"do not import duplicates" messages Outlook 2003 never seems to work

[rina]

Hello

Microsoft Office Oultook 2003 has a message import option "do not import
duplicates"
I understand that when another my personal older backup pst file has
messages, which also are in present pst, these aren't imported twice.
But in practice I haven't ever seen it to function as expected, instead alle
messages are imported each time again and impoting has finished with a lot
of repeative messages listed aside with each other.

I'd like to reorganize all old messages from old pst backup files, but how
to utilize this Outlook option?

Thanks.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

I wouldn't use the Import function for that. Simply connect the pst-file
that you want to examine to Outlook via File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
and copy the information that you want to keep in another pst-file. Once
done, disconnect the pst-file you no longer need and delete it if you
desire.

The "do not import duplicates" doesn't really work reliable on message
items. It's purpose is actually more intended for when importing contacts.

If you still want to go the route of importing everything at once and
sorting out the duplicates afterwards, there are several duplicate remover
addins available which can do this for you. See;
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/duplicates.htm

 

[rina]

Hi

Thanks, so it just dosn't work as could expect. As there is more then 10 pst
files and over 10GB which are partially repeative, then when sorting there
isn't anything, onen human could do in a reasonable time.
So sorry, most important would be just to avoid importing repeative
messages, as else the pst 2Gb limit would iterrupt too soon.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Note that there is no 2GB limit when you are using UNICODE pst-files which
is the default when creating a new pst-file in Outlook 2003 and Outlook
2007. The default limit for UNICODE pst-files is 20GB so you should be fine.