Categorize prefs are reset when .pst file imported by another comp

[Guest]

Greetings - I have installed Office 2007 Small Business Edition on a desktop
running Vista Ultimate and a laptop running Vista Home Premium. The computers
are networked successfully. When I import my .pst file from Outlook 2007 to
my laptop from my desktop before leaving for business, the import takes place
successfully to the laptop (I only import new items), and the laptop Outlook
files, calendar, categories, address book, etc. now mirror the desktop.

THE PROBLEM: after this process, the customizations I have performed to
calendar dates, contacts, etc. with the "Categorize" coloring tool are all
lost on the DESKTOP version of Outlook 2007 - it resets itself to the "Master
list" and all my customizations and labelings are gone. The laptop, however,
has them all perfectly intact! This is repeatable 100% of the time. My
workaround is to just drag the whole .pst file from desktop to the laptop and
let it overwrite, which preserves all customizations perfectly on both sides.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance -
Timothy

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP P/I]]

Yes, DO NOT import the .PST file, make a COPY of it (with Outlook closed),
place the copy on your laptop, then open it with ''File|Open|Outlook Data
File'. Importing a .PST file almost always corrupts the Outlook Profile in
use, plus you lose the following information:

1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

 

[Guest]

Hal - thank you for your kindness in replying to me question. You have helped
me to understand the situation, for which I am grateful. It would seem that
the development of this aspect of the Outlook software is still incomplete.
This surprises me, as it is not a small point. MS could do worse by its
customers than to make the information you shared with me available in the
Outlook help files or some similar, easily accessed venue, or perhaps remove
the feature until it functions correctly.
Be well-
Timothy