Entries missing from nk2 file

T

Tony

Hello,
we've been experiencing losses of entries from the nk2 file (auto populate
email address) and I don't know how to stop it or whats causing it. We run a
mix or Outlook 2003 and 2007. We are also running MS CRM. Entries that are
lost are addresses that we send to on a regular basis. When we discover they
are missing, I have a little program that allows me to read the NK2 file, and
the entries are just not there. They are not being deleted by the user, they
just disappear. It happens randomly and its sporadic. There does not seem to
be any pattern to the losses.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can look to find an answer.
 
D

Diane Poremsky [MVP]

If outlook doesn't close properly, addresses added during the current
session are not saved to the file. If an NDR is returned, the address is
removed (under certain conditions).

How frequently is outlook closed? If its mostly up 24/7 and is only closed
when it crashes or when windows updates force a reboot, the NK2 is not
getting permanently updated. This is often caused by a program accessing
outlook data - this prevents outlook from closing properly and the file
doesn't get updated.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
 
G

Gordon

Tony said:
Hello,
we've been experiencing losses of entries from the nk2 file (auto populate
email address) and I don't know how to stop it or whats causing it. We
run a
mix or Outlook 2003 and 2007. We are also running MS CRM. Entries that
are
lost are addresses that we send to on a regular basis. When we discover
they
are missing, I have a little program that allows me to read the NK2 file,
and
the entries are just not there. They are not being deleted by the user,
they
just disappear. It happens randomly and its sporadic. There does not seem
to
be any pattern to the losses.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can look to find an answer.

Well the first thing to say is that you should NOT be using autocomplete as
a contact storage method. There is a finite number of entries that the nk2
file can store AFAIK, which may be why they are dropping off.
For those contacts that you regularly send to, create a proper contact entry
in the Contacts folder. That should solve most of the problem....
 
T

Tony

Hi Diane, thanks for the reply,
Outlook is usually open during business hours after which it is usually
closed. This one specific case that was brought to my attention was an
internal Partner of our company that has been in the nk2 file for ever, it
was not a new entry. It just mysteriously disappeared. We do sync our CRM
contacts with Outlook on a scheduled basis. Do you think this sync could be
causing the issue.
 
B

Bob I

Inline
Well the first thing to say is that you should NOT be using autocomplete
as a contact storage method. There is a finite number of entries that
the nk2 file can store AFAIK, which may be why they are dropping off.
1000

For those contacts that you regularly send to, create a proper contact
entry in the Contacts folder. That should solve most of the problem....
 
G

Gordon

Diane Poremsky said:
Try 2000. There is also a reg key so it can be increased.

--

Thanks.
However, whatever number it is, the OP should not be using it for regular
contacts storage. If he has a regular contact it should be in the Contacts
folder, not the nk2 file...
 
D

Diane Poremsky [MVP]

No, but the user didn't say that it's the only copy of the address they
have, only that it disappears from the list. They may be complaining because
"type ahead" doesn't bring up the address - many people prefer it over
waiting for outlook to resolve the address. Especially execs.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
 
B

Bob I

You mean try changing to 2000? As below?

How to Change the Maximum Names in the History List

Click Start and Run. Type regedit, and then click OK.
Find the key: H_KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\microsoft\Office\10.0\outlook\
In the right pane, right-click and select New, then DWORD Value. Name
it: MaxNicknames.
Double-click on the key and type the number of entries (in the value
box) you wish to have as the maximum. The Default is 1000.
 
B

Bob I

Did an e-mail to the contact in question bounce? That will remove names
from the NK2 file.
 
T

Tony

Its hard to know if more than 1 entry is missing, they usually bring it to my
attention when the notice that one that is used frequently is missing. Its
not happening very often, 2 to 3 times a week and with different users. I am
at a loss.

Diane Poremsky said:
The CRM should not affect it, since it just syncs with contacts. Is just
one entry missing? Does it happen frequently?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]



Tony said:
Hi Diane, thanks for the reply,
Outlook is usually open during business hours after which it is usually
closed. This one specific case that was brought to my attention was an
internal Partner of our company that has been in the nk2 file for ever, it
was not a new entry. It just mysteriously disappeared. We do sync our
CRM
contacts with Outlook on a scheduled basis. Do you think this sync could
be
causing the issue.
 
T

Tony

Thanks for all the posts. I am aware of the number of entries in the NK2
file. None of the users that are having this issue have only a couple
hundred entries. Diane has it right, the users are used to a feature and
when it doesn't work, they complain and I have to resolve the issue. Still
don't know why this is happening.
Thanks.
 
B

Bob I

Did you see the note about "bounced e-mail"? Outlook removes addresses
that bounce, so perhaps that is the "mystery connection"?
 
R

Rick Womack

Hello,

We use Outlook 2003 and I have a user having the same issue. How did this get resolved?

It is a mystery to me. She is the only user with this problem. I tried creating a new Outlook profile, but after a few days of use, she calls again saying names are not persisting.

Would appreaciate any help.
Hello,
we have been experiencing losses of entries from the nk2 file (auto populate
email address) and I do not know how to stop it or whats causing it. We run a
mix or Outlook 2003 and 2007. We are also running MS CRM. Entries that are
lost are addresses that we send to on a regular basis. When we discover they
are missing, I have a little program that allows me to read the NK2 file, and
the entries are just not there. They are not being deleted by the user, they
just disappear. It happens randomly and its sporadic. There does not seem to
be any pattern to the losses.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can look to find an answer.
On Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:11 AM Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:
If outlook does not close properly, addresses added during the current
session are not saved to the file. If an NDR is returned, the address is
removed (under certain conditions).

How frequently is outlook closed? If its mostly up 24/7 and is only closed
when it crashes or when windows updates force a reboot, the NK2 is not
getting permanently updated. This is often caused by a program accessing
outlook data - this prevents outlook from closing properly and the file
does not get updated.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
On Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:53 AM Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:
Try 2000. There is also a reg key so it can be increased.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
On Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:56 AM Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:
The CRM should not affect it, since it just syncs with contacts. Is just
one entry missing? Does it happen frequently?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
On Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:08 PM Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:
No, but the user did not say that it is the only copy of the address they
have, only that it disappears from the list. They may be complaining because
"type ahead" does not bring up the address - many people prefer it over
waiting for outlook to resolve the address. Especially execs.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
On Thursday, November 05, 2009 4:06 PM Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:
No. The default is 2000 in at least Outlook 2007. And better yet, with
Outlook 2010 a lot of the nonsense with NK2 and autocomplete will be
history.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]
 
G

Gordon

Hello,

We use Outlook 2003 and I have a user having the same issue. How did this get resolved?

It is a mystery to me. She is the only user with this problem. I tried creating a new Outlook profile, but after a few days of use, she calls again saying names are not persisting.

Would appreaciate any help.

The resolution is NOT to use autocomplete to store email addresses. Use
the Contacts folder - that's what it is designed for.
 

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