migrate/re-create profiles using .prf file. Possible?

[jrm73]

I am planning a large migration from NT 4.0 to WIN 2003 AD. We are
also migrating to Exchange 2003 from 5.5. One of the dilemmas I'll
face is when users logon to AD the first time. The exchange profile (
in registry) that pointed to the NT domain will no longer be used.
I've read some about .prf files - can I do the following? Create a
..prf file and have it add/create their mailbox name or email alias
using some type of variable.

For example our email addresses read (e-mail address removed) - so
john.doe is the alias. I'm not sure how or if this is referenced in
the .prf file. I want to know if this can be represented by some
variable that is poplated when they logon. It could come from their
profile or somewhere else in the registry.

In the .prf file something like:

Alias or mailbox name = %variable%
This %variable% is able to then enumerate the john.doe alias from
somewhere, add it to the .prf file so that it will create the exchange
profile.

Does anyone have any ideas on this scenario or how I can accomplish it?

thanks-

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

WOuld a user log on with john.doe as their Windows login name? Of so, then you can use the %username% variable in the .prf file.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[jrm73]

Unfortunately not. The user logon standard is "jdoe." Does that
exclude the possibility of using a variable?

Thanks-

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

No, you can still use an environment variable in the .prf file, but it will need to include the user's mailbox alias. One possible approach is to write a script that runs at login that does an ADSI lookup to find the mailbox alias, based on the login name.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers