record of what has been downloaded and what hasn't is kept in the mail
profile in the Windows Registry. Since that's not something accessible
between the users, there's no way for the Outlooks to coordinate.

 

[Guest]

Brian,

Thanks again. More very useful info. Much appreciated

Alan